Discover Leicester

Leicester offers travelers several specific ways to explore the area: the scenic Farm Heritage Trail driving route passes through rural farming communities, including Leicester. There are also farm experiences, hiking trails, and birdwatching, as well as a studio tour held every August. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus your stay on driving the trail, visiting a farm, outdoor activities, or local art.

Farm Heritage Trail and Events

The Farm Heritage Trail is a driving route through rural farming communities and also passes through Leicester. The trail also offers an ongoing calendar of events throughout the year, including hikes, farm-to-table dinners, educational programs, and activities for the whole family. The program therefore ranges from exercise and food to learning opportunities. Dates for individual events may change; check the dates for your travel year if you plan to attend a particular event.

Farms and Farm Experiences

Gaining Ground Farm is located in Leicester and raises Red Devon cattle. Farm products are sold at an on-site roadside stand. Check whether the stand is open before you set out.

Aubrey Wells Farm is a Century Farm and has been owned by the Wells family for more than 100 years. Its status as a Century Farm is permanent, while ownership can change. You can buy beef by appointment arranged in advance by phone. Since product availability may vary, call before visiting.

At Durrant Farms Estate, visitors can meet alpacas and llamas at the fence and take a walk around the pond. Unlike a guided field tour such as the one at Good Wheel, the focus here is on meeting the animals at the fence and walking around the pond. Check whether these experiences are available on the date of your visit.

Good Wheel Farm offers guided tours through its fields. During the tour, visitors can see sheep, cows, chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys. The food offerings include crispy chicken thigh sandwiches or marinated chicken thighs with coleslaw. Check in advance whether the tour and food are available on your chosen date.

At Black Thorn Farm & Kitchen in the Big Sandy Mush area of Leicester, seasonally prepared sweet and savory foods and drinks are offered in connection with a farm visit. Since the offerings are seasonal and availability may vary, ask about the current selection before making the trip.

Hiking, Birdwatching, and Art

At the Long Branch Environmental Education Center in Leicester, visitors can hike the trails and watch birds. This gives you two specific options to choose from: exercise on the trails or spend time birdwatching.

The Come to Leicester Studio Tour takes place annually in August. Visitors are invited to meet local artists and learn more about their work. Check the specific dates for the year in question. Unlike the Farm Heritage Trail’s ongoing, year-round event calendar, the studio tour takes place in this particular month, so planning around the exact dates may be important for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Candler, Weaverville, Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Asheville, Arden.

For the regional travel overview: Buncombe.