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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Port Hope & the Northumberland Hills, Ontario
Laveanne's four acres of lavender open every July north of Port Hope; pair them with Victorian Walton Street, a river fish ladder and Cobourg's beach.
3 places · updated October 17, 2026
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Campbellcroft sits in the Northumberland Hills a short drive north of Port Hope and Lake Ontario. Just west is the Ganaraska Forest, which its conservation authority calls southern Ontario's largest contiguous forest, with hundreds of kilometres of trails. To the south, Port Hope's Walton Street keeps its Victorian storefronts, the Ganaraska River runs through downtown to the lake, and next-door Cobourg has more than a kilometre of white-sand beach. Peterborough's Lift Lock and canoe museum are about 35 minutes north.
Laveanne, on Gilmour Road, has four acres of lavender planted in French-style rows, a meditation labyrinth, a wildflower garden and a fairy village. The fields open for one month only, July, when the lavender blooms, while the boutique stays open all year. Walk the lavender in the morning, spend the middle of the day with the goats and alpacas at Haute Goat Farm near Newtonville, and finish on the rooftop at Ganaraska Brewing Company beside the river in Port Hope.
The lavender farms
- LaveanneLavender farm · Campbellcroft
July
Fields open to walk-ins for the month of July with gate admission; boutique year-round.
Best time to visit
July is the month to come: Laveanne's fields were open July 1 to 31 in 2026, with $14 CAD gate admission. Ganaraska Brewing's rooftop patio is open May through September, Cobourg tests its beach water from early June to the end of August, and the Victoria Park canteen washrooms are open from the May long weekend to Thanksgiving weekend. Haute Goat Farm is open year-round, Wednesday to Sunday, with baby goat sessions in summer only and its Ghouly Goat Spooktacular on October 24, 25 and 31, 2026. The Trent-Severn Waterway's lock stations, including the Peterborough Lift Lock, operate from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, and Port Hope's Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny river race is held each April.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Ganaraska Forest🌲 Preserve · Campbellcroft · about 5 mi, 12 min drive
Hundreds of kilometres of trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, skiing and snowshoeing; the Central Forest is kept for quiet use, while off-road vehicles are limited to the West and East Forest.
Daily, dawn to dusk
Day Pass or Forest Membership required, sold online or at the Ganaraska Forest Centre gatehouse kiosk
- Corbett's Dam & Fishway🌉 Landmark · Port Hope · about 11 mi, 18 min drive
The first barrier on the Ganaraska River for fish heading upstream: a 90-foot pool-and-weir fishway with nine pools lifts migrating salmon and trout about 12 feet while keeping out sea lamprey.
- Walton Street and Downtown Port Hope🏘️ Town · Port Hope · about 12 mi, 20 min drive
Walton Street has been called the best-preserved main street in the province, with tree-lined Victorian façades; self-guided heritage walking tours start downtown, and Farini Gardens marks where the Great Farini crossed the river on a tightrope in 1859.
- Capitol Theatre🏛️ Historic site · Port Hope · about 12 mi, 20 min drive
A 1930 Famous Players movie house that closed in 1987, was restored by a citizens' foundation and reopened in 1995; a National Historic Site since 2016, it now hosts live shows and films.
- Port Hope Beaches and Waterfront🏖️ Beach · Port Hope · about 12 mi, 20 min drive
Two main public beaches on Lake Ontario, East Beach and West Beach, with playgrounds and picnic areas nearby; the boat launch is free year-round.
Check the health unit's beach water results before swimming
- Victoria Beach🏖️ Beach · Cobourg · about 15 mi, 25 min drive
More than a kilometre of white sand beside Victoria Park, with picnic tables, two playgrounds, a splash pad and food trucks; the West Beach boardwalk runs from Hibernia Street to Ontario Street. No lifeguards were on duty in summer 2026, and dogs are not allowed on the beach.
Daily 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; water tested early June to end of August
- Canadian Canoe Museum🏛️ Museum · Peterborough · about 22 mi, 35 min drive
The world's largest collection of canoes, kayaks and other paddled craft, more than 600 boats, now shown at a new lakefront campus at 2077 Ashburnham Drive.
- Peterborough Lift Lock🏛️ Historic site · Peterborough · about 24 mi, 35 min drive
Lock 21 of the Trent-Severn Waterway, opened July 9, 1904, raises boats an average of 19.8 m (65 ft); it is a National Historic Site with picnic areas, a paddlers' dock and a new year-round visitor centre.
Lock operates Victoria Day to Thanksgiving; visitor centre open year-round from June 26, 2026
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Haute Goat FarmFamily fun farm · Newtonville
A 200-acre goat and alpaca farm about 15 minutes from Laveanne, free to wander Wednesday to Sunday, with a café, disc golf and bookable goat walks.
- Ganaraska Brewing CompanyBrewery or taproom (21+) · Port Hope
Port Hope brewery beside the Ganaraska River with shared plates and a rooftop patio over the town and lake from May to September.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMLaveanne
Walk the lavender rows and the labyrinth, have a lemon lavender shortbread on the terrace and visit the boutique; about 90 minutes (July only).
- 11:45 AMHaute Goat Farm · about 15 min drive
Walk the trails to see the goats and alpacas, then have lunch at the Screaming Goat Café before it closes at 3:30 p.m.; about two hours (closed Monday and Tuesday).
- 2:00 PMCorbett's Dam & Fishway · about 20 min drive
See the nine-pool fish ladder on the Ganaraska River; about 20 minutes.
- 2:30 PMWalton Street and Downtown Port Hope · about 5 min drive
Stroll the Victorian main street, pass the Capitol Theatre and look for Farini Gardens by the river; about an hour.
- 3:45 PMPort Hope Beaches and Waterfront · about 5 min drive
Walk the Lake Ontario shore at East Beach; about 40 minutes.
- 4:45 PMVictoria Beach · about 15 min drive
Walk the white sand and the West Beach boardwalk in Cobourg; about an hour.
- 6:15 PMGanaraska Brewing Company · about 15 min drive
Early dinner of shared plates on the rooftop patio (May to September; closed Mondays).
Tips
- Laveanne's fields are open only in July; bring a blanket or chairs because shade is limited, and leave pets and drones at home.
- Dogs are also not allowed at Haute Goat Farm, which has working livestock guardian dogs, or on Cobourg's Victoria Beach.
- Haute Goat is open Wednesday to Sunday and Ganaraska Brewing is closed Mondays, so a Wednesday-to-Sunday trip works best.
- Buy a Ganaraska Forest day pass online or at the Forest Centre gatehouse kiosk before you hike.
- Check beach water results before swimming in Port Hope; Cobourg posts green, yellow and red status from early June to the end of August.
- Plan a designated driver if you are tasting at the brewery.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When is Laveanne open?
The fields open for the month of July only (July 1 to 31 in 2026). Gate admission in 2026 was $14 CAD including tax, with children under 12 free, and the boutique is open year-round.
Can I bring my dog?
Not to Laveanne, Haute Goat Farm or Cobourg's Victoria Beach. Check each place before you bring a pet.
What else is there to do in Port Hope?
Walk Victorian Walton Street, see the fish ladder at Corbett's Dam, visit East or West Beach, catch a show at the 1930 Capitol Theatre, and end on Ganaraska Brewing's rooftop.
How far is Peterborough from the lavender farm?
About 35 minutes north, where you can see the Peterborough Lift Lock and the Canadian Canoe Museum.
🪪 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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