General Information
This walk is off of Concord Road and the pond (“College Pond”) which it encircles is visible from the road. A small turn off from Concord Road leads to a parking lot next to a tennis court, where you can leave your car when you embark on this hike. College Pond is directly behind the Campion Center. As you walk, the large building continues to be the backdrop for this walk.

The flat and sometimes hilly terrain makes this area a great walk for all ages. The wetlands and streams are runoffs from the larger College Pond. The orchard is the perfect environment for a peaceful walk and runs alongside the pond, which is a beautiful sight during all seasons. The rock labeled on the map is a perfect vantage point from which to view the pond. Due to the surrounding foliage and reflective water, the most beautiful season to go on this walk is the fall. Or, to appreciate the orchard to its fullest, with leaves and buds, take this walk in the spring.

About 30 years ago, Weston bought 146 acres from Weston College (that’s A LOT of land!). In 1921, more than 85 years ago, the area was bought by the Society of Jesus who then built Weston College, a university for educating priests. 57 years after that purchase, the seminary program was moved to the Harvard School of Theology and the Campion Center became a Jesuit Infirmary for retired priests and a Retreat House for anyone interested.

Recommended Hike
The hike starts behind the Campion Center, a large brick building, and is easy to get to from a small turn off of Concord Road. At the end of the small, dirt road is a parking lot as well as a basketball court, tennis court and baseball fields. From the parking lot, walk to the right of the tennis courts and make your way along the edge of the fields. Continue in that direction into the woods and at the first intersection, you’ll find a large rock that looks like a seat (labeled ‘seat’ on the map). Here is a picture of the seat. Keep the rock to your right and walk straight ahead (unless you want to sit down). Don’t worry, this hike will bring you back to this rock (in fact you’ll return to it via the path shown above right) and you’ll have another chance to sit down later!

Walk straight ahead into a large meadow. Walk along the right edge of the meadow and take a right after you pass the two tall twin trees in the middle of the meadow. Continue the course of that path, and make no turns. You will be circling back to the pond. At the next intersection with a wide path, turn left. You will find yourself walking beside College Pond (with the water on your right). Continue on the same path and you will find yourself going uphill into an orchard, through a group of apple trees that all look alike.

Walk through the orchard and enjoy the beautiful sight. This orchard is beautiful in the spring when the apple blossoms are blooming. Continue walking until you come to Concord Road, then take a right to make your way down to the pond’s edge, bearing to the right. Continue along the shoreline until you reach a rock (on the left along the shoreline) with a wonderful vantage point to view the pond. (The picture of me in the “About the Author” section of this chapter was taken at this rock). This is a cool place to hang out and listen to frogs! Continue to the end of the pond and turn left.