Hingham

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Welcome to Hingham

THINGS TO SEE
PLACES TO EAT
PLACES TO STAY
WHERE TO DOCK

Hingham Shipyard Village pays homage to the men and women who built over
200 Navy vessels here during World War II. Photo Tom Richardson

HINGHAM HARBOR, ON THE SOUTH SHORE OF MASSACHUSETTS, IS IDEALLY SITUATED FOR BOATERS SEEKING FAST, CONVENIENT ACCESS TO BOSTON HARBOR, THE BEAUTIFUL 251-ACRE WORLD’S END RESERVATION AND THE MANY ISLANDS OF THE BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK. HOWEVER, THE TOWN ITSELF CONTAINS PLENTY TO DO AND SEE (ELEANOR ROOSEVELT ONCE DESCRIBED HINGHAM’S MAIN STREET AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SHE’D EVER SEEN). THERE ARE MANY GOOD RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS NEAR THE WATERFRONT, AND THE QUAINT DOWNTOWN AREA IS JUST A SHORT WALK FROM THE HARBOR. A BIT FARTHER WEST, NEAR THE WEYMOUTH BORDER, YOU’LL FIND A SPRAWLING MIXED-USE COMPLEX AT THE HINGHAM SHIPYARD MARINAS AND VILLAGE ON HEWITTS COVE.

Hingham Harbor East Chart

On the east end of Hingham is World’s End, a wonderful place to explore via kayak or skiff (as well as on foot or by bike). Forming the protective eastern arm of the harbor, the wooded peninsula is owned and managed by The Trustees of Reservations. The small cove on the east side of World’s End once served features several town-managed moorings (available for $35 per night). However, there are numerous places to beach a dinghy or kayak and go ashore for a stroll or picnic on the peninsula.

Hingham Shipyard Marinas maintains over 500 slips,
and can easily accommodate transient boaters.

For a truly unique boating experience, consider camping on Grape or Bumpkin Islands (and in 2013 Lovells Island), part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park. Boaters can arrange for a mooring or anchor just offshore, then access the wooded interior and hiking trails via the Park’s complementary dinghy. You can also beach a dinghy or kayak along the shore. Both Grape and Bumpkin have campsites with picnic tables and are staffed by rangers from Memorial Day to Labor Day. With planes roaring overhead on their approach to Logan Airport and phenomenal views of the Boston skyline, harbor camping is pretty surreal, but it’s an adventure you won’t forget! You can make campsite reservations and get more information online through the Boston Harbor Islands website. By the way, most of the islands in the Harbor Islands Park—including Slate, Button, Ragged and Langlee off Hingham—are open to the public. There is excellent inshore fishing throughout the islands as well.

Anglers can target winter flounder in and around Hingham. Photo Tom Richardson

Other good daytrip options out of Hingham include a visit to Fort Warren on Georges Island, or the Harbor Islands Education Center and marina on Spectacle Island.

Hingham has a large boating community, and the local waters can be quite busy in season. Transients can generally find a mooring in the harbor, except on busy weekends, by contacting the harbormaster. (Anchoring room is virtually non-existent except for shallow-draft vessels.)

Hingham West Chart

West of Hingham Harbor, but still within the town of Hingham, is Hewitts Cove, home to the aforementioned Hingham Shipyard Marinas and Village. The Marina Village is a 27-acre complex of apartments, condos, and townhouses set among restaurants, a marina, a movie theater, shops, a grocery store, miles of walking and bike paths, and an outdoor amphitheater. Hingham Shipyard Marinas offers 500 slips and 100 moorings, slips, service, fuel, and transient dockage for almost any size vessel. Hourly dockage is available at the marina for day-trippers who want to visit the Village.

Small-boaters and paddlers can also venture south to explore the protected Back River, which begins just west of Hewitts Cove and Stodders Neck (a nature preserve and park) and forms the border between Hingham and Weymouth. Pass under the Route 3A span and you’ll see Bare Cove Park to port. On the right is Weymouth’s Great Esker Park, featuring trails and a nature center.

Getting There

Hingham Harbor is roughly 15 nautical miles southeast of Boston. The harbor is protected on the east by the World’s End peninsula and to the northwest by Crow Point. The harbor and Hingham Bay contain several islands that are part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area and can be visited by small boat or kayak. From points east and north, boaters can approach the bay and harbor through Hull Gut, off Nantasket Roads, by turning to port at Fl G “11” and picking up the shipping channel that guides commercial shipping toward the Fore River. At G “5” you can turn southeast toward Hingham Harbor or continue through the shipping channel to the GR “BR” buoy and the entrance to the Weymouth/Back River and Hewitts Cove.

If heading into Hingham Harbor, you’ll pass Bumpkin Island close to port then pick up red nun “6” and GR “HH” south of the island. At this point you can head east to World’s End and the anchorage on its east side, or proceed south toward the inner harbor.

The inner harbor is subject to shoaling but is routinely dredged. From R “8” and G “7” are cluster of small islands that mark the entrance to inner Hingham Harbor. Follow the meandering marked channel past Crow Point and the Hingham Yacht Club mooring field, then between the islands before snaking around the shoal area surrounding Button Island. At the end of the channel is a dinghy dock, a tie-off area (30-minute limit) and public boat ramp with parking at the town landing on Otis Street (Route 3A).

Charts

NOAA 13270, 13267

Harbormaster

(781) 749-1450

Dockage, Moorings & Service

Hingham Town Docks (781-741-1450; VHF 16): Offers dockside berths and moorings with a 30-minute tie-up limit. A dinghy dock is also located here.

Hingham Shipyard Marinas (781-749-6647): Large, full-service facility offering more 500 slips and 100 moorings and a wide range of services, including transient dockage and moorings, fuel, haul-out, engine repair, ice, water, WiFi, electric and much more. Hourly dockage available for boaters who wish to visit Shipyard Village

Bare Cove Marina: Steps from historic Hingham Center, Bare Cove features 40 slips for vessels up to 35 feet. Slips are complete with fresh water and electric.

Steamboat Wharf Marina (781-925-0044): Located in nearby Hull, behind World’s End on the Weir River, Steamboat is technically in the neighboring town of Hull, but offers plenty of dockage for transients interested in visiting Hingham.

Anchorages

Boaters may be able to find room to anchor outside the channel in the designated mooring areas “A” off Crow Point and north of Ragged and Sarah Islands.

Another shallow anchorage is shown on charts in the very southern end of the harbor.

In the Weymouth Back River, a small anchorage is available along Eastern Neck and opposite Stodder Neck.

Launch Ramps

A free municipal boat ramp with floats and parking is located at the town landing on Otis Street (Route 3A), directly on Hingham Harbor. The ramp is not usable at low tide, and the parking lot fills up fast on weekends.

A second public launch ramp is located on River Street in Weymouth, on the Back River. $8 daily fee to launch and park.

Provisions

You can stock up at the Fruit Center Market Place on Water Street. It carries everything from fresh produce to a fish market and shares space with a wine store.

Where to Eat

Hingham Center/Hingham Harbor

Stars (781) 749-3200: Popular family eatery near the harbor serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Tosca (781) 740-0080) and Caffe Tosca (781-740-9400; www.toscahingham.com): Both located just across Route 3A from Hingham Harbor.

The Snug (781) 749-9774: Classic Irish pub with great brew, authentic Irish fare, and live music

Square Café (781) 740-4060: Offers continental choices with an Asian flare.

Nona’s Homemade (781) 749-3999: Great smoothies, ice cream and more!

Shipyard Village/Hewitts Cove

Wahlburgers: Burgers and more.

Hingham Beer Works: Wide selection of microbrews and pub food.

Boathouse Bistro & Pizza

Fishing Information

Click here for more Fishing Information!

Things to See & Do

The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area: comprises more than two dozen islands spread throughout the harbor—including four in Hingham Harbor and six more in Hingham Bay—offering a range of recreational activities, from fishing and boating to camping and educational events. Reservations are required for camping on the islands. Bumpkin, Grape, and Peddocks Islands have docks where boaters can drop off passengers and then anchor or grab a mooring.

World’s End: A 251-acre peninsula owned by The Trustees of Reservations. Offers walking trails and views of Boston.

The Hewitts Cove Conservation Area: Hiking trails and views of the harbor.

Stodders Neck Park and Bare Cove Park: Wildlife and conservation sanctuaries on the Back River, which is also bordered on the west bank by the Back River Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Old Ship Church: Historic church dating to 1681 and is considered the oldest continuous religious meetinghouse in the nation. The interior suggests an inverted hull.

The Old Ordinary: Former tavern built in 1702, and the Old Derby Academy on Main Street, are both owned by the Hingham Historical Society.

General Information

Hingham Downtown Association

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At a Glance

Launch Ramps
Where to Stay
Rentals
Harbor Master and Harbor Info
Getting There
Things to Do