From Our Advertisers

With the Blyth Festival and shopping at the wool and leather outlet stores, there’s plenty to bring people to Blyth. Now, thanks to the Blyth Greenway Trail there’s another reason to stay awhile.

In today’s busy world people often enjoy the opportunity to commune with nature, wrapping themselves in its stillness, so when the idea of rehabilitating the former rail bed as a nature trail came up it seemed the perfect fit for Blyth’s already existing attractions. A break from the hectic walk of life brings peace and a new perspective and taking that break on the Greenway Trail is a pleasant excursion. Here the history of the railway blends with the soothing sounds from nearby Blyth Brook.

From the arch at the trail’s easterly end, to the farmland of one local resident at the west, the route is impressive not just for its picturesque serenity, but because its revival came about as a result of volunteer effort.

The project began a few years ago when the rail line was transferred to Ontario Realty Corporation, which in turn approached the village about leasing the land. The village council  came up with the idea of developing the area and approached the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority for assistance. Various service clubs and community groups were invited to participate.

Grant money was received from the Ministry of Natural Resources which was used towards fish habitat improvement. A grant from the MVCA was put towards promotional material.

Work began in the summer of 1996, by cleaning out the brook area and placing rocks and stones for erosion control along its banks. It didn’t take long before those early efforts reaped benefits— salmon and speckled trout can be viewed regularly.

Students from the local school were called on to help clear stones and brush, with help from the local snowmobile club. Neighbouring landowners have volunteered to maintain the land adjacent to their property.

A butterfly garden, located in the parking area behind Bainton’s Old Mill was designed and planted by the local Horticultural Society.

One of the more recent projects is the incorporation of a fitness trail, consisting of a number of exercise stations constructed from pipes and boards.

Walking the trail, one may not be aware of the community spirit that went into its creation. But it’s not difficult to notice Mother Nature's good work while meandering along the narrow path by clear, crisp water through 10 acres of lowland shrubbery, or in spying the fresh tracks left by a deer’s recent passing. Feathered friends flit from the many birdhouses and boxes, while the blend of the trickling brook and clear air soothes.

It’s easy to reach the trail from the Blyth campground or from several of the villages bed and breakfast locations.

And the rail is becoming a focal point of local activities more and more. In Fall a Witches Walk brings hundreds of children from all over the region to the Greenway.

TAKE A HIKE ALONG BLYTH'S GREENWAY TRAIL

With the Blyth Festival and shopping at the wool and leather outlet stores, there’s plenty to bring people to Blyth. Now, thanks to the Blyth Greenway Trail there’s another reason to stay awhile.

In today’s busy world people often enjoy the opportunity to commune with nature, wrapping themselves in its stillness, so when the idea of rehabilitating the former rail bed as a nature trail came up it seemed the perfect fit for Blyth’s already existing attractions. A break from the hectic walk of life brings peace and a new perspective and taking that break on the Greenway Trail is a pleasant excursion. Here the history of the railway blends with the soothing sounds from nearby Blyth Brook.

The twin attractions of the natural beauty of its setting and its sense of history has always made Goderich a popular tourism destination. For a new perspective on both, however, visitors should make a trip over the Menesetung Bridge and along the Tiger Dunlop Heritage Trail.

The view from the bridge and the trail is spectacular in all seasons looking out over the river, the harbour and the town from a perspective that can’t be gained anywhere else in the area.

When you tread the sturdy boards of the Menesetung Bridge you’re walking where steam locomotives once hauled trains laden with grain down to the Goderich harbour for loading on lake freighters, or carried heavy loads of rock salt from the Sifto Salt Mine or road graders from Champion Road Machinery eastward to customers throughout North America and beyond. Until 1988 the bridge served to carry CPR freight trains high above the Maitland River. The last steam train crossed the bridge as part of an historical excursion in 1977.

The CPR was the second railway line to come to Goderich, a rather Johnny-come-lately, arriving in 1907. The railway line ran through Blyth and Milverton on to Guelph.

The line was discontinued in 1988, but a number of determined Goderich residents saw the abandoned bridge as a glorious opportunity. They successfully persuaded local officials to get involved and delay the demolition of the bridge until they could raise public support.

Carved into boards on the bridge you will see the names of the many people who came forward with donations to keep the bridge intact and to turn it into a safe pedestrian crossing. To them we owe the thanks for a spectacular view, looking down on the Maitland far below, watching the seagulls actually fly under us as we stand by the railing on the bridge. We can watch fishermen wade in the waters of the river and golfers swat their golf balls across the green of the

Maitland Golf and Country Club. The bridge has become one of the most popular attractions in Goderich, both for local people and visitors.

But rewarding as Menesetung Bridge  is, it’s just the gateway to more dramatic scenery and a trip back to the very beginning of white settlement of Goderich and Huron County. The abandoned CPR right-of-way has been turned into the Tiger Dunlop Heritage Trail. The trail clings to the high northern bank of the Maitland River and every few feet offers a different perspective of the river valley, the elevators and ships in the harbour and the tall spires of Goderich’s many churches. You’ll need more time (an hour or so) to take in the trail than if you just visit the bridge, but it can be a rewarding trip.

Culmination of the hike down the trail, about a mile to the east of the bridge, is the tomb of Tiger Dunlop. When the Canada Company was formed in the 1820s to open the Huron Tract (including most of Huron and Perth and parts of adjacent counties) Tiger Dunlop was appointed Warden of the Forest. Visiting Goderich, he fell in love with the area where the river called Menesetung by the local Indians, emptied into the lake. He built a house on the north bank of the valley overlooking the lake, river and the town he helped to build. From there he oversaw the opening up of the entire Huron Tract. In 1841 he was elected to the colony’s legislature after a raucous election. He died in office and his body was brought home and buried on the river bank. You can view the tomb and enjoy yet another spectacular view.

The Tiger Dunlop Heritage Trail connects to the Maitland Trail and the Goderich-to-Auburn Rail Trail. To get to the Menesetung Bridge take the North Harbour Road in Goderich from Highway 21.

The twin attractions of the natural beauty of its setting and its sense of history has always made Goderich a popular tourism destination. For a new perspective on both, however, visitors should make a trip over the Menesetung Bridge and along the Tiger Dunlop Heritage Trail.

Huron County has always been very animal-friendly, but about five years ago, Goderich officially went to the dogs.

Goderich’s greatest tourism asset, its Lake Huron shore, began welcoming dogs, officially to walk, run and even swim out in the water, while keeping parts of the beach just for humans as well.

While the county currently plays host to one of the biggest dog shows in the area, the Bluewater Kennel Club’s All Breed Dog Show and Obedience Trial, every year in Blyth, it’s Goderich which has opened the doors for our furry friends, literally.

Travelling east on your way down to the beach, you will notice one of Goderich’s most distinct and unique features, after leaving the town square (really an octagon) you’ll travel down to its beach (which is actually three beaches). It’s nothing, if not quirky.

Across the harbour from the salt mine, is the first beach, which is its most expansive and it’s for humans only, but just a little bit further down the road is St. Christopher’s Beach, which is dog-friendly. Now, man’s best friend still has to be leashed, but on St. Christopher’s Beach, dogs are free to run through the sand, swim in the water, or simply walk on the boardwalk or the grass, or even find some shade to lie in.

However, travelling even further south, past Goderich’s third beach, is a dog run, where leashes can be freed and dogs are able to run to their hearts content as long as their owner is able to keep them under control and well-behaved.

“We have always been very dog-friendly here,” says Goderich Tourism’s Bob Marshall. “And this makes it so that anyone is free to use the waterfront.”

Marshall says that he thinks Goderich’s waterfront is perfect for just about anyone, providing beaches for people who might not want to be disturbed by dogs and people who do have dogs.

“When you limit who can use the waterfront, that makes it tough. Now anyone can use the waterfront,” he said. “I mean we want everyone to be able to enjoy it. It’s accessible to everyone and now dog-owners can enjoy it just as everyone else does.”

Marshall says, as a dog owner himself, that he feels the community is very dog-friendly, even if it’s just residents walking their pets around town.

He says that the pet-accessible beach is just one more attraction to help bring people to the area.

“Everyone cares about what the town looks like, so most people clean up after their dogs,” he said. “It’s very pet-friendly here.”

Huron County has always been very animal-friendly, but about five years ago, Goderich officially went to the dogs.

Goderich’s greatest tourism asset, its Lake Huron shore, began welcoming dogs, officially to walk, run and even swim out in the water, while keeping parts of the beach just for humans as well.

While the county currently plays host to one of the biggest dog shows in the area, the Bluewater Kennel Club’s All Breed Dog Show and Obedience Trial, every year in Blyth, it’s Goderich which has opened the doors for our furry friends, literally.

By Shawn Loughlin

Your tour of Canada’s prettiest town starts on Hamilton Street, at the tourism centre. There you’ll find pamphlet guides that will take you all over Huron County, not just Goderich.

One of the newest pamphlets, which was just launched at Huron County’s annual brochure swap, is the new hiking guide, which features over 25 trails throughout Huron County that will take you up and around and through some of the most beautiful country in Ontario.

However, while there might be too much to choose from, the diamond in the rough is the map of the Marine Heritage Walking Tour. This detailed guide will direct you where you need to go and tell you all you need to know to find Queen Elizabeth II’s reasoning behind calling Goderich Canada’s prettiest town.

There are new, redesigned maps featuring all four walking tours, as well as the Marine Heritage Walking Tour. Right now, the pamphlet consists of over 40 different points of interest along Goderich’s beautiful view of Lake Huron.

The tour, as pointed out on the walking tour map, spans several different points of interest from the remains of a ship, to the breathtaking, elevated view from Goderich’s lighthouse to the black hole in Lake Huron; and these are just the beginning.

While it is hard to imagine that visitors may need one more reason to visit the beach, the jewel of the town, the walking tour guide provides history and background for history buffs, curious visitors and even long-time residents who are always eager for more knowledge of their town.

A short drive down Harbour St. and then Cove Rd. takes you to the south end of the beach where the walk can begin. Walking north begins the historic and beautiful walk through the history of Goderich.

One of the early stops on the tour is the “bone yard”. Several ships are laid to rest in this deep corner of Lake Huron.

Soon after, the tour reaches St. Christopher’s Beach, the middle of Goderich’s three beaches.

St. Christopher’s Beach is where the stops along the tour become abundant. Perhaps the best view of the harbour is just a short trip up some stairs from St. Christopher’s Beach to the Goderich lighthouse. This plateau provides a perfect bird’s eye view of the water. Also accessible through town roads by car on Cobourg St., the elevated view is easily the town’s most breathtaking.

After dark, the lighthouse is outlined with thin red lights, with the traditional rotating lighthouse beam sweeping across the beach.

As the walk continues north to the main beach, this area is often busy as there are snack shops, a restaurant and other attractions at the mouth of the harbour.

All along the trail and Goderich’s famous boardwalk are public beaches and plenty of places to stop and cool off. There are also several children’s playgrounds for the youngsters who aren’t so inclined to sit down and take a quick rest.

Along the walk are blue information plaques that feature stories about the area in that specific spot to keep you on course. However, in recent years, the plaques have begun to be replaced with classic brown and white plaques greeting you along the way.

The plaques provide a wider scope to the tour, filling in blanks that may have been left by reading the pamphlet alone.

The descriptions in the pamphlet are meant to peak your interest, while the story will be told in full by the plaque at the actual port and the experience that accompanies actually being there to see for yourself.

If you don’t believe the Queen, see for yourself. If Goderich is the prettiest, the beach has to be the feather in its cap, so grab a pamphlet and see the prettiest of the pretty.

By Shawn Loughlin

Your tour of Canada’s prettiest town starts on Hamilton Street, at the tourism centre. There you’ll find pamphlet guides that will take you all over Huron County, not just Goderich.

One of the newest pamphlets, which was just launched at Huron County’s annual brochure swap, is the new hiking guide, which features over 25 trails throughout Huron County that will take you up and around and through some of the most beautiful country in Ontario.

However, while there might be too much to choose from, the diamond in the rough is the map of the Marine Heritage Walking Tour. This detailed guide will direct you where you need to go and tell you all you need to know to find Queen Elizabeth II’s reasoning behind calling Goderich Canada’s prettiest town.