Prince Edward County

Understand

Prince Edward County used to be divided into smaller towns: Picton, Bloomfield and Wellington being the main population centres. The area is on the shores of Lake Ontario, and is known for beaches (including Sandbanks Provincial Park), farms on which visitors may pick apples and strawberries in season and wineries.

History Long settled by indigenous peoples, the county has significant archeological sites. These include the LeVescounte Mounds of the Point Peninsula Complex people, built about 2000 years ago. The county was created by Upper Canada's founding lieutenant-governor John Graves Simcoe in 1792. It was named after Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent (the fourth son of King George III) who was commander-in-chief of British North America. Shortly after the American Revolution, the Crown made land grants to some of the earliest United Empire Loyalists to encourage their settlements in Ontario and provide compensation for property lost in the Thirteen Colonies. The county was divided into three townships named in honour of three of George III's daughters. For many years Prince Edward County has been closely associated with the wholly mainland Hastings County. Its longtime militia unit has been the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (locally known as the Hasty Ps), whose most famous member was Farley Mowat. This noted nature author wrote And No Birds Sang about his experiences with the Hasty Ps during the Second World War's Italian Campaign. In 1998, all of the former municipalities in Prince Edward County amalgamated to form a single-tier municipality as part of provincewide municipal restructuring. Each of the former municipalities is now a ward.

Visitor information Visit the County. (updated Aug 2023) 1 Bloomfield Visitor Centre, 290 Main St (Bloomfield Town Hall). Jun-Oct 9AM-6PM daily. Visitor information is also available from several public libraries and ferry terminals throughout the county. (updated Aug 2023)

Getting there

By car By far the most convenient way to get around in the County, cars can be rented in the nearby city of Belleville. You can access the County from three main points off of Hwy 401 or Hwy 2.

Coming from the West (Toronto), exit the 401 at Exit #522 Wooler Road in Trenton and travel south to Picton on the Loyalist Parkway (Hwy 33). Coming from the East (Ottawa), exit the 401 at Exit #566 and travel south into Picton on Hwy 49. A third (and closest) access point is Hwy 62 through Belleville and across the Bay Bridge. Belleville to Picton is approximately a half-hour drive (and a local 'phone call). An alternative is to take Highway 33 from Kingston to the free Glenora Ferry and follow Hwy 33 to Picton. Lineups for the ferry can be long during the summer months. Kingston to Picton takes approximately one hour.

By bus FlixBus. Seasonal service from Toronto. (updated Jun 2026) County Transit. Service from Belleville to Picton and Bloomfield, Monday-Friday. Seasonal weekend service from Belleville to Wellington, Bloomfield, and Picton. (updated Oct 2025)

By boat The County is almost an island and therefore a popular stop for boaters touring Lake Ontario. Harbours in Waupoos and Picton may rent a slip overnight; some of the waterfront campground and cabin sites offer boat launch, docking or boat rental.

Getting around

The easiest and most popular way to travel around the County is by car, as many points of interest are separated by fair distances. It is possible to hire a taxi to drive you between points but this can be costly. While driving be alert and courteous of slow-moving tractors on County roads, as they often use main roads to travel between farms. Usually the driver will wait until it is safe and move to the side, allowing you to pass. Signs posted in rural areas remind drivers "Slow Moving Vehicles- Farmers producing YOUR food." Please don't honk or tailgate. Give space on the road to the many cyclists who travel County roads as there are no bicycle lanes on most roads. Chauffeured buses/cars for wine tours are another popular way to get around the County without worrying about driving while still being able to enjoy sampling all the local wineries. There are several companies in the region that offer this service. Cycling is an environmentally friendly and increasingly popular way to see the area. To avoid busier main roads The County has many side roads that are well worn and paved in many cases. They offer fantastic views and a taste of the area that many visitors miss. The Millennium Trail follows an old rail line almost 50 km (31 mi) between Picton and Carrying Place.

1 Bloomfield Bicycle Company, 225 Main St, Bloomfield, ☏ +1 613-393-1060. Apr-Oct: 9AM-6PM. Bike rentals, repairs, tours, maps. $35/day (9AM-6PM same day).

See

1 Little Bluff, County road 13 past South Bay (Head east out of Picton, through Milford). Staggering views from towering limestone cliffs overlooking Lake Ontario. Rock beach for swimming, picnic areas and firepits. Usually quiet and private. 2 The Regent Theatre, 224 Main St (Picton), ☏ +1 613 476-8416. This theatre built in 1922 plays full length films and hosts local theatre and musical performances. The building is a historical landmark of the area and has been restored as close as possible to its former glory. Usually offers a family-friendly matinée through the summer, a great way to escape a rainy day on the beach! Prices vary depending on performance. (updated Aug 2023) 3 Prince Edward County Lavender, 732 Closson Rd, ☏ +613-399-1844. Apr-Oct 10AM-5PM. Small lavender farm that hosts an annual lavender festival. Has several lavender fields and sells a variety of lavender-related goods. (updated Aug 2023)

Museums 4 Ameliasburgh Museum, 517 County Road 19, Ameliasburgh, ☏ +1 613-968-9678. mid-May to early Oct. A museum and pioneer village, tour the many buildings (church, log cabin, barns, blacksmith shop, sap shanty, dairy and bee-keeping buildings) and gardens. Ameliasburgh Christmas in the Village in early December; Amelia’s Tea Room offers breakfast and lunch for special events. Adult $5.00, student/senior $4.00. 5 Mariner's Park Museum, 2065 County Rd. 13, South Bay, ☏ +1 613-476-8392. Artefacts relating to local maritime history, from fishing and ship building through ice harvesting and rum running, include pieces recovered from shipwrecks by divers, the relocated False Duck Island lighthouse, Fort Kente and a huge row boat. Picnic area. By donation. 6 Macaulay Heritage Park, 35 Church St, Picton, ☏ +1 613-476-3833. May-Aug: W-Su 9:30AM-4:30PM. Beautifully restored home, gardens, a cemetery and a museum in a converted church. Tour near Christmas to see the house decorated with antique ornaments, listen to carols and try some hot apple cider from the

Do

Prince Edward County is a very interesting place: the local rural culture is blending with the newer additions of artisans, wineries, spas and high end cuisine. As a result there is a wide range of activities, festivals and attractions available. These are