Topsy Farms
You’ll be knee-deep in sheep!
Topsy Farms is a pretty cool experience right from the get-go. To get there you have to take a short ferry ride ($10) over to Amherst Island. Which, is also an interesting and welcoming spot so make sure to have some extra time to explore. Once you arrive on the island, head to the north-west corner where Topsy Farms is located and you’ll find this fully-functioning sheep farm in action.
Topsy raises happy sheep and depending on the season, you might see lambs being birthed in adjacent fields, or happily frolicking in the fields. You’ll have the opportunity to buy wool blankets and other natural products right at the farm. And, depending on when you come, you may be able to participate in workshops or on-farm events.
So much to do on the farm:
- Hiking the trails
- Shopping at The Wool Shed
- Lamb snuggles in May and June
- Seasonal events, workshops, and classes
- Self-guided farmyard activities
Release your inner hippie
In 1972 a boatload of free-thinking, peace loving hippies arrived on Amherst Island and Topsy Farms was born shortly thereafter. This is a farm that has held strong to their values and was eco-friendly and environmentally conscious long before those words became mainstream. When you visit, you’re visiting more than just a farm, it’s a way of life, a source of passion and a place to destress and find your roots.
Situated on Amherst Island, the farm’s property includes over 200 acres of bushland and is part of a large forest network that covers a good portion of west end of the island. It abounds with natural life, and continues to the western shoreline to the ‘bluffs’, where cannons once stood during the war of 1812.
Make sure to pack your hiking shoes. There are many re-established pathways that were first used by deer, then cleared by several generations of farmers to gather firewood and to work in the impressive Sugar Shack. You can visit the Sugar Shack (weather and conditions permitting). Please check in at the Wool Shed before your hike.
Fun Facts
- A great place to hike
- Kids will love the Farmyard Scavenger Hunt
- Take in one of their workshops
- You may be able to visit the highland cows as well as the sheep
Hiking tips
- This is a ‘take only pictures; leave only footprints’ kind of place.
- There are no facilities available on the trail.
- Topsy Farms reserves the right to close the trails for safety concerns.
- Hikers need to register at the Wool Shed.
- Donations of $10 per person are appreciated to help maintain the trails.
- Visit the Wool Shed to buy products and food to take home.
- Amherst Island is known for its dry stone walls, make sure to see the one Topsy built on the farm.
Accommodations close by
Extend your stay on Amherst Island! There are plenty of options nearby. Because after a hard day on the farm, you’re going to want a place to rest.
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