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One of the best bed and breakfasts in Bruce Peninsula Ontario,
as recommended by Janette Higgins.
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Near North and Northern Ontario
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Fern Hollow Bed and Breakfast
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Mike and Marilee Derby
R. R. 1 (59 Hawes Road)
Lions Head, Ontario
Canada, N0H 1W0
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| Phone: 519-793-4718 |
| Enjoy a front row seat for one of Lake Huron's famed sunsets. |
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Click
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Bruce Peninsula, Ontario map
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Review by Janette Higgins
author of The Best Places to B&B in Ontario: A Selective Guide
Six editions of the book were published to critical and popular acclaim. Janette now publishes her B&B
reviews and holiday reports online.
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Note 1 to reader: Every Ontario bed and breakfast receives my consideration. I travel incognito, pay where I stay and write reviews of the top 5%. This Bruce Peninsula bed and breakfast near Wiarton is one I recommend. Janette Higgins
Fern Hollow Bed and Breakfast, on the Bruce Peninsula, is tucked away on the picturesque shores of Lake Huron. Hosts Marilee and Mike Derby have built their house especially for bed and breakfast. Logs from the Bruce Peninsula were used by a local contractor to construct the shell but most of the finishing work has been done by Mike.
The bed and breakfast quarters have a private ground-level entrance and all rooms have Lake Huron views over rocky shoreline tidal pools. The property is bordered by woods so it’s very private. My calm Coastal Breeze Room with queen bed crisply dressed in upscale Nautica linens has an en suite bathroom with spacious shower stall plus a door to a private-use patio facing the water. The ocean-hued Tranquil Retreat Room has a fireplace and can be made up with either king or twin beds. It also has sliding glass doors to a water-view patio and an en suite bathroom with shower. Separating the two bedrooms is a spacious guest-only common room; large enough that both bedrooms have a high privacy quotient.
From Fern Hollow Bed and Breakfast you have several options for dining. Nearby Lion's Head offers a couple of possibilities including an inn that has a number of Ontario VQA wines at very reasonable markups. There's also the option of a 5 course dinner about half an hour away in Cape Chin. The Derbys can make reservations for you. Another option is the 25-minute drive into Wiarton where you'll find several restaurants.
The common room offers up a guest refreshment area complete with fridge and other amenities. Either way, you’ll probably want to be around for the sunset. Perhaps dinner will be picnic fixings you bring with you! Indeed, I had hastened back from Wiarton and though Marilee was disappointed that I didn’t get to experience one of Lake Huron’s fiery sunsets I was suitably entranced by the subtle hues of pink and blue reflecting on breeze-ruffled waters making the lake appear magically opalescent.
Next morning, Marilee prepares a full breakfast accompanied by fruit, yogurt and home baking. The chat is sure to be wide-ranging. Recently retired from the Tobermory Chamber of Commerce Marilee knows all the ins and outs of the Bruce Peninsula. Mike's hobby is upholstering vintage cars (a 1912 Tudhope, on which he’d worked, won a’ best in show’ at a prestigious antique car show in Hershey, Pennsylvania).
As I ate, we talked about how much there is to do on the Bruce; there's the Bruce Trail, bird watching and cave exploring. Or you can bring your own kayak, canoe or windsurfer for launching right there. Bikers and snowmobilers are welcome, too, and indoor storage is available for their rigs. After, Mike took me out to the edge of the woods and showed me one of the 43 orchid varieties to be found on the Bruce Peninsula.
And I just have to mention that it turned out I was their first paying guest so we both had a surprise when I revealed myself next morning!
Note 2 to reader: I appreciate your support of the continuation of my research by letting the Mike and Marilee know you read my review of their bed and breakfast on this bbontario website. Many thanks! Janette Higgins, Travel Writer
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Reviews of Janette Higgins'
favourite places beyond Ontario
More of Janette Higgins' reviews
of Ontario's best bed and breakfasts
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Fern Hollow Bed and Breakfast, Bruce Peninsula, Ontario
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| Tell your hosts Janette Higgins sent you! |
| E-mail: |
Click Here |
| Website: |
http://www.bbcanada.com/10650.html |
| Best to call: |
Evenings are best |
| Languages: |
English |
| Season: |
All Year |
| CDN $ Rates: |
S or D $110-120 (Cot $20); No taxes |
Currency converter
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| Cards: |
Cash or cheque only |
| Restrictions: |
not suitable for children; enquire about guests' pets; smoking outside only |
| Facilities: |
2 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms with large shower stalls (1 king or twins; 1 queen); air conditioner and fireplace in king bedded room, wireless high speed internet; bring your own kayak, canoe or wind surfer. |
| Parking: |
for 2 cars; garage for motorcycles, snowmobiles |
| Breakfast: |
full |
| In Residence: |
Clingon the velcro cat, Merlin the standard poodle and Megan the bichon frisee |
| Location: |
on Lake Huron on the Bruce Peninsula; 25 minutes north of Wiarton and 40 minutes south of Tobermory. Close to the Bruce Trail. |
| Directions: |
From Wiarton take Hwy 6 north. Continue past Pike Bay Road. Just south of the three commercial windmills turn left on Little Pike Bay Road. Drive to end. Turn right on Hawes Road to bed and breakfast. |
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