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Cobble
Hill
The Village of Cobble Hill is located 45 km (28 miles) north of
Victoria on the Trans-Canada
Hwy 1 on southern Vancouver Island. By being situated only 45 minutes
to Victoria, Cobble Hill combines all the amenities of a big city
with a rural lifestyle set in a tranquil oceanside community.
Trans-Canada
Hwy 1
Cobble Hill is part of the Cowichan Regional District and is situated
on both the west and east sides of the Trans-Canada Hwy 1. Cobble
Hill is sandwiched by the communities of Duncan
in the north and Mill Bay in the south
and enjoys the ocean in the east. The main centre of Cobble Hill
is located 5 km (3 miles) west of Hwy 1 towards the Village of Shawnigan
Lake.
Getting
Here
You can get to the village by taking Cobble Hill Road or the Mill
Bay-Shawnigan Lake road off Trans-Canada Hwy 1. Once at Cobble Hill
you can find Liberation Park, the Cobble Hill Fair Grounds, the
Cobblestone Pub, Cobble Hill Fine Furnishings, Minstrels Coffee
Shop, post office, curio shop and an art gallery displaying lots
of local talent.
Wineries
and Vineyards
Located in the centre of Vancouver Island's Wine Country, Cobble
Hill has a few great wineries and vineyards for you to visit. The
wineries are producing some excellent and very popular vintages
and are located on both sides of Trans-Canada Hwy 1.
Cobble
Hill Fall Fair
Held annually at the end of August is the Cobble Hill Fall Fair.
The fair is located in the Cobble Hill Fair Grounds and features
farm fresh products from local producers, artisans, workshops and
blacksmithing demonstrations from the Vancouver Island Blacksmiths
Association.
Quarry
Wilderness Park
Set in the site of the old Cobble Hill Lime Quarry is Quarry Wilderness
Park, a 23-acre park. Famous for being where certain parts of the
1994 movie, Little Women, was filmed, the park is situated on the
side of Cobble Mountain and features tremendous views of the valley
and countryside below. Quarry Wilderness Park is very lush in vegetation
and can provide you with lots of wildlife viewing opportunities
especially if you enjoy bird watching.
Cherry
Point Nature Observation Park
This ½ acre park is situated near the tidal flats providing
spectacular ocean views and great nature viewing. There are lots
of area available for exploring and enjoying beach picnics making
it especially ideal for family outings. To get to the Cherry Point
Nature Observation Park you travel on Cherry Point Road to Garnet
Road, then take Garnet to the end and park near the ocean.
Arbutus
Ridge Golf Course
Arbutus Ridge is a seaside adult village situated on the Cobble
Hill's east side overlooking Saltspring Island. The village features
a secure setting catering to retired adults with beautiful ocean
views throughout the complex. If you would like play a round of
golf, Arbutus Ridge has a very nice challenging golf course that
is open to the public.
Horseback
Riding
For people who enjoy horseback riding, Cobble Hill features numerous
stables throughout the area. A favourite ride is downstream along
the Koksilah River to the Kinsol Trestle into the back side of Koksilah
Provincial Park. This whole area is blessed with such a mild climate
creating beautiful trails throughout the green tropical-like rainforest.
Trans-Canada
Trail
The Trans-Canada Trail is a multi-use trail that uses an abandoned
railbed from the Canadian National Railway. There is access to the
Cowichan Section of the Trans-Canada Trail coming down from Cowichan
Station. The trail travels north to Holt Creek Trestle and beyond
eventually to Lake Cowichan. Travelling south the trail eventually
comes to the Kinsol Trestle.
Kinsol
Trestle
At one time the largest wooden railway trestle in the British Commonwealth,
the Kinsol Trestle was the property of Canadian National Railway.
Built in 1921 this engineering feat made out of wooden timbers spans
the Koksilah River Canyon and is 187.6 metres (615 feet) long and
38.1 metres (125 feet) high.
Koksilah
River Provincial Park
The Kinsol Trestle was used to service the forestry industry and
the famed King Solomon's Mines. The bridge eventually succumbed
to years of wear and vandalism and was closed due to poor shape.
Unfortunately, if you wanted to travel south on the Trans-Canada
Trail across the Koksilah River you had to take a detour around
the Kinsol Trestle by quite some distance through Koksilah River
Provincial Park and back to Shawnigan Lake via Renfrew Road.
Kinsol
Trestle Revitalized
This was all changed in 2011 when it was re-opened to the public
after a major project revitalizing the bridge with a new capital
through the Cowichan Regional District, funding and donations.
Accommodation
If you do want to stay near Cobble Hill or in the Cowichan Regional
District there is a wide array of accommodation ranging from hotels,
motels, Bed & Breakfasts and camping facilities at Bamberton
Provincial Park just south of Mill Bay.
Cowichan
Valley Regional District
Other communities in the CRD near Cobble Hill all within 30 minutes
include Cowichan Bay, Cowichan Station,
Duncan, Glenora, and Shawnigan Lake.
E
& N Railway
If you enjoy a train ride you can take a small commuter train called
the E & N on Vancouver Island, Cobble Hill has a railway stop
if you would like to take the train from Victoria or from other
communities along the line.
Grape
Escape MS Bike
If you enjoy a great cause try an August favourite - the annual
Grape Escape MS Bike Tour. This bike event combines the natural
landscapes of the warm Cowichan Valley sunshine with a great tour
of local Cobble Hill wineries and other Cowichan Valley Vineyards.
Information
on Cobble Hill
Accommodation
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