The Rolling Hills: Northumberland

Estimated distance: 200 km/124 mi.

One hour east of Toronto lie the rolling hills of Northumberland, overlooking a blend of lakeside communities along the north shore of Lake Ontario, once linked by a stagecoach route. The scenic hillsides to the north are part of the Oak Ridges Moraine and are covered in rich farmlands, offering up a wonderful selection of apple orchards in and around Brighton and a wide variety of roadside fruit and vegetable stands.

On the scenic drive north you drive through some of the landscape traveled by Susanna Moodie and Catharine Parr Trail, two of Canada's most important 19th-century writers. Wonderful specialty shops and antique hunting are yours to enjoy in historic Port Hope and nearby Warkworth. You won't be able to resist the sweet aroma of Campbellford's World's Finest Chocolate outlet.

Over a dozen varieties of apples are grown in Northumberland and Brighton celebrates the annual harvest each September with Applefest. Be sure to save time for a stop at Colborne's Big Apple for a slice of fresh pie. The peninsula south of Brighton is Presqu'ile Provincial Park and is on a major flyway for migrating birds as well as a staging point for Mexico-bound monarch butterflies. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the wetlands boardwalk to see where marsh birds live and fish spawn, or along Cobourg's beautiful white sand beach and beautifully redeveloped waterfront.

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