South Grey Bruce Driving Tour
SOUTHERN GREY & BRUCE AUTUMN DRIVING TOUR
FALL 2011
By Dawna Proudman
The trees are gussied up in their party clothes and pumpkins sit at farm gates for purchase. Like the leaves, our rural villages keep changing as well. Historical buildings house exciting new enterprises. Railway tracks have been replaced by scenic walking trails. Bakeries offer traditional breads alongside specialty and ethnic foods. Many restaurants are serving local produce again.
Pick and choose the activities closest to your heart as you will find more than enough to fill your day whether you are seeking excitement, tranquility or a little of both!
Begin in Eugenia, with a visit to the first of three waterfalls on this tour. At Eugenia Falls Conservation Area, the Beaver River plunges 23 meters off the Niagara Escarpment into Cuckoo Valley. Across the road from the Conservation Area on Grey Rd 13, you can pick up fresh baking at the Brilliant Bread and Cheese Co. On weekends, The Flying Chestnut Restaurant is open for brunch.
Next you will want to stop at Hoggs Falls. Only a few kilometers off the paved road, you will find yourself in a timeless landscape, where you can stand right beside the waters of the Boyne River as they tumble and roar.
Only a few kilometers further west you can explore the unique shops of Flesherton, a designated “Walking Village”. Here you will find The Bakery, Leslieville Cheese Market, a fresh produce market, flower and gift shops, fine restaurants and gourmet take out shops. Local crafts and art are featured at Local Colour and Spirit Space galleries. You may also want to visit The Flesherton Hills Walking Trails which wind through a unique landscape created by the debris of continental glaciers retreating 10,000 years ago.
The next stop is the town of Durham where a walkway takes you above McGowan Falls to the Durham Conservation River Trail. The pitted limestone paths and boulders give this walk an ancient feel. Down the road from the falls, across the street from the first of the historic mills on the tour, you will find the Durham Art Gallery. When you are ready for lunch, Rowan Moon Bistro features many locally-produced and organically-grown foods.
North of Durham, stop into Earthen Vessels Pottery, just east of Hwy 6 on Grey Rd. 6. Then cross the highway and continue west on Welbeck Road, around the U-shaped curve and right at the stop sign to see the water-powered Welbeck Sawmill.
In Chesley, walk west along the Saugeen River from Riverside Park to the walking bridge. Across the river you will discover rusted pieces of machinery and remnants of the former Krug Furniture Factory crouched among the trees and shrubs at the base of a defunct railway bridge. The next stop is at Nature’s Millworks in Paisley. This 1885 mill has been transformed into an art gallery and gift shop featuring Canadian and locally made items. The current gallery exhibit
“Autumn Harvest Festival” is as exquisite as the season it depicts! Many original features of the mill have been preserved including hoppers, silos, exposed beams, and giant drive shafts.
You’ll be able to see “for miles and miles” from atop the trestle bridge walkway on The Paisley Heritage Walk. On the main street north of Back Eddie’s Café and the Sticks & Stone Gallery, cross the bridge over the Saugeen River where a sign reads “STOP. See Salmon Spawning.” (They spawn in October.) Continue north past historic buildings housing gift stores, the Big Dipper Bakery and The Elora Soap Company where, in addition to natural soaps and oils you will find a whimsical collection of old-time metal wind-up toys!
Then head south to Walkerton, home of the “Little Royal Fall Fair” (October 14-16). Walk along the Saugeen River Trail to see salmon swimming up a fish ladder.
Next, drive south to Carrick Wines & Ciders. Make sure you leave time for this stop! Carrick winery recently won two bronze medals at the Interim International Wine Competition. The owner, Gary Fischer, is enthusiastic and knowledgeable, not only about wines, but also the German heritage of this unique part of Bruce County. Take a stroll through their 80 acres of vineyards, apple orchards and lavender fields.
The next stop is Neustadt, named “One of the ten prettiest villages in Canada” by Harrowsmith Magazine in 2000. The birthplace of John Diefenbaker, Neustadt is home to artists’ studios and galleries, antique shops, the historic Neustadt Springs Brewery, and Noah’s Inn (a charming casual fine dining restaurant).
For the last leg of the journey, head north to the Sulphur Spring Conservation Area where you will find ponds populated by ducks and geese, a picnic shelter, playground, nature trails and a wildlife and bird sanctuary. This is a beautiful and serene spot to end your tour.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: Download map here
EUGENIA: Eugenia is on Grey Rd 13 (the Beaver Valley Trail) north of Grey County Rd 4. The entrance to the Eugenia Falls Conservation Area is across the street from Brilliant Bread and Cheese Co. (#194355 Grey Rd 13) via Pellisier St. The Flying Chestnut Restaurant is 2 blocks east of Grey Road 13 on Pellisier St (Turn east at Brilliant Bread and Cheese Co.).
HOGGS FALLS: Travel south from Eugenia on Grey Rd 13 (Beaver Valley Road) to County Rd 4. Turn west and head towards Flesherton but watch for the blue sign to Hoggs Falls on your right. Turn right on East Back Line, then take the first right on Lower Valley Rd. Drive 1 km west and look for the sign “Hoggs Falls Parking”. Towards the crest of the hill you will see three yellow posts set in from the road on the north side. This is the entrance.
FLESHERTON: Return to Grey County Rd 4, once again heading west, and you are only moments away from the “Walking Village” of Flesherton. To access the Flesherton Hills Walking Trails, turn left/south at the lights in Flesherton. Drive south on Hwy 10 two blocks, then turn west on Campbell St. At the end of the road, park in the northwest corner of the parking lot for McPhail Memorial Elementary School. From here you will see the beginning of the trail.
DURHAM: Continue west on Grey County Road 4 to Durham. Turn right on the first road you reach after entering the town, George St. E. Watch on your right just past the curve for the gravel parking lot for McGowan Falls.
Continue west on George St E to the Durham Art Gallery at 251 George St E. You can park in the lot to the west of the mill. From here you can walk or drive to Rowan Moon Bistro and downtown Durham. As you continue west on George St., it will turn south, becoming Albert St N. Take the second right onto Lambton St E. Across from the Post Office is Rowan Moon Bistro.
EARTHEN VESSELS POTTERY: From Durham, turn north at the lights at the intersection of Lambton S. E (County Rd 4) and Hwy 6. Travel north past Markdale Road 12 to the next right on West Grey Rd 6, then take the first lane on your right.
WELBECK SAWMILL: Turn left from Earthen Vessels Pottery and cross Hwy 6, continuing west on what is now the Welbeck Rd. The road takes a wide U-turn. Follow it around to the stop sign where you will turn right. Down the road on your left is the Welbeck Home Hardware. Across the bridge you will see the mill pond and a little further along you will see the old mill with its paddle wheel.
CHESLEY: From Welbeck Sawmill continue west to the T intersection. Turn right/north on Baseline Rd (gravel road). At the stop sign turn left/west onto Grey Rd 25. At the next stop sign continue west to the next intersection. Turn right on Bruce Rd 30. This will take you down the main street of Chesley (1st Ave S). Just before the bridge turn left/west on Riverside Dr. Keep right and park in the lot for Riverside Park. There is a large sign board here for the Chesley
Heritage Trail.
PAISLEY: Return to the main street and turn left/north across the bridge, driving up hill and out of town you will pass a large statue of a bull on your left (he’s known as Big Bruce). Take the next left on Bruce County Rd 11 (Verteran’s Way). In downtown Paisley, turn right at the stop sign (Queen St), then immediately turn left on Mill Dr. Turn right at the stop sign onto Inkerman St. Proceed beneath the old railway bridge. You will see Nature’s Millworks on your right. Return to the railway bridge and park on the north side of the road if you would like to climb up to the bridge and enjoy a panoramic view.
Continue east to Queen St. Turn left/north and park immediately north of the bridge over the Saugeen River in order to explore the shops downtown and visit the dam where the salmon are spawning (in October).
WALKERTON: Turn around and head south from Paisley on Bruce County Rd 3. Turn left on Bruce County Rd 2 (to Walkerton). To visit the fish ladder, drive through town. Immediately past Tim Horton’s look for a gravel lane on right (before the bridge). There is a sign for “Saugeen River Trail”. Park here and walk south to the dam and fish ladder.
CARRICK WINERY: Backtrack on Durham Rd (Bruce County Rd 2). Turn left at lights at Yonge St (which turns into 9 East). Four km past the lights look for Carrick Winery on the right/west side.
NEUSTADT: Return to the lights and turn east on Absalom St E (which turns into Bruce Rd 6E). At the stop sign, turn left/north on Grey Rd 10.
SULPHUR SPRINGS CONSERVATION AREA/SAUGEEN CONSERVATION AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS: Continue north on County Rd 10/Mill St to the stop sign. Turn right/east on Queen St, then immediately turn left onto David Winkler Pkwy (County Rd 10) towards Hanover. Watch for a large white sign “Sulphur Spring Conservation Area” on your right. Turn right /east onto Concession 2B. The entrance to the conservation area is .6 km east on the north side (fire #261121).
Download Highlighted Tour Map here
