Sally’s View of the River

The Sunny Rock Bed and Breakfast located in the Haliburton Highlands is an incredible trail enthusiast dream home located near the Haliburton Rail Trail along the Central Ontario Loop Trail.

The Central Ontario Loop Trail (COLT) is a marketing partnership promoting a shared-use regional trail system passing through five counties in Central Ontario, Canada. Some of the Cities along the route…Lindsay, Kinmount, Gelert, Minden, Lochlin, Haliburton, Bancroft, Cambellford, Peterborough. This system is a unique 450–km loop of publicly owned trails. Two thirds of this loop are rail trails connected by scenic secondary roads.

This 450-km trail system provides an opportunity for trail enthusiasts of every age and skill level to experience diverse natural and cultural landscapes 12 months of the year. Some of the ways to enjoy the trail include walking, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Each segment of the trail is unique and permitted uses vary. Following COLT and see how it leads you to the Haliburton Highlands Rail Trail. Between Kinmount and Haliburton Villages are two communities called Gelert and Locklin. A simple County Road 1 (Gelert Rd) bike ride will take you to the Sunny Rock Bed and Breakfast

We are located less than 1.5 Km from Gelert and 2.5 km from Lochlin. Making a multiple night reservation with us at the Sunny Rock B&B and tell us what kinb of food you would like your host to by and it will be in house for yoour arrival so yoou can prepare your own BBQ or ask us to cater yoour meals while you are here enjoying our unique swimming against a current, our natural whirlpool, canoeing or kayaking (our canoes/kayaks) a piece of the the 5 lake chain, easy cycle to the Minden Wild Water Preserve (perhaps we could plan the timing for you to experience a white water canoe/kayak lesson), visit to Minden Village or Haliburton Village are an easy cycle or drive away.

Ask Sally at Sunny Rock to assist you with plannning other B&B accommodation also through out the Haliburton Highlands.

Make your multiple night reservation with us during July and August weekdays, cycle onto our property and we will offer you a tax free holiday. AS we move into the fall ask us what extras we ca

Call Sunny Rock Sally today 1-888-786-6876

March 2009 the specific day really doesn’t matter but the experience of that day was a memory not soon forgotten. We (Jan, Sally, Sako and Tokiko) were driving along the south east coast of Ireland enjoying a wonderful long drive all the way from the Wicklow Mountains. We had talked for the past hour about finding a B&B for the night. It was probably about 7 pm. We had just visited the Lighthouse on Hook Peninsula capturing the lighthouse in photos with the evening sun. Feeling that our day of travel was complete we headed up along the peninsula to Arthurstown.

After a short drive up the peninsula we saw before us this amazing B&B perched up on the hill overlooking this incredible western view of the sea. We had landed…we were home. Before us was the Marsh Mere Lodge B&B.

Marsh Mere Lodge B&B

Approaching the house to inquire of availability we met 3 people standing in the parking lot. It was wonderful to be welcomed with introductions and hugs like we were long lost friends. How is it possible that we were having a “Sunny Rock Like” experince in Ireland. Of all the B&B’s Jan and I have traveled to around the world to date truely we had not ever had such a welcome. Not only did we know we were home Jan and I were validated for the way we welcome our guests at the Sunny Rock Bed and Breakfast in Minden Ontario Canada.

Jan, Claire, Tokiko, Sako and Claire's sister

Our host Claire McNamara has figured out “the customer service thing” hands down. In the words of her very own website Marsh Mere Lodge Bed and Breakfast is “Full of charm and olde-worlde elegance, Marsh Mere Lodge and the McNamaras offer their guests a traditional “Warm Irish Welcome” to a house that personifies relaxation and comfort”. All that were with us that day in the car agree…an amazing accommodation with the taste of modern and history all in the same breath.

We were planted for the night and simply settled into the Lounge for a picnic of food we had left over from our travels. Claire set a fire in the fireplace and offered us a wonderful and appreciated glass of wine…which I might add ended up being the whole bottle.

We loved the enviroment and its comforts so much and Claire helped us to plan our next day of adventure which included the Dunbrody Famine Ship and a walking tour of Waterford only to mention a couple of highlights…we ended up staying a second night. Dinner out and the local pub music continues to amaze us.

Breakfasts both mornings were very different than the “Traditional Irish Breakfast” we had had the previous 5 mornings. We appreciated the change…and were unaware that every B&B in Ireland (but Marsh Mere) believes that the traditional Irish Breakfast must be served. Claire if you are reading this please know that although the Irish breakfast is a delight…change was more of a delight.

On the morning of our departure we felt we were saying so long to a very good friend. Sad to leave and knowing there were many more adventures ahead we were off once again to explore more of Ireland…kissing the Blarney Stone was in our near future.

We rated each B&B of our Irish adventure on a scale of 1 to 10. 10 being the “Super B&B”. Marsh Mere and Claire need to know they ranked 13-15 from the Canadian and Japanese judges. Cheers.

The Haliburton Sculpture Forest ia a fascinating destination that is an intriguing walk, a artistic experience, and a great place for people to explore at their own pace. Located in Glebe Park, beside Haliburton’s Fleming College, the Forest is home to a diverse collectionof sculptures by Canadian and international artists.

The Sculpture Forest has many many sculptures. In the past year there are three new sculptures. Everytime you go to the forest there is alway something new to see.

The trails in the Sculpture Forest—for walking and bike riding in spring, summer and fall and skiing in the winter—provide changing perspectives of the forest and the sculptures in each of the seasons.

The Sculpture Forest experience, which is unstructured and unscripted, is ideal for folks looking for an interesting outing, for those who enjoy outdoor trails, and for people looking for a unique artistic experience. A Sculpture Forest map is available on the Haliburton Sculpture Forest website and at the entrance to the Sculpture Forest.

A free guided tour of the Sculpture Forest is offered at 10:00 am on Tuesday each week in July and August. Guided tours for groups are available by special request throughout the year.

Come stay with us at the Sunny Rock Bed and Breakfast 1.888.786.6976

The Haliburton County Folk Society invites you to The Winter Folk Camp at Camp Wanakita in the Haliburton Highlands. This Winter Folk weekend (Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon) is a one of a kind Folk Music experience for adults in the Haliburton Highlands, 2 hoours North of Toronto Ontario.

The Haliburton Winter Folk Camp is being held at YMCA Wanakita near Haliburton, Ontario and is intended to be a late winter, affordable get-away with lots of music (concerts, classes, workshops, song circles, jamming and so on) in pleasant wooded surroundings with wonderful camaraderie, comfortable accommodations and great food.

The program has been designed to engage novice players, more experienced musicians and interested, but not particularly musical, Folk Music devotees. A weekend with us and those dreaded February “blahs” will be banished for another year!

The Winter Folk Camp program includes classes and workshops on Saturday morning and afternoon and on Sunday morning. Check our our website www.winterfolkcamp.com

There will be evening concerts on Friday and Saturday featuring our Artists in Residence and showcasing some of our wonderful local talent.
Friday evening, Eve Goldberg and Katherine Wheatley will play our mainstage and Saturday evening Anne Lindsay will be joined by her long time collaborator and guitar wizard Jason Fowler.

Ample time has been left for a variety of complimentary outside activities (cross country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking etc.) and for jamming, snoozing or anything else you may wish to do.

Early Registration Incentive

One of our major sponsors,Yours Outdoors, www.yoursoutdoors.ca , has graciously donated two (2) of their very popular experiential tours as a draw prize for all those who register for Winter Folk Camp prior to January 15, 2009, taking advantage of the “Early Bird” fee. The winner will have their choice of one of three one day “Pedal Your Arts” cycle tours (15 km. Tour du Village, 35km Gears for Guilford or 65km Rolling Hills of Harburn) or of the one day Tastes of Haliburton tour.
Yours Outdoors experience packages are for individuals, couples and small groups looking for distinctive single and multi day adventures in the Haliburton Highlands. They are fully guided and offer a rich variety of experiential, informative, active, and entertaining activities led by professional guides and involving local experts, naturalists, artisans, and personalities. All packages will get you outdoors and offer delicious food, fun, and unforgettable memories. Register before January 15, 2009 for your chance to win one of these unique adventure packages.