Huron-Kinloss
Huron-Kinloss is a township of about 8,000 people (2021) in Bruce County, Ontario. It is composed of several small communities: Amberley, Bruce Beach, Blair's Grove, Clarks Church, Clover Valley, Holyrood, Kinlough, Langside, Lower Langside, Lucknow, Lurgan Beach, Pine River, Point Clark, Purple Grove, Reid's Corners, Ripley, Verdun, and Whitechurch. Ripley (pop. 600) and Lucknow (pop. 1100) are the main population centres.
Understand
Huron-Kinloss is a primarily rural region of farmland and woodlots. The lakeshore is sparsely populated with the village of Point Clark at the south end and Boiler Beach at the north end, and seasonal and permanent cottages along the shore in between.
The township depends heavily on agriculture and agricultural services, and some food processing such as the Pine River cheese factory. Some residents work in nearby Kincardine or Goderich. The Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in the communities of Inverhuron and Tiverton, is the largest area employer. Tourism is also important to the area.
The region is popular with retirees, with a lake-moderated mild climate and a reputation for a relaxed, friendly lifestyle.
Ripley is almost in the heart of the Township of Huron-Kinloss and is now the municipal seat for the amalgamated communities of the Village of Lucknow, and Kinloss and Ripley-Huron Townships. The former Ripley Township Hall was renovated and expanded in 1997 to house the new township's municipal offices.
The former township of Kinloss has become home to hundreds of Mennonite families. They work their small family farms, operate windmills by the farmhouses and farm businesses. You will likely meet a few horse-drawn buggies on your travels. At the farm gates, they often sell fresh produce, flowers, and crafted items.
Point Clark is a pretty residential community tucked into the shoreline. A quiet, sandy beach is adjacent to the lighthouse tower. Lighthouse Park is equipped with playground equipment and washrooms. Point Clark also has a small harbour and boat launch ramp. Four nature trails -the Point Clark Greenway Project- are accessible at various points throughout Point Clark. Cross country skiing during the winter months is a popular activity.
History
Ripley: Evicted from their crofts on Lewis Island, the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, 109 families settled in Ripley and area to work the land here. Named after a town in Derbyshire, England, the post office opened in 1857. The completion of the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway in 1873 placed Ripley on the business map. By 1886, Ripley was a thriving community with a variety of businesses and churches serving the area's farmers.
Lucknow: was named after a town in India where, in 1857, a vicious battle took place between the besieging native rebels and the liberating British army. Horrendous tales of the Indian Mutiny, as it was called, reached even the Canadian wilderness. Several Lucknow streets bear the names of some of the British generals involved in the Indian Mutiny: Ross, Outram, Havelock, Willoughby, Rose and Canning.
Point Clark: Point Clark's imperial lighthouse tower warns sailors of the dangers of the reefs about 2 miles off the Lake Huron shoreline. The lantern was first lit in 1859.
Get in
Ripley is 230 km west of Toronto (3 hr 10 min by car).
TOK Coach (formerly Can-Ar Coach) has one bus a day from Toronto to Bervie (3 hr 58 min, $35-55). From Bervie, Ripley is 11 min by taxi ($30-40).
Get around
- Wingham Taxi, Wingham, +1 519-357-1234
- Shoreline Transfer, Goderich, +1 519-524-3459
- Goderich Taxi & Delivery Goderich, +1 519-524-6594
See
- 🌍 Point Clark Lighthouse, 21 Queen Street, Ripley, ☏ +1 519-395-3735. Late Jun-early Sep: daily 10AM-5PM. At one time, the range light in Point Clark was a lantern hung in a coastal pine-tree. In the 1850s, Point Clark was one of the “imperial towers” built by John Brown. Built of limestone from nearby Inverhuron, the Point Clark lighthouse stands 26.5 m (80 feet) high. It's about 18 km south of Kincardine. The light keeper’s quarters, built at the same time as the lighthouse, is now a museum operated by the Township of Huron-Kinloss. It's a climb of 114 steps to the light room. The view from the top is spectacular. Special sunset tours are available by appointment. There is a gift shop on site. Regular tours: adult $7.50, child (12 & under) $5 (5 and under are free); sunset tours $10 per person.
- Bruce Botanical Food Gardens, 62 Park Street, Ripley (at the south end of town opposite the soccer fields and adjacent to two walking trails), administrator@bbfg.org. Jun-Sep: Th-Su 10AM-5PM. Guided tours are available by appointment Thursday to Sunday at a cost of $5 per person. You can take home any fruits or vegetables that are ready for picking by donation according to your ability to pay. Check Facebook and the sign at the Gate House to know what is in season. No pets please. This public garden is the first of its kind in Canada using tourism to address the issues of food insecurity, sustainable agriculture and the plight of the small family farm. The non-profit organization is focusing on rare, endangered, heirloom, and ethnocultural food plants and showcases over 250 varieties with over 10,000 plants overall in the Phase One development.
- The Lucknow Community Greenway is a 5-km walkway that follows the banks of three creeks where they meet with the Nine Mile River, and then loops back into town. Anglers can dangle a hook for warm and cold-water species, including rainbow and brook trout.
Do
- The Lewis Lion's Park has playground equipment and a splash pad. At the corner of Queen St and Huron St in Ripley.
- Bruce Botanical Food Gardens, 62 Park Street, Ripley.
- The Huron-Kinloss Ice Cream Trail. Mid-May to end of Sep. A photo scavenger hunt which takes participants to ice cream stops along the trail past beaches, golf courses, parks, a pool and a splash pad. Follow a map to 9 ice cream stops and read clues to find Sammy Sprinkles. Sammy may be right at the ice cream stop or you may have to travel a short distance to find him (the website tells you whether or not he is right at the stop). Take a picture of you and Sammy at each location and submit them to be eligible for prizes and a t-shirt.
- Lucknow Strawberry Summerfest. on the fourth weekend of June. Slo-pitch tournament, youth soccer tournaments, a strawberry pancake breakfast, a vendors' market, barbecue, and a dance at the pavilion.
Buy
Ripley has a cluster of businesses that specialize in handcrafted and unique items. You will find homemade jewellery and baked goods, handcrafted candles, beautiful clay and glass items.
- Kinloss Produce, 1404 Grey Ox Ave, Lucknow, ☏ +1 519-395-3735. M-Sa 8AM-6PM.
- Royal Oak Collectibles, 77 Huron Street, Ripley, ☏ +1 519-395-5717. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Antiques, collectables and accessories. Buy, sell and trade.
- Pine River Cheese & Butter Co-Op, 46 Queen St, Ripley, ☏ +1 519-395-2638, toll-free: +1-800-265-1175. Store Jan 1-Apr 30: M-Sa 10AM–6PM; May 1-Dec 31: M-Sa 9AM–6PM, F 9AM–8PM (late May-early Sep), Su 10AM–5PM. Viewing gallery & museum: May 1-Dec 31: M-F 9AM– 3PM. Tour the plant to watch the cheesemakers combine traditional processes with modern technology. From the viewing gallery, observe Canadian Cheddar being produced. There is a Bruce County Museum artifact display. The best time to view cheese making is during morning hours. The viewing gallery is open from Monday to Friday, and there is no charge. The store sells all varieties of Pine River cheese, and gourmet items - speciality coffees, cocoa and hot chocolate, imported chocolate and other candy, imported biscuits, a wide variety of crackers, jams, jellies and other preserves, pickles, and olives.
Eat
- Cobblestone Pub & Grill, 648 Campbell Street, Lucknow, ☏ +1 519-812-1777. W Su 11AM-7PM, Th-Sa 11AM-11PM.
- Village Pizzeria, 625 Campbell Street, Lucknow, ☏ +1 519-528-3974. M-W 11AM-8PM, Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 4PM-8PM. Licenced restaurant serving pizza, subs, wings, pastas, and sandwiches.
Sleep
- Sommerville Court Motel Bed & Breakfast, 287 Ross Street, Lucknow, toll-free: +1-866-863-2557. This historic home has 12 rooms with free Wi Fi and cable TV.
- Fisherman's Cove Tent & Trailer Park, 13 Southline Avenue, Kincardine, ☏ +1 519-395-2757. RV camping $62-68/night, unserviced/serviced cabins $105/$170, trailers $220/night, tent camping $58-68.
- Green Acres Campground-RV Park, 2310 Concession 12, Kincardine, ☏ +1 519-395-2808. Clean washrooms with pay showers, heated pool, playground, wagon rides, basketball, hiking including a 5-km walking & biking trail. Sites for RVs, xcaravans, tents: basic $41, water & electricity $44, full service $47.
- More accommodation is available 13 km away in Kincardine.