Skip to Content
Flag of Canada Our LocationFind a BusinessIncrease Contrast
I'd Like to...
  • Book
    • B&Bs, Inns & Hotels
    • Cottage Resorts
    • Campgrounds
    • Pet Friendly
    • Large Groups
    • View All..
  • Find
    • Brochures
    • Beaches
    • Calendar
    • Cycling Routes and Trails
    • Motorcycle Routes
    • View All..
  • Learn About
    • Cycling
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Birding
    • Golf
    • View All..
  • Connect with
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
Logo Image
Northumberland Tourism Logo
Contact Us Main menu icon
  • See & Do
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Beaches
    • Birding
    • Boating
    • Cycling
    • Eat & Drink
    • Family Fun
    • Fishing
    • Golf
    • Heritage
    • Hunting
    • Outdoor Adventures
    • Paddling
    • Romantic Spots
    • Snowmobiling
    • Trails
    • Wellness & Spa
    • Free eNewsletter
    • Digital Brochures
    View our Road Trips page
    Road Trips
    View our Communities page
    Communities
    View our Events page
    Events
  • Stay
    • B&Bs, Inns & Hotels
    • Campgrounds
    • Cottage Resorts
    • Large Groups
    • Pet Friendly
    View our Road Trips page
    Road Trips
    View our Communities page
    Communities
    View our Events page
    Events
  • Events
    • Calendar
    View our Road Trips page
    Road Trips
    View our Communities page
    Communities
    View our Events page
    Events
  • Road Trips
    • Communities
    • Fresh Fall Road Trips
    • Group Tours
    • Meetings & Receptions
    • Motorcycle Routes
    • Road Rallies
    • Themed Drives
    • Great Northumberland Road Trip
    View our Road Trips page
    Road Trips
    View our Communities page
    Communities
    View our Events page
    Events
  • Reviews
    • Blog
    • Reviews
    View our Road Trips page
    Road Trips
    View our Communities page
    Communities
    View our Events page
    Events
Main menu icon Menu

Visitor Guide

 

Our digital guide is here!

Click below to explore your next fun getaway in our Great Northumberland Road Trip digital guide.

Start Planning Nowarrow icon to indicate a link opening

 

Front cover of the Great Northumberland Road Trip guide with a car driving down a country road away from the camera

Lilac Tour

 

Lilac Tour

Show or hide navigation More
Home/Road Trips/Themed Drives/Lilac Tour

More in this Section...

Decrease text size Default text size Increase text size
Print This Page
Share This Page
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email This page Email
  • Themed Drives
    • Curds, Cows and Beer Tour
    • Chocolate, Bakery & Bison Tour
    • Spring Birding at the Trans Canada Trail
    • Garden Tour
    • Lilac Tour
    • Fresh Fall Road Trips
    • Road Rallies
  • Communities
  • Fresh Fall Road Trips
  • Group Tours
  • Meetings & Receptions
  • Motorcycle Routes
  • Road Rallies
  • Great Northumberland Road Trip

Find Places to Stay in Northumberland

Stay

View our subscription page

Subscribe

View our Wellness and Spa page

Wellness & Spa

Quick Links

  • Themed Drives
  • Family Fun

The end of May is an excellent time to celebrate spring and enjoy fragrant lilacs. Refer to our Google Map which will give you three themed lilac tours to choose from.

Picturesque Picnics 

This tour gives you the opportunity to picnic at one of four locations with all of them offering views of our waterways: Ganaraska River, Rice Lake, Ball's Mill Pond or Lake Ontario.  

Your group can begin and end with some shopping in Port Hope and Cobourg respectively, then head for the hills where you'll see a vast array of lilacs. Stop and say hello to cows and sheep on the quiet back roads dotted with farms.

Drone view of islands in Rice Lake with clouds rising off the water in summer

Dining Through the Lilacs

For those who enjoy having an indoor, sit-down meal; this route's for you. Stop at the gluten-free bakery run by Ste. Anne's Spa where you can find light fare that can be served under a sheltered patio (best for small groups). At Castleton, make a point of visiting the general store so you can be taken back in time and buy an ice cream cone to boot. Farther along in Colborne is a chance to eat ribs, pulled pork, poutine or hamburgers alongside the world's biggest apple.

The twists and turns of this route not only offer food with flare but also sweeping views of Lake Ontario, especially at the Haldimand Conservation Area at Wicklow Beach. At Lakeport, Coach House Clay Art is a small studio set in cedars where you can pick up a one-of-a-kind gift.

Drone view of The Big Apple restaurant, mini-golf and rest stop with blue sky on a summer day

Trent Hills Treats

Shopping creates the theme of this route where you can explore the main streets of Warkworth, Campbellford and Brighton to find artisan items, eateries and bakeries. There's even more excitement at the end of May (into June) when the Warkworth Lilac Festival takes place.

If you're looking to walk some more, consider a hike on The Great Trail which will take you on our famous Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge and the beautifully shaded Ferris Park.

Make any of these routes a weekend getaway and stay in the rolling hills at an inn, cottage or hotel with your group.

2 lilac blooms sitting on bright leaves in Spring

 

*NOTE: Please check with individual businesses and attractions for up-to-date hours of operation and health and safety protocols.

 

Be Alerted to Page Updates...

Contact Us

View our Facebook Page View our Twitter Page View our YouTube Page View our Instagram Page View our contact us page

footer logo

  • See & Do
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Beaches
    • Birding
    • Boating
    • Cycling
    • Eat & Drink
    • Family Fun
    • Fishing
    • Golf
    • Heritage
    • Hunting
    • Outdoor Adventures
    • View All...
  • Stay
    • B&Bs, Inns & Hotels
    • Campgrounds
    • Cottage Resorts
    • Large Groups
    • Pet Friendly
  • Events
    • Calendar
  • Road Trips
    • Communities
    • Fresh Fall Road Trips
    • Group Tours
    • Meetings & Receptions
    • Motorcycle Routes
    • Road Rallies
    • Themed Drives
    • Great Northumberland Road Trip
  • Reviews
    • Blog
    • Reviews
Accessibility|Privacy Policy|Full Sitemap|Free eNewsletter|Digital Brochures|Weather

© 2022 Northumberland Tourism, Cobourg, Ontario, Canada. Phone: 1-866-401-EAST (3278)

 

Banner including multiple images of Northumberland County plus logos for Kawarthas Northumberland and Ontario Tourism

 

Browser Compatibility Notification

It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.