Hike to These Amazing Abandoned Castle Ruins in This Massachusetts Town

If you love history, abandoned castles, and the outdoors, here's a great hike that's not too tough and absolutely beautiful, especially in the winter.

The Bancroft Castle, or what's left of it, is in Groton, Massachusetts.

According to atlasobscura.com, the castle was built by General William Bancroft for his retirement in 1906, but he ran out of money before it was completed.  He sold the property to Dr. Harold Ayers, who converted it into a sanatorium called Groton Private Hospital.  If you needed fresh air to convalesce in, this was the place.

When the sanatorium closed, the space was used for social events, mostly for the nearby Groton Hunt Club. But a fire destroyed the structure in 1932, and only the remnants of the great stone home remained.

There are plenty of ghost stories to go along with the place, but it's mostly a beautiful backdrop for photos and hikers.

The back of the property of Gibbet Hill Grill allows parking for hikers to see the Bancroft Castle.  Before you go, check massdaytripping.com.

The short hike is said to be beautiful at sunrise or sunset, with parking on the side of the road or after hours at the grill.

AllTrails.com highlights a map for the one-mile trail, and talks about the short but steep walk to the top.  Go visit sometime and you'll see how beautiful it is.