Gingerbread Hill
At the end of Gingerbread Lane, continue across Norman Street to Gingerbread Hill.
Gingerbread Lane
The entrance to Gingerbread Lane, which looks like a country lane, is found on the left off Beacon Street, just past Little Harbor. This narrow dirt road leads to a fork; bear left towards Old Burial Hill and Redd’s Pond. Continue straight along a grassy path bordered by a stone wall on the left. This path becomes a narrow paved road at the point where it turns right before ending on Norman Street. Cross Norman Street and continue up Gingerbread Hill (See second map below) following it around to the right at the top of the hill. Continue along until you arrive at #26 Gingerbread Hill. To the left of this house you will find a well-defined 10-foot path leading between two stone walls. Follow this path across the open area and down the hill to return to Norman Street.
Gingerbread Lane
“Secret” Passageways
Marblehead’s Ways Open for Public Passage
From wherever they lived and worked on land, early residents of Marblehead walked the most direct paths to the harbor and ocean that were their livelihood. While many of these historical pathways have disappeared over the years, many are still open for public use both in downtown Marblehead and on Marblehead Neck.
Although it sometimes feels as if you are walking through someone’s back yard, follow these maps and directions and you’ll stay on public rights of way. Each marker on the overview map below shows where a passageways is located. For details, click on the markers in the overview maps or on the numbered lists below the overview map.
Each passageway is shown on its own map, and a marker shows the location of each path. When visiting these sites, please be respectful of the neighbors and park only on the main streets.
Passageways in Downtown Marblehead
Lookout Court & Prospect Alley
Hollyhock Lane
Alley Steps
Gingerbread Lane
Gingerbread Hill
Knights Hill Road
Alley – Elm to High
Alley – Market Square
Passageways on Marblehead Neck
Desmoulin Lane
Fuller Lane
Castle Rock
Point O’ Rocks Lane
Lighthouse Lane
Nahant Street
Peabody Avenue
Harvard Street
Parker Lane