Mills Scenic Byway

The 12.01-mile Mills Scenic Byway runs through the communities of Rollinsford, Madbury, Durham, and Newmarket. It offers a clear depiction of small yet vital communities, located along the coastal shores of the Lamprey, Oyster, Bellamy, Salmon Falls, and Cocheco Rivers while retaining the character and historical appeal of historic mill towns.

The Byway offers panoramic views of rolling open hills bordered by forest land and stone walls cut through by brooks and low-lying wetland marshes, views of pristine farmland that open up to downtown historic districts peppered with white church steeples, old mill buildings, river frontage, and park areas with access for nature walks and other recreational activities. These charming scenes paint an illustration of New England river towns that possess a historical past that have seen a steady transformation from early sawmills to a thriving textile industry, which has in turn given way to dozens of smaller businesses.