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Highlands
The District of Highlands is located 20 km (13 miles) north-west
from Victoria. The Highlands borders
the community of Langford in the south
and Saanich to the east.
West
Shore
The Highlands is included in the Capital Regional District (CRD)
and is situated in an area called the Western Communities, often
referred to as the West Shore. The West Shore is a commercial, business
and recreation association and includes the other communities of
Colwood, Langford, Metchosin
and View Royal.
Rural
Community
The Highlands is a rural community made up of small hobby farms
and homes built on a few hectares (acres). There is virtually no
commercial centre or business section in the Highlands with the
non-residential buildings being the community's town hall which
is situated just off Millstream Road near the entrance to Bear Mountain
in Langford, and two volunteer fire halls, one near Caleb Pike Road,
the other off Woodridge Place by Raven Heights.
Caleb
Pike Heritage Park
The Caleb Pike Heritage Park is located at the intersection of Caleb
Pike Road and Millstream Road. Here you can find a 1.2 hectares
(3 acres) park with a number of heritage buildings on site. The
Caleb Pike Heritage Park is used as a meeting and gathering place
for the inhabitants of the Highlands and includes events such as
the Saturday night coffee house, council meetings, public markets
and family picnics.
Gowlland
Tod Provincial Park
The Highlands is home to a very large recreational space in the
west along Finlayson Arm and Squally Reach named Gowlland
Tod Provincial Park. In the park you can find a fairly remote
wilderness area that features beautiful hikes along trails going
through grassy meadows. Along the way there are wildflowers, old-growth
Douglas fir trees, lots of wildlife including 150 different species
of birds, deer, bears, cougars and squirrels and beautiful ocean
views.
Lone
Tree Hill Regional Park
One other hike that you might also consider is the relatively short
one to the top of Lone Tree Hill. Located on Millstream Road just
north of Caleb Pike Road North, Lone Tree Hill Regional Park walk
takes you up to a beautiful 360-degree view of Mount Finlayson,
Bear Mountain with the Malahat in the background, around to Esquimalt
Harbour, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Olympic Mountains in Washington
State, Victoria and Saanich. Unfortunately, the tree for which the
park was named, is long destroyed and now only a stump.
'Tour
de Dump'
For mountain bikers the Highlands offers you a way into the Capital
Regional District's largest area to go cycling at Hartland Landfill.
Nicknamed the 'Tour de Dump' this premiere bit of heaven offers
single track, fire roads and lots of rocky knolls with a favourite
ride called 'Skull Trail' in Vancouver Island's only designated
mountain biking area.
Mount
Work Regional Park
You can find access points into the Hartland Dump from trails leading
out of Mount Work Regional Park located off Munns Road towards Fork
Lake. Mount Work Regional Park also has a beautiful walking trail
that takes you to the highest point in the Saanich Peninsula through
a grove of Arbutus trees and raven nesting areas to a 360-degree
viewpoint overlooking Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, Thetis Lake
around to Prospect Lake in Saanich, Victoria and the Olympic Mountains
in Washington State.
Highlands
Recreation
Other recreational areas close to or in the Highlands include the
north side of Thetis Lake Regional Park where you can find hiking,
mountain biking and swimming. There is also Francis King Regional
Park off Munns Road where there is horseback riding and hiking trails.
A local favourite, Eagles Lake, is off Woodridge Place where you'll
find a great little swimming hole.
Millstream
Village Shopping Centre
The nearest shopping area to the Highlands is on Millstream Road
in Langford called the Millstream Village Shopping Centre. There
are a number of great stores and restaurants situated here including
a Milestones Grill and Bar, Serious Coffee, Nando's Chicken and
a Valhalla Pure Outfitters' store. The entrance to Millstream Village
is situated off Millstream Road just past the Loghouse Pub towards
Costco.
Entertainment
The nearest adult entertainment to the Highlands is located either
in Langford or Saanich. In Langford you can find the Axe & Barrel
Brewing Company formerly the Loghouse Pub at the corner of Treanor
Avenue and Millstream Road. In Saanich there is the Crooked Goose
Bistro and Cherries Breakfast Bistro situated at Interurban Road
and Wilkinson Road at five corners.
Goldstream
Provincial Park
Unfortunately there is no provincial campground at Gowlland Tod
with the nearest found at Goldstream
Provincial Park situated just off the Trans-Canada Hwy 1 in
Langford. There is no other accommodation in the Highlands so accommodation
has to be found in the other West Shore communities or Saanich.
Information
on the Highlands
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