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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Bonshaw & the West River, Prince Edward Island
Island Lavender Distillery's ten acres sit by Bonshaw Hills Park's 18 km of trails, about 25 minutes from Charlottetown's 1877 Beaconsfield House.
4 places · updated October 17, 2026
🌱 What’s happening now
Updated October 17
🪻 In season now
Matos Winery & Distillery · Deep Roots Distillery
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St. Catherines and Bonshaw sit in the rolling, wooded valley of the West River, just off the Trans Canada Highway about 25 minutes west of Charlottetown. It is a good base for a day that mixes country and town: the river valley has the island's biggest trail network at Bonshaw Hills Provincial Park, the south-shore fishing village of Victoria-by-the-Sea is about 20 minutes west, and Charlottetown's museums, galleries and market are a short drive east. The north-shore beaches and Green Gables in Cavendish are within about 45 minutes.
Island Lavender Distillery is the reason to start here. On 44 Appletree Lane you can walk about ten acres of lavender fields and gardens, and in summer pick your own bundles without a reservation; the owners distill the oil on the farm for the products in their shop. The farm has closed for the 2026 season, but its gift shop in Founders' Hall in Charlottetown is open year-round, so fall and winter visitors can still find its lavender goods.
The lavender farms
- Island Lavender DistilleryLavender farm · St. Catherines
mid-July
U-pick and farm gift shop in summer, with mid-July bloom; closed for 2026, reopening July 2027; Charlottetown shop at Founders' Hall open year-round.
Best time to visit
Come in summer for the lavender: Island Lavender Distillery's u-pick runs in season, at $12 for a bundle of about 100 stems in 2026, and the farm had closed for the 2026 season by October. Summer also brings the Wednesday Charlottetown Farmers' Market in July and August (it runs Saturdays year-round), the Victoria Range Light and Seaport Museum, open July 1 to September 15, and Matos Winery's season, which opens June 1. Green Gables Heritage Place is open daily May to October, and admission was free from June 19 to September 7, 2026 with the Canada Strong Pass. Fall is the time to hike Bonshaw Hills and Strathgartney among the turning hardwoods, join Beaconsfield's free Bog Tour, or take the Confederation Centre's Ghost Tour, which runs October 6 to November 7, 2026.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Bonshaw Hills Provincial Park🌳 State park · Bonshaw · about 2 mi, 5 min drive
More than 18 km of hiking and mountain-bike trails, easy to difficult, along the West River, whose Mi'kmaq name Ji'ka'we'katikl is given to the main trail. There is a canoe and kayak slip, picnic shelters and a natural adventure playground.
Year-round day use; pets on leash
- Strathgartney Provincial Park🌳 State park · Churchill (Trans Canada Highway) · about 5 mi, 10 min drive
Ten kilometres of prominently signed loop trails through the hills a few minutes west of Bonshaw.
- Victoria-by-the-Sea🏘️ Town · Victoria · about 12 mi, 20 min drive
A south-shore fishing village where you can watch the catch landed, paddle the harbour, browse artisan shops and see a show at the Victoria Playhouse, which opened in 1981 in the 1912–1915 Victoria Hall.
- Victoria Range Light & Seaport Museum🗼 Lighthouse · Victoria · about 12 mi, 20 min drive
A working lighthouse at the harbour with a Keepers of the Light exhibit.
July 1 to September 15
- Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site🏛️ Historic site · Rocky Point · about 15 mi, 25 min drive
Grassy ruins of the fort above Charlottetown Harbour, with interpretive panels, the Woven Stories program and about 6 km of trails with views across the harbour.
- Beaconsfield Historic House🏛️ Historic site · Charlottetown · about 14 mi, 25 min drive
W.C. Harris built this Victorian house in 1877, and it keeps many original features; the inside is seen on a 30–40 minute guided tour, and a free 45-minute Bog Tour explores a lost Charlottetown neighbourhood.
October 2026: Tuesday to Saturday 10–3, last tour at 3; grounds free anytime
$12 adults, $10 seniors and students, $36 family (June 1–October 31, 2026)
- Confederation Centre of the Arts🏛️ Museum · Charlottetown · about 15 mi, 25 min drive
Charlottetown's arts centre on Richmond Street, with an art gallery and theatres for concerts, the symphony and the summer Charlottetown Festival.
Gallery Tuesday to Saturday 10–5, Sunday 1–5, closed Monday
- Green Gables Heritage Place🏛️ Historic site · Cavendish · about 28 mi, 45 min drive
The farmhouse that inspired L.M. Montgomery's 1908 novel, with a visitor centre and the Haunted Wood and Balsam Hollow trails, the second starting as Lover's Lane.
May to October, daily 9–5
Free June 19–September 7, 2026 with the Canada Strong Pass; regular fees from September 8, 2026
- Prince Edward Island National Park🏖️ Beach · North shore (Cavendish area) · about 28 mi, 45 min drive
Sandy beaches, red cliffs and dunes on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with a seashore cycling path, lighthouse picnic spots and birdwatching.
Year-round; visitor services May to October
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Matos Winery & DistilleryWinery or vineyard (21+) · St. Catherines
Family winery and distillery just up West River Road, making Gamay Noir, Chardonnay and rosé plus PEI apple brandy; its season opens June 1.
- Charlottetown Farmers MarketFarm market · Charlottetown
More than 60 Island vendors and lunch on Saturdays 9 to 2 all year (plus Wednesdays in July and August), now at 614 North River Road.
- Riverdale Orchard & CideryCidery (21+) · Bonshaw
Bonshaw orchard making naturally fermented ciders with nothing added; closed for the 2026 season, but selling at the Charlottetown market on Saturdays.
- Deep Roots DistilleryDistillery (21+) · Warren Grove
Warren Grove distillery near Charlottetown making spirits, liqueurs, ciders and maple syrup, and offering tours.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMIsland Lavender Distillery
In summer, walk the fields and cut a bundle of your own; about an hour. Outside the season the farm is closed, so visit its Charlottetown shop later instead.
- 11:10 AMBonshaw Hills Provincial Park · about 5 min drive
Walk an easy loop along the West River; about an hour.
- 12:35 PMCharlottetown Farmers' Market Co-op · about 25 min drive
Lunch and shopping on a Saturday (or a July or August Wednesday) before the 2 p.m. close; about an hour.
- 1:50 PMBeaconsfield Historic House · about 10 min drive
Take the guided tour of the 1877 house, about 40 minutes, then walk the grounds.
- 2:50 PMConfederation Centre of the Arts · about 5 min drive
See the art gallery and walk downtown Charlottetown; about an hour.
- 4:15 PMSkmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site · about 25 min drive
Walk the fort ruins and harbour trails; about an hour.
- 5:50 PMVictoria-by-the-Sea · about 35 min drive
Finish with a seafood dinner by the harbour or an evening show at the Victoria Playhouse.
Tips
- Island Lavender Distillery's u-pick needs no reservation in season; it was $12 for a bundle of about 100 stems in 2026.
- The Charlottetown Farmers' Market is at a temporary location, 614 North River Road, and closes at 2 p.m.
- Beaconsfield's interior is by guided tour only, and in October 2026 tours ran Tuesday to Saturday with the last at 3 p.m.
- Bonshaw Hills is day use with no supervised beach; bring your own charcoal for the barbecues, and keep pets leashed.
- Many south-shore attractions, like the Victoria Range Light, are summer-only (July 1 to September 15).
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When can you pick lavender at Island Lavender Distillery?
During its summer season; no reservation is needed. The farm had closed for the 2026 season by October, but its Charlottetown shop in Founders' Hall is open year-round.
How far is Bonshaw from Charlottetown?
About 25 minutes' drive west on the Trans Canada Highway.
Is Green Gables open in the fall?
Yes, daily 9 to 5 from May through October; regular Parks Canada fees applied from September 8, 2026.
Is Riverdale Orchard & Cidery open?
It closed for the 2026 season; its ciders are sold at the Charlottetown Farmers' Market on Saturdays, 9 to 2.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
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