Westport (Ontario)

Initial settlement began between 1810 and 1820, with Westport incorporated as an independent municipality in 1904. By 1829, Westport was the site of a saw mill and grist mill; the construction of the Rideau Canal in the mid-1800s contributed to the growth of the village as a local commercial centre. Westport received many Irish immigrants following the Great Famine (1840s through 1860s); St. Edward's Catholic Church, built in 1859 at Concession and Bedford, served as a community centre. A railway ran from Brockville (and the St. Lawrence River) to Westport from 1888 to 1952. A provincial fish sanctuary was established at the Westport Pond in 1957.

By motorcar:

• From Perth (Ontario), head south on County Road 10; this road leads through Westport to Kingston, ending at Queen's University.
• From Kingston (Ontario), take Perth Road (401 exit 617) north. The 50km/30 mile drive takes the better part of an hour on a winding two-lane road through rural countryside with many small lakes.
• From Highway 15 and the Rideau Canal, Westport is directly west of Crosby/Newboro on the former Highway 42.

Upper Rideau Lake is north of Newboro lock station on the Rideau Canal; Westport is at the northwest corner of the lake. Westport Harbour's marina has docks for thirty boats, a visitor's centre and a picnic area.
Westport and the Foley Mountain Conservation Area are part of the Rideau Trail, a hiking trail from Kingston to Ottawa.
There is no scheduled bus or rail service in Westport village. The last train ran from Brockville to Westport in 1952; the nearest scheduled bus line is Greyhound's Voyageur run from Kingston to Ottawa (which follows Highway 15 on the other side of the Rideau Canal). There is a tiny airstrip for private planes, but the closest (limited) passenger services are in Kingston.

As of 2010, there was one cab in the village (Celtic Cab, +1 613-767-9257 ). It is also possible to dock a small boat at Westport Harbour's marina and then walk to destinations within the village.
Conversely, one can drive to Westport, park in the village and rent a boat to go onto the lakes:

• Norris Bait and Tackle

  phone: +1 613-273-6462
  address: #8877 Hwy.42, Westport K0G 1X0
  Hunting, fishing, bait, tackle, guns, boat rentals.

• Scotty's Cool Breeze

  phone: +1 613-273-7268
  address: 73 Concession St, Westport K0G 1X0
  Chip wagon, garden centre, bait, tackle, boat rentals.

• Fishing in the area is good; yellow perch, smallmouth bass, pickerel and northern pike populate the waters.

• Foley Mountain Conservation Area

  phone: +1 613-273-3255
  address: 105 Perth Road N, Westport
  800-acre park atop a granite ridge overlooking Upper Rideau Lake. On Rideau Trail (Kingston to Ottawa) with hiking, swimming, sand beach picnic areas, outdoor educational programmes.

• Rideau Lakes Golf and Country Club

  phone: +1 613-273-2937
  address: 326 Sunnyside Rd, Westport K0G 1X0
  Nine-hole golf course on the south shore of Upper Rideau Lake.

• West Winds Ranch

  phone: +1 613-273-8188
  address: 116B Wolfe Lake Road, Westport K0G 1X0
  Horse farm and kids' summer camp; pony ride, farm tours, petting zoo, barn yard games, toys & mazes.

Events

• Blues on the RideauSeries of live blues performances at the Cove Inn with local performers, each show a fundraiser for a different local cause.

• Santa Claus Parade

• Westport Antique Show and Sale

• Westport Music FestivalA single-day festival with live local musicians on three outdoor stages (The Cove, SOHO’s, A Victorian Reflection). The Westport Arts Council operates various events through the year, covering an artistic range from literature to photography, music, cinema, sculpture and pottery.

• There are various small shops along Church Street and Bedford Street in the heart of the village.

• Lake Effects

  phone: +1 613-273-7799
  address: 16 Bedford St.
  Hammocks, maps, outdoor mats and furniture.

• Church Street Bakery

  phone: +1 613-273-4625
  address: 34 Main St.
  Pastry and sweets.

• Salmon House and Seafood

  phone: +1 613-273-3474
  address: 31 Main St.
  Takeout fish n' chips, fresh fish, smoked fish, seafood platters. +1 613-273-FISH

• Tangled Garden Café

  phone: +1 613-273-7733
  address: 7 Church St.
  Pizza, pasta, salads, desserts. Licensed.

• Scheuermann Vineyard & Winery

  phone: +1 613-449-6548
  address: 82 Bedford St.
  Wine tastings, wine by the glass, charcuterie and nacho platters, smoked salmon, seasonal baskets.

• Cove Country Inn

  phone: +1 613-273-3636
  address: 2 Bedford-on-the-Water, Westport K0G 1X0
  Licensed dining room, waterfront patio, pub/piano lounge, 10-room inn and 6-room 1870s bed and breakfast house ($100-150/night).

• Nordlaw Lodge

  phone: +1 613-273-2920
  address: 489 Crozier Road, RR#1 Westport
  Lakefront fishing lodge cottages and villas on Bob's Lake; all meals included.

• Westport Station Motel

  phone: +1 613-273-3627
  address: 51 Concession St.
  Located at the terminus of the former Brockville & Westport Railway; the Diner is housed in the original train station.

• Cobblestones at Bolingbroke

  phone: +1 613-273-5950
  address: RR #3 Maberly K0H 2B0

• Westport Harbour

  phone: +1 613-273-8621
  Visitor’s Centre with wi-fi, 'phones, washrooms, showers, marina, picnic and barbeques, fuel and oil.

• Kingston and the Thousand Islands
• Brockville
• Perth
• Rideau Canal