Vancouver Island isn’t short on hotels. Motels? Luxury resorts? Plenty of those, too. But there’s an intriguing alternative accommodation option out there for the adventurous traveller, should you find yourself hunkering down for the night on the South Coast: a sleepover on a working farm.
The Cowichan Valley region—encompassing a swath of charming communities from Ladysmith to Mill Bay—is known for having the warmest climate in Canada. These temperate conditions, as it turns out, are perfect for growing everything from grapes to tea leaves to pumpkins… and a booming agritourism business, too.
Here, you’ll find modern agri-accommodations that are anything but rustic. Farm guest houses offer all the comforts of a boutique hotel and the personal touch of a classic B&B, with rolling fields and winding country roads right outside the door.
Many of these offerings are the result of a new generation of winemakers and farmers that have flocked to the area—entrepreneurs who traded in gigs as engineers, teachers or construction workers to try living off the land. By embracing agritourism alongside traditional farm production, they’re diversifying their businesses and attracting attention to one of B.C.’s most beautiful places in the process.
If you’re ready to go country, here’s where to stay.
Emandare Vineyard
6798 Norcross Rd., North Cowichan
The airy, farmhouse-inspired guest house (known as “The Tractor Shed”) is an adorable spot to hang your hat, but the tasting room and small, sunny garden patio are great for a visit even if you’re not spending the night. Owner Mike Nierychlo grew up in the Lower Mainland, blogging about wine on a blissful, pre-Zuckerberg internet, and in 2015, he and his wife Robin stumbled upon a derelict vineyard in Duncan. They rolled up their sleeves and got to work; today, their Emandare winery produces 1,000 highly coveted cases a year of minimal intervention pinot noir and chardonnay with a distinct coastal minerality. If the flagship sav blanc isn’t sold out, grab a bottle (or a case) and be rewarded with notes of orchard pear and ripe kiwi. It’s best enjoyed from the hot tub on the patio that overlooks the vine-covered hills that roll down to the water.
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Keating Farm
5250 Miller Rd., Duncan
Rebecca and George Papadopoulos are the power couple behind Keating Farm, a historic property they’ve been reinvigorating over the past decade. Their house, lovingly restored to its 1888 glory, is host to indoor markets and long-table community dinners, but you’ll be staying in one of the rustic-chic guests suites (“The Grainery” and “The Creamery” are popular with bridal parties for the weddings frequently hosted in the hay barn). Cozy up by a wood-fired stove, savour breakfast around a vintage dining table beneath a softly glowing iron chandelier or soak up the cozy vibes from the clawfoot tub.
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Merridale Cidery and Distillery
1230 Merridale Rd., Cobble Hill
You could just pop in for a drink or a meal, but there’s enough to explore at the cidery to fill a whole afternoon, including a fairy-garden scavenger hunt for kids and distillery tours. If you plan on hitting the cider tasting hard, consider booking a stay at the surprisingly plush, orchard-side yurts. Each little hut is named after a heritage apple, like Yarlington and Tremlett. Catch a glimpse of the stars through the circular skylight above the king-sized bed, or from the 360-degree wooden patios that surround the comfortable canvas tents.
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