Nestled in the lush forested southern gap of the Short Hill mountain range lies Hillsboro, a town listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The village is one of Loudoun County’s oldest, dating from 1752, and serves as a rest stop along the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia. The Hillsboro Preservation Foundation initiated a Legacy Farm Marker program to honor and recognize families that have maintained old farms in the area, therefore conserving critical farmland and open space. Visitors will enjoy a walking tour of four historic properties including Fieldstone Farm, one of Hillsboro’s first Quaker stone homes c. 1770. Today, it is graced by sustainable gardens. The Italianate N. Janney Purcell House c. 1850 and Hill Rose Cottage, an 1890 Victorian painted in contemporary colors accented with a terraced formal garden, and the historic Visitors Center are also included. Hillsboro has successfully completed a major renovation of the town’s main street, adding roundabouts, sidewalks and Hope’s Garden as a community gathering place.