Located a short drive away from Hamilton West Avenue Cider is open for tours, tastings, and even stays. This unique house is off to the side of the visitor’s centre with its windows looking over the orchard. The location is ideal for a relaxed weekend with friends and family, enjoying nature and cooking together outdoors.
About the cottage & Property
This latest adventure was booked in April when I had a moment of panic that when the summer finally comes everything will be booked (it seems I was right). We booked the Somerset Cottage at West Avenue Cider House hoping that by the time June comes around, we will be finally allowed to see friends. Luckily we were.
The house is located to the side of the cider house and on the outskirts of the Somerset farm. It is a simple yet stunning piece of architecture. All three bedrooms (king master and two queens) are well-lit, thoughtfully decorated, and a pleasure to sleep in. The shared space includes a communal couch area, dining table plus an open kitchen and we all know the best party is always in the kitchen.
Note: The kitchen is more like a kitchenette with a small bar fridge and only two stove burners but there is a BBQ.
Living room French doors open wide on the back patio where you can enjoy locally made cider while relaxing at a picnic table, overlooking the orchard, and basking in the sun. This is where the apples are grown. It is where the cider is made, and where you can also buy a wide variety of local produce for your backyard charcuterie needs.
The property is noticeably vast with apple trees rolling into the distance. Behind the cider house is a field with picnic tables for day visitors of the cider hour. There is also a small-ish farm with chickens and 4-horned sheep. A slow walk through the farm fields is a joy one could never get in the city. I could’ve stood there listening to sheep speak for hours. The light was also magical. I had a blissful time walking around the property with a glass of crisp cold cider, taking photos.
What to do nearby
Dundas is a small and lovely town with a range of cute shops and restaurants. Nearby are also Royal Botanical Gardens (RGB) – a large environmental protection area and cultural gardens spread across multiple sites. A friend and I spent a few hours slowly exploring the lake, following a deer and crossing paths with chipmunks. It’s a beautiful area with a very impressive range of biodiversity. I am looking forward to coming back here and exploring more.
For a day adventure, you could drive out to the town of Dundas for lunch or venture out to Hamilton.
What a lovely place to base yourself to explore the surrounding area.