Colwood-Metchosin Page 1 of 8 Directions for Day 1: Colwood To Metchosin Start: Royal Roads University, Birds of a Feather B&B, or at Esquimalt Lagoon Finish: Your accommodation in Metchosin Time: 4-5 hours walking time Distance: 15 km to 18 or 20 km (~10-13 miles) Difficulty: Easy to moderate; trails and beach walking, some country roadside Royal Roads / Hatley Park & Castle Esquimalt Lagoon Birds of a Feather B&B D I S T A N C E S Royal Roads 3 miles 5 km Albert Head Lagoon Beach 3 miles 5 km Hillman Trail Wit s End Retreat Metchosin Village Witty s Lagoon 3 miles 5 km Krishnamurti Educational Centre Devonian Park and Taylor Beach Lodge at Weir s Beach Metchosin Village 2 miles 3.2 km Lodge at Weir s Beach 1 km 1:72,233 Scale 1 0 1 2 KM 3 0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 MI 2
Page 2 of 8 Hatley Castle (Royal Roads University) to the Beach 3 km, 1.8 miles; 45 minutes Follow the blue line for the shortest route; the red dotted lines show scenic or interesting alternatives. 1 Starting at the castle, walk SW to the gardens. To visit the gardens, the museum (free) and gift shop, look for a sandwich board sign pointing down a few steps. Castle 1 Charlie s Trail To continue your hike, walk SW past the gardens and the library, until you reach a one-lane road leading downhill. Turn left 2 Walk downhill for ~3 minutes, until you reach the gate to the Rose garden on your left. 3 2 A gravel road starts across the street, to your right. Follow this road SW. See image below Birds of a Feather B&B 4 5 Beach / WC To Metchosin 3 Continue straight ahead. Leave the park trough the small gate. You are at the 4 corner of Heatherbell and Lagoon Roads. Walk downhill on Lagoon Road to the beach. 5 Turn right/south at Ocean Boulevard, the road along the beach, and walk to the end of the road, past the building with washrooms.
Page 3 of 8 If you are coming from Birds of a Feather B&B make your way to the beach, following the map (right) or directions from your hosts. You are crossing a new apartment and townhouse development to its south-east corner. From a parking area, a gravel trail leads through the green space to a side street, which takes you to Lagoon Road. Go down to the beach and turn right, or south. Walk to the end of the road. From Royal Roads Esquimalt Lagoon Birds B&B Be ac h Esquimalt Lagoon to Albert Head Lagoon Walk 2 km/1.3 miles along the beach: 100 m 100 0.05 0 0 100 0.05 200 0.1 0.15 300 M 0.2 MI 400 0.25 2 Be ac h 1 1:9,028 Scale first take the trail on the bench, along the fence and blackberry bushes, until it ends. (Photo 1). It s easier than walking on the beach. Then walk on the gravel beach (photo 2). You are walking below a former rock and gravel quarry dating back to the mid-1800 s. This was one of the Vancouver Portland Cement Company s sites; the now famous Butchart Gardens is another. It is said that much of Seattle was built with stones from here. Operations ceased within the past decade. The site has been reclaimed and is turning into a subdivision, with beach access for residents. Leave the beach when you get to Albert Head Lagoon. Continue on Park Drive next map. Park Drive Albert Head Lagoon 200 m 1:18,055 Scale 200 0.1 0 0 200 0.1 400 0.2 0.3 600 M 0.4 MI 800 0.5
Page 4 of 8 Albert Head Lagoon to Witty s Lagoon - 5 km (To explore the lagoon, follow the short trail along the beach; it ends at a fence. Return.) - Access the street at the small parking lot ou are on Delgada Road, which becomes Park Drive. - Walk up the hill for 0.5 km. Duke Road West Duke Road East Park Drive Albert Head Lagoon Albert Head Drive - Before Park Dr. makes a sharp right turn, look for a trail on your left, next to a set of mailboxes. (see photo) - Take the trail across the foot bridge, then turn left. You are on Duke Road East. - Walk 1.6 km, past Dutnall and Albert Head Drive. CFB Esquimalt - Look for the start of the sidewalk on the right side of the street after Albert Head Drive. Tower Point - Pass Gilbert Drive on your right. 200 m 1:18,055 Scale 200 0 200 400 600 M 800 0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 MI 0.5 - Where Duke Road makes a sharp turn to the right, continue straight ahead, parallel to the ocean, on Olympic View Drive. (Did you notice the book exchange on the left?) - Tower Point (optional detour): Walk a loop down to enjoy the view of the coastline. Look for the gravel parking lot on your left, with park signage. There are nice picnic spots. - Continue on Olympic View Drive, past Cliff Drive, to the trail access at the end of the road. - Follow the left trail, not the bridle (horse) trail, to access Witty s Lagoon Regional Park. - Walk around the lagoon, staying on trails close to the lagoon (they are all called Lagoon Trail). - Be sure to stop on the viewing platform for Sitting Lady Falls.
max Rd Page 5 of 8 Witty s Lagoon Protected Area Metchosin Rd Service Road Ruby Creek Duke Rd W Pears Rd Option 2 Main Entrance Bilston Creek Teaching Shelter Sitting Lady Falls La g o on Trail Whitney - Griffiths Point Salt Marsh Witty's Lagoon Cliff Dr Circle Dr Olympic View Dr Elwyn Rd Seasonal Gilbert Dr Beach Trail Salt Marsh Sandspit Option 1 Witty Beach Rd Stillmeadow Rd Birdie Creek B&B To Metchosin Village Stairs Closed No Beach Access Parry Bay Tower Point Woo From Sitting Lady Falls, there are two ways to get to Metchosin Village: Option 1 This route takes you along the lagoon and beach, then to Metchosin Village, past Wit's End Retreat B&B (40 min.) Go around the waterfalls; ignore the trail leading to the interpretive centre and parking lot. Follow the Beach Trail downhill, around the lagoon, and on to the sandy beach. Walk south along the beach (to your right when facing the open water), past the washrooms (in a small building with a green roof). This takes you just outside the park boundaries. Do not walk up the paved driveway (there is a Private sign.) Continue 50 m/200 ft along the beach and look along the tree line for wooden stairs. See photo. They can be difficult to see at first; stay close to the trees. The stairs take you into the parking lot at the end of Witty Beach Road. Wit s End Retreat is located at the top off the stairs: Stay on the right side of the parking lot. Look for the gate to the right of the two big trees in the parking lot: number 517. To continue to the Village of Metchosin, walk to the end of Witty Beach Road.
Page 6 of 8 Turn left on Metchosin Road (there is a footpath along the road on your left, part of the way), pass the historic church and cemetery, and continue to the corner of Metchosin & Happy Valley Roads. From Witty s Lagoon To Metchosin Village via Hillman Trail - 2.4 km; 30 min. Please see map next page. This route takes you first past a golf course which offers refreshments. Then, walk along a bucolic meadow trail. Expect noisy dogs behind a fence, baby sheep and old-growth trees along a creek. Option 2 From Sitting Lady Falls, follow the signs to the main park entrance and nature centre. Cross the parking lot. Directly across the street is the golf course and club house, which serves refreshments. Walk a few steps to your right along Metchosin Road Then turn immediately left onto Pears Road. Walk along Pears Road for 400 metres, to the end of the golf course. Turn left onto Hillman Trail (see photo); you will see a sign as soon as you are on the trail. Follow the trail, which becomes Hillman Road, for 1 km. At the road intersection, turn left on Happy Valley Road. Cross the road to walk on the footpath along Happy Valley. You are passing the cafés, shop etc. In Metchosin My-Chosen Cafe serves country fare. It s famous for its burgers and its fresh salads make a full meal in themselves. The Sugar Shack is in the same building as My Chosen Cafe. It serves delectable sweets, but also has light lunches, such as quiche, and it is open into the evening. My-Chosen Pizza, (250) 474-5576, located at the back of My-Chosen Cafe, offers madefrom-scratch pizzas for take out or delivery to your B&B, pasta dishes and salads are also available. Gluten free and vegetarian options are accommodated. The Broken Paddle Café is the local café and is great for snacks and lunch. It closes around 4 pm and is closed on Saturdays. Located in the row of shops east of My Chosen Cafe. Metchosin Country Store across the street has basic fresh foods, as well as products from the Galloping Goose Sausage Company. The Schoolhouse Museum and the Farm Museum bear witness to the area s history and is definitely worth a visit. It is run by volunteers and only open on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Metchosin Farmers Market takes place at Metchosin Municipal Grounds on 4450 Happy Valley Road, Sundays from 11 am to 2 pm from May (Mother's Day) to the last Sunday in October. Great food and artisans Metchosin Art Studios: follow the signage along Metchosin Road and in the village.
Page 7 of 8 Option 2 Option 2 Option 1 B&B Beach & Stairs To The Lodge at Weir s Beach, along William Head Road 200 m 1:18,055 Scale 200 0 200 400 600 M 800 0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 MI 0.5
Page 8 of 8 From Metchosin Village to Krishnamurti Educational Centre and The Lodge at Weir s Beach 3.8 km / 2 miles Galloping Goose Regional Trail Lombard William Head Road Swanwick Rd.; K. Ed. Centre Taylor Rd. unoffical footpath - optional detour Lodge at Weir s Beach Taylor Beach 1:36,111 Scale 0.5 0 0.5 1 KM 1.5 0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 MI 1 William Head Road starts at the village and runs south. Follow William Head Road south. There is a footpath along the left/west side of the road. Past Devonian Park, continue along William Head Road For Krishnamurti Educational Centre, walk down Swanwick Road to the end. To get to the Lodge at Weir s Beach, continue around a steep corner and downhill through a neighbourhood. Pass Ron Weir Trail on your right, then Sandgate Road (left), then Weir s Beach RV Resort (left). Immediately after the RV resort, look for the sign for The Lodge of Weir s Beach on your left, at the entrance to the driveway. If you reach Pearson College Drive on your right, you ve missed the lodge. Optional detour walk along the waterfront 20 minutes past the village, after passing Taylor Road, you can take trails through Devonian Park down to Taylor Beach. Particularly scenic is the Bridle Path, accessed another 2 minutes further along, directly off William Head Road. On the pebble beach, continue south along the beach to the Lodge. You need to scramble over a rock and then follow a footpath along private properties, until you reach another short rocky descent onto the beach. The lodge is near the end of the beach. Look for steps up to the property and walk around the house to the front.