A Day of Farms, Flavours and Country Roads in SDG Counties
With so much to see in SDG Counties and Cornwall, it’s easy to spend at least a day exploring. This route takes you from farm gates and flower fields to wineries, local food producers and charming rural communities.
Start the day with European-style baked goods from the café at Ferme Butte & Bine Farm in Williamstown. Depending on the season, you could then pick a bouquet at Fields of Gold in Monkland or hang out with the friendly animals at Alpagas Apple Hill Alpacas.
Head to Alexandria next. Pop into The Glengarry Market to shop for local products and enjoy lunch in the café. Just outside town, Stonehouse Vineyard has a lovely patio where you can sample their vintages, paired with local cheese and meats.
For a sweetly scented stop in midsummer, pull into LouLou Lavender, where you can stroll the fields and shop for lavender-infused products.
Your next stop is Glengarry Fine Cheese in Lancaster. Along with the company’s array of cheeses—everything from Swiss to blue cheese—you can buy local honey, maple syrup, meats, condiments and crackers.
Have dinner at Fraser Creek Pizza Farm in Summerstown, where the pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven and topped with local ingredients. You can stay overnight at Fraser Creek or continue to Cornwall, where you’ll find a wide range of accommodations.
Small Town Stops Along the Way
The City of Cornwall is the region’s main urban hub, where you’ll find a full range of shops, services, and accommodations.
Pop into the Cornwall Community Museum, inside the 19th-century Wood House, which showcases the history of Cornwall and the surrounding area. Just down the road, the Historic SDG Jail—built in 1833—offers tours and special events. You can also see remnants of the old Cornwall Canal and its locks. After your adventures, treat yourself to something sweet from Riley’s Bakery (don’t miss the doughnuts).
SDG Counties is home to lots of charming villages and small towns, each with a unique vibe and claim to fame. Read on for road trip inspiration!
- Alexandria: The Priest’s Mill Arts Centre sells items made by local artisans and offers art and craft classes.
- Chesterville: Located on the South Nation River, the picturesque village of Chesterville hosts the popular Art on the Waterfront festival each June.
- Crysler: This small community offers a range of shops and services. Pop into the Old General Store for house-made soups, fudge and more.
- Dunvegan: The village of Dunvegan is home to the Glengarry Pioneer Museum, a collection of heritage buildings that illuminates life in the 1800s.
- Ingleside: Stop by Ingleside Bakery for fresh-baked breads and sweet treats.
- Iroquois: Watch oceangoing ships transit through the Iroquois Locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway. The village also hosts the Galop Canal Bluegrass Festival in June.
- Long Sault: Delve into the history of communities intentionally submerged below the St. Lawrence Seaway at the Lost Villages Museum, then relax with a refreshing beverage at the Lost Villages Brewery.
- Martintown: The hamlet of Martintown has many heritage buildings, including a former mill. Drop by Dish Wish for freshly prepared takeout and frozen meals.
- Maxville: Known for its Scottish heritage, Maxville hosts the Glengarry Highland Games—one of the largest Scottish festivals in North America—in late July/early August.
- Morrisburg: Learn about farm life in the 1860s at Upper Canada Village, visit the Battle of Crysler’s Farm National Historic Site and catch a show at the Upper Canada Playhouse.
- St. Andrew’s West: The community’s namesake church with its landmark spire was built in 1860, but the parish dates back to the 1780s. St. Andrew’s West is also home to the gravesite of explorer Simon Fraser.
- Williamsburg: The village of Williamsburg is known for its heritage buildings, such as Matilda Hall. Pick up fresh or frozen meals to go—as well as baked goodies, sandwiches, pizza and more—at Sherry’s Williamsburg.
- Williamstown: Historic buildings in Williamstown include the Sir John Johnson House National Historic Site (one of the oldest surviving homes in Ontario). Just outside the village, you’ll find St. Raphael’s Ruins National Historic Site. Partly consumed by a fire in 1970, the roofless church is a beautiful spot for photography.
- Winchester: Swing by this small town just south of Ottawa for Winchester Dairyfest in August. Any time of year, drop into Harvest Coffee for a hot beverage and baked goodies.
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