Welch Island
Welch Island is the largest of the Gilford islands and one of the largest on all of Lake Winnipesaukee, roughly 190 wooded acres with about 60 homes spread along its shoreline. Its south side opens onto the wide water of the Broads; from the north shore you look across a scatter of small islands toward the Sandwich Range, with Mount Washington visible on a clear day.
There is no bridge and no paved road. Everything about the island, the vintage cottages, the aging docks, the walking paths through the interior, runs at the pace of the lake. Homes here pass down through families and come to market rarely, which is exactly why any Welch Island listing is worth prompt attention.
From Sheep Pasture to Summer Community
The island takes its name from Abraham Welch, one of its early claimants in the late 1700s alongside Jonathan Moulton. Through the early 1800s it served as sheep pasture: flocks were barged out each spring, corn was grown on the island to feed them, and each winter the sheep were walked back to the mainland across the ice. Stone walls from those cleared fields can reportedly still be found in the woods today.
In 1875 the Winnipesaukee Lake Cotton and Wool Manufacturing Company acquired most of the island; when that venture failed, it was sold off in shares to Joseph Varney of Wolfeboro, and the summer cottage community began to take shape as the railroads opened the Lakes Region. By 1936 the community was close-knit enough to support its own weekly newsletter, the Welch Island Gazette, and the Winter Harbor Yacht Club, founded in 1940, still keeps its seasonal clubhouse on the island.
The island's early history is documented in Mary G. D. Donsker's illustrated monograph "The Story of Welch Island Through 1945" (1984), held at the New Hampshire Historical Society and the Gilford Public Library.
Read the full story of Welch IslandFor Sale on Welch Island
Hover a marker for the listing, or tap on a phone. Use the Depth toggle to see the water around Welch Island.
The MLS record shows 7 sales on Welch Island, 4 in the last five years, with recent home sales averaging $782,500. You can also search Welch Island in the full listings browse.
IDX display courtesy of Yankee Pedlar Realtors, Wolfeboro NH.
PrimeMLS Listing Information displayed herein is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by PrimeMLS. This display of listings may or may not be the entire Compilation from the PrimeMLS database, and PrimeMLS does not guarantee the accuracy of such information. © PrimeMLS, Inc.
Listing brokers may report inaccurate data to michelle@yankeepedlarrealtors.com or call (603) 569-1000.
Getting There
Welch Island is reached by boat from the Gilford shore, a short run across. The Glendale Docks on Dock Road are the practical mainland access point, though they are reserved for Gilford residents and residential taxpayers with seasonal permits, so most owners keep a slip or mooring at a nearby marina.
The island is a private community with no public dock, beach, or trail system. If you are not staying at a property there, it is best enjoyed from the water. Paddlers should treat the Broads side with respect: the open water south of the island gets exposed, choppy, and busy in summer.
Looking for a slip or mooring on the mainland side? See boat slips, marinas, and launches.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Welch Island is boat access only, with no bridge or causeway to the mainland. That is a large part of its appeal: life there moves at the pace of the lake, not the highway.
Sources cite roughly 187 to 210 acres, making it the largest of the Gilford islands and among the largest on Lake Winnipesaukee. About 60 homes are spread along its shores and wooded interior.
No. The island is a private community of cottages plus the Winter Harbor Yacht Club's seasonal clubhouse, with no public beach, dock, or trail system. Plan to enjoy it from the water unless you are staying at or visiting a property on the island.
Scarcity. With only about 60 homes on the island and cottages that pass down through families, listings are rare, sometimes years apart. Long water frontage, large private lots, mountain views, and historic character all add to the premium, and no new island can ever be created.
New to island buying? Start with our island guide and the NH buyer's guide.
Watching Welch Island?
Island sales often happen by word of mouth before they happen on the MLS. We have worked this lake from Wolfeboro since 1940. Tell us what you are looking for and we will keep you ahead of the listings.