Vernon Bridge – Nature, Craft and History

Vernon Bridge brings together nature, craft and history. Specific highlights include woodland trails in Macphail Woods, a tree nursery with native plants, wool rug hooking and a seasonal bread and butter program. There are also hands-on fossil experiences. If you are looking for a hotel in Vernon Bridge, plan around the specific activity and its timing: the bread program is by appointment; the exact tour location for the fossil experiences is provided only after booking.

Nature and Hands-On Experiences

The Birch Loop at Macphail Woods is 2.5 km long, moderately difficult and crosses the Orwell River at two points. Its length, difficulty level and river crossings give you specific criteria for assessing this route during your stay. The Macphail Woods nursery sells a wide variety of native plants to the public. Together, the trail and nursery offer different nature-related themes: a named route on the one hand, native plants on the other.

The two-hour “Food on the Farm: Bread and Butter” program takes place at Orwell Corner Historic Village in Vernon Bridge. Visitors make Scottish sourdough bread and butter. The program is offered by appointment, Monday through Saturday, from May to September. Your plans therefore depend on both the season and your appointment time, as well as the program’s duration. Prehistoric Island Tours offers hands-on experiences with 300-million-year-old fossils from Prince Edward Island. The exact tour location is provided only after booking.

Craft and History in Vernon Bridge

In Vernon Bridge, three sisters run Pastimes PEI Rug Hooking and Wool Shop, a small wool rug hooking shop where wool rugs are sold. Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead is a restored estate. Its exhibits cover the life and work of island resident Andrew Macphail (1864–1938). The restored grounds include 140 acres with gardens and walking trails. These themes bring together craft, a named historical figure and an estate described as extensive, while each has its own focus.

Queens County as a Regional Setting

Queens County has its own historical and landscape landmarks. Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site of Canada is recognized for its role from 1720 to 1770 as the seat of government and a port of entry for settlers to Prince Edward Island. St. Elizabeth's Anglican Church was built of wood in 1848, using timber felled on the property. The Gothic country church stands on a rise overlooking farmland. John Ings Senior House in Pownal dates to approximately 1830 and is among the community’s earliest buildings; it offers expansive views of farmland and Pownal Bay.

The architecture and local history also reveal different facets of Queens County. Darrach-MacNeill House overlooks the Clyde River and West River and is valued for its age, distinctive architectural style, craftsmanship and connections to the history of Clyde River. The Mill in New Glasgow is a large, two-storey, wood-shingled building overlooking the River Clyde. It is valued for its age, its longstanding connection to the community’s history and its varied uses over the years. Since 2015, the property has operated as The Mill Restaurant; check before visiting whether the restaurant is currently operating for your travel dates. Elliotts Flag Station was a railway flag stop and an integral part of Queens County’s railway system. It has since been relocated and restored.

Seasonal Activities

Mark Arendz Provincial Ski Park at Brookvale is located in the central part of Queens County. Winter activities include Nordic and alpine skiing, snowboarding, fat biking, tubing and snowshoeing. In spring, summer and fall, mountain biking and hiking trails are available from the Nordic Centre. The trail network includes 25 km of well-maintained trails with varied terrain, as well as a training park and a roller loop. The shift from winter sports to trails for the other named seasons can help you choose when to travel. Trail conditions can change; check them before your outing.

In the eastern part of Queens County, the Queens East ATV Club manages an ATV trail network. At the Pisquid Road crossing, it connects to the Confederation Trail. Permits and trail conditions can change; check current conditions before a ride. Activities across Queens County therefore vary by season and trail type, just as the nature and history themes in Vernon Bridge do.

Discover more destinations: Cavendish, York, Mt Stewart, Victoria, Bonshaw, Belle River, North Rustico, Rice Point.

Back to the main travel overview: Queens County.