How do I get to Lochaber Lake Lodges?

ADDRESS: 501 or 832 West Side Lochaber, NS B2G 2L3. Some in-car navigation systems also use 501 W Side Lochaber, NS, B2G 2L3. GPS Coordinates: 45.4019, -62.0420

IMPORTANT NOTE: If your car navigation system, Google, or Apple Maps recommends you take Exit 30 on Highway 104 - ignore it and follow the directions below using Exit 32.

Directions from Antigonish, NS

1. Take Highway 104 to Antigonish
2. Take Exit 32 and follow Highway #7, signs for Sherbrooke
3. Travel approximately 29km. Do not take the first sign for "West Side Lochaber" which you will see at approximately 19km.
4. You will pass signs to Goshen and Feltmate's Garage on the left. At this point begin to slow down, you will be taking the next right onto West Side Lochaber Road, which is about 100m after Feltmate's Garage
5. Cross the narrow bridge and keep to the right onto West Side Lochaber road (dirt road).
6. Travel approximately 2.3km. Watch for the mailbox with the numbers 501 on the side. You will pass a small vineyard on the left. The house is up the hill.

Directions from Sherbrooke, NS

1. From Sherbrooke Village, follow Highway #7 North for 30.5 km
2. Turn left onto West Side Lochaber Road. (If you reach Feltmate's Garage on the right you've gone too far.)
3. Cross the narrow bridge and keep to the right onto West Side Lochaber road (dirt road).
4. Travel approximately 2.3km. Watch for the mailbox with the numbers 501 on the side. You will pass a small vineyard on the left. The house is up the hill

What type of coffee makers?

Our units are all equipped with drip style coffee makers, and reusable mesh coffee filters.  We also provide electric kettles. You will need to bring your own ground coffee / tea, cream, and sugar.

Do you provide body wash, shampoo, conditioner?

 In the interests of reducing our impact on the environment we do not provide these items. Guests should supply their own.

Do you provide any spices, cooking oil, etc?

For food safety reasons the only food items you will find in our units is salt and pepper.  We do provide a supply of plastic wrap, aluminum foil, wax paper, resealable bags, dish soap, hand soap, paper towel and scrubbing pads.

Are there kayaks/canoes/boats available?

We provide to six shared kayaks at our cottages, including life-jackets, paddles, and safety kits. We do not have canoes on-site for guest use but guests are permitted to bring their own watercraft.

It is possible to launch your own boat from the shoreline of our properties. Guests requiring access for a trailer in order to launch a boat are requested to contact us on arrival to arrange for access to the shorefront. We do not provide a dock suitable for docking large powerboats, all boats will need to be pulled up on shore or trailered at the end of the day. There is no tide in the lake.

Guests are requested to not drive over the grass to access the shoreline as you may damage our septic systems.

Can I swim in the lake?

 Swimming is permitted and is one of the highlights of the lake. The shoreline is small pea-sized gravel, and there are no yucky things, like leaches, living on the shoreline. There is a somewhat steep drop-off on certain parts of the shoreline, and the lake is 60m (180 feet) deep right off our property. Guests who are not strong swimmers should exercise caution, and children should be supervised at all times.

I’ve heard the lake has blue green algae, is it safe?

Each summer there are reports in social media about this algae, causing concerns for our guests.

Blue green algae is found in all lakes, and is only dangerous to humans and pets when a high concentration or a "bloom" emerges. This usually occurs after a significant hot period and rainfall washes warm water and nutrients into any lake, creating the perfect environment for the algae to rapidly grow. Then over time the algae bloom disappears.

When Blue Green Algae blooms occur in Lochaber Lake, they occur 5-7 km to the north of our properties at the north end of the lake which is shallow, warm, and has an inlet stream bringing in nutrients. While there is always some algae in the lake (like all other lakes), there are not always blooms of algae present. The lake is a significant body of water at 60m (180 feet) deep, and the prevailing winds, and geography of the lake keep any bloom that occurs located within the north end of the lake - a long distance from our properties.

We have been swimming in the lake for over 50 years, as have our pets, without any concerns noted.

If you would like more information about Blue Algae, this Nova Scotia Department of the Environment Web Page is informative.

Is your water safe to drink?

Our water is potable (drinakable) and suitable for both bathing and drinking. Each of our properties has its own drilled well, pulling water from an aquifer 125 feet below the surface of the ground. Our water is then treated with a 1 micron filter, and water softener.

Our aquifer, like many other properties in Antigonish county, is high in iron content ("hard water") which can result in a slight discolouration as well as a slight taste and smell. These differences may also be more noticeable if the unit has not been used for several days/weeks. Guests who are used to highly treated city water are likely to notice these differences. However our water is perfectly potable.

Is the pool at Lakeview Cottage heated?

The pool is generally available from June 1st to September 30th and is not heated.

During the months of July and August it generally has a temperature of 26C (84F). During June and September, temperatures are a bit cooler, but always above 20C.

Are your hot-tubs available year-round?

Our hot-tubs are available year-round.

Why do you need my address on the check-in form?

Thank-you for asking about why we request your address on our self check in form.

All licensed tourist accommodations providers in Nova Scotia are required by Section 12 of the Tourist Accommodations regulations (https://www.canlii.org/en/ns/laws/regu/ns-reg-11-96/latest/ns-reg-11-96.html) to collect the following information:

"12 The manager shall not permit a guest to be assigned to a rental unit or a campsite unless the guest has entered on the register

(a) his/her name;
(b) his/her usual place of residence, including street and number, community, province or state, and country;
(c) vehicle license number; and
(d) the number of persons in his/her party."

Even though we are an "AirBNB" we are considered, legally, a Tourist Accommodations business. Since AirBNB doesn't collect this information for us, we have to ask for it separately. Obviously we don't get particularly upset if guests don't provide it to us, but we try to at least adhere to the spirit of the regulations, even if others who operate tourist accommodations listed through AirBNB don't.

We use this information as disclosed on our website in our Privacy Policy: https://lochaberlakelodges.com/en/privacy-policy

Can you recommend some outdoor things to do in the area?

Here are a few ideas:

• The Antigonish Farmers Market is a lively scene on Saturdays from 8:30am to 1pm. It is about a 25 minute drive from Lochaber Lake Lodges
• The St. Mary's / Guysborough Rail trail (6.5km) offers a wonderful outdoor experience for all users, with gentle grades and firm surface for hikers and cyclists, sturdy bridges with good railings for the safety of all users. This trail crosses many pristine brooks and passes by several lakes. The area is inhabited by eagles, crows, ravens, ducks and fish, turtles and deer, moose and bear, rabbits and partridge, woodcock and thrush, as well as many other woodland creatures. The natural scenery provides a wilderness experience along its length. (https://stmarystrail.ca/)
• Keppoch Mountain offers serious mountain biking and a variety of hiking trails with great views from the top of the mountain over Antigonish and the surrounding hills and harbour. During the winter, the mountain is open for snowshoeing, skating, and cross country skiing. (https://www.thekeppoch.ca/)
• Historic Sherbrooke Village is a restored 1867 Village with interpreters and a wide variety of activities during the summer, and during the off season is open for walking around the small community around the museum. (https://sherbrookevillage.ca/). Stop in and enjoy Sunday Brunch at Beanies Bistro right next to the village.
• The Stonewall Park on the St. Mary's River (on the way to Sherbrooke Village) offers some very nice scenic views of the river, and is especially pretty during the fall colour season (https://www.saint-marys.ca/parks-and-trails.html)
• From May to October we provide kayaks on site, and you could kayak explore Lochaber Lake - it is 10 kilometers long, and well known for its fishing and pristine waters.
• A little further away is the Pomquet Beach which is one of the hidden gems of this part of the province, with 3km of white sand. (https://novascotia.com/listing/pomquet-beach-provincial-park/)

What is the fishing like in the lake?

Lochaber Lake is at the headwaters of the St. Mary’s River watershed. Brook Trout and Perch are the predominant fish, with rumours of Lake Trout, and some very large fish have been caught over the years. The lake is stocked every year or two in the fall. Lochaber Lake is very deep, at 180+ feet down the middle, and the best fishing times are in the spring when the run-off from the hills brings nutrients to the mouths of the many streams feeding the lake, and the surface water is colder. During the summer, the fish go deep to the colder water in the middle of the lake – requiring a larger boat with downriggers.

Please be respectful of the properties and the year round residents who live next door to us, and only fish from our shoreline, or from a boat/kayak.

Can I bring my ATV or snowmobile?

Yes, we permit ATVs and snowmobiles on our property. You can access ATV and snowmobile trails in the Keppoch Wilderness Area from the College Grant and New Town Roads, about 3km from the property. You can also access the trails maintained by the St. Mary’s ATV Trail association and St. Mary’s Snowmobile Association just down the road. We ask all powersports users to be respectful that West Side Lochaber Road is used by many children and residents accessing the lake and walking, including during the winter.

Can you recommend places to eat?

There are a wide variety of places to eat in Antigonish, and we recommend you check out the listings at https://visitantigonish.ca/eat/ and https://saintmarysnovascotia.com/where-to-eat/

Are you pet friendly

Guests are permitted up to two pets, each up to 90 pounds (45kg).

Do you have WiFi?

All our properties are equipped with Bell Aliant Fibe 500 service, a dedicated fiber-optic Internet connection with WiFi access.