Loyalist Township
Lakeside Heritage and Island Life
East
2.5 hours from Toronto; 20 minutes from Kingston
Historic Villages & Island Escapes
Open Year-Round
Welcome to Loyalist Township
Situated along Highway 401, Loyalist Township stretches along the north shore of Lake Ontario from Amherstview in the east through Bath, Odessa, and the quiet village of Wilton. The township has two distinct parts: the mainland communities along the Loyalist Parkway, and Amherst Island, reached by a short ferry crossing from Millhaven. Together, they carry some of the most significant Loyalist settlement history in Ontario, and their communities have held onto that character in ways that are still visible along the shoreline and main streets today.
Traveler Essentials
- Drive Scale: Scenic shoreline driving along the Loyalist Parkway with a short ferry crossing required for Amherst Island access.
- Main Villages: Bath serves as the historic hub along the waterfront, supported by the inland community of Odessa and the island village of Stella.
- Landscape: Rolling farmland and limestone shores along Lake Ontario, transitioning to the wind-swept open terrain of Amherst Island across the channel.
Explore Our Communities
Amherst Island
A tranquil island community reached by a 15-minute ferry from Millhaven, known for birding, historic Irish dry stone walls, and the waterfront village of Stella.
Population: 450 | 15-min ferry from Millhaven
Amherstview
A thriving community on the western edge of Kingston, home to the W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre with a pool, skating rinks, and a public library.
Population: Growing community | Eastern Loyalist Township
Bath
 historic waterfront village that once rivalled Kingston as a commercial and educational centre, with independent shops, restaurants, and the Bath Museum on Main Street.
Population: 2,500 | 20 mins from Kingston
Odessa
An inland community on the banks of Millhaven Creek, home to the historic Babcock Mill and the Odessa Fairgrounds, one of the oldest fairgrounds in Ontario.
Population: 1,000 | 15 mins from Kingston
Wilton
A quiet rural village known across the region for the Wilton Cheese Factory, a working cheese operation producing fresh curds and aged cheddar since 1867.
Population: Small village | 20 mins from Kingston
Find Your Loyalist Vibe
Taste the Place
From fresh cheese curds at a working factory to waterfront dining in Bath and an island restaurant that supports local growers, Loyalist Township keeps its food close to the land.
Browse Dining in Loyalist Township
- The Back Kitchen: A community-led restaurant on Amherst Island that supports local growers and serves food rooted in what is available close by.
- Welborne Commons: Approachable dining in Bath with a focus on regional ingredients and a menu that changes with what is in season.
- Beachside BBQ: Casual outdoor eats in Bath with bold, satisfying flavours suited to a warm afternoon by the water.
- Bread & Butter Bakery: A Bath bakery with freshly baked goods that appear as rest stop fare on the Discover L&A Ride for good reason.
- The Lodge Coffee House: A welcoming coffee house in Bath that serves as a natural stopping point along the Loyalist Parkway.
- A Pizza Pie & Cheesehouse: A welcoming dine-in restaurant in Bath that uses state of the art hot rock oven that ensures absolute pizza perfection every time.
- Jiffy Grill: This local in Odessa offers all the comfort food would expect, and some mouth-watering surprises as well.
Into the Wild
The Lake Ontario shoreline, the open fields and owl woods of Amherst Island, and the conservation areas along the parkway corridor offer a range of outdoor experiences for birders, paddlers, hikers, and golfers.
Explore Outdoor Activities in Loyalist Township
- Amherst Island Birding: Over 350 bird species recorded across the island. The Owl Woods reliably produces Northern Saw-whet and Long-eared Owls through winter, with hawks, harriers, and Snowy Owls across the open fields. Most birding is done from the roadside.
- Parrott’s Bay Conservation Area: Waterfront trails and meadow paths with opportunities to spot ospreys along the shoreline near Bath.
- Sand Beach Wetlands Conservation Area: Fifty-four acres of dunes, beaches, and birding habitat on Amherst Island at Beach Road.
- Topsy Farms Trails: A 2-kilometre groomed trail through a working sheep farm to the Sugar Shack on Amherst Island at 14775 Front Road, Stella.
- Loyalist Country Club: A Ted Baker-designed par-72 course in Bath with a 20,000 sq. ft. stone clubhouse and PGA of Canada instruction at 1 Loyalist Boulevard.
- Camden Braes Golf & Country Club: A family-owned 18-hole course since 1976 at 459 Simmons Road in Odessa with a 6,668-yard championship layout and electric carts.
Time Travel
Loyalist Township holds some of the most significant Loyalist-era sites in Ontario, concentrated along the waterfront and the Loyalist Parkway corridor.
Explore History and Heritage in Loyalist Township
- Babcock Mill: A stone mill built in 1856 on the banks of Millhaven Creek in Odessa, operating as a seasonal museum from May. Originally used as a woollen mill and later for basket making. Admission by donation at 100 Bridge Street.
- Fairfield-Gutzeit House: A Georgian-style home built in 1796 in Bath, fully furnished to the Victorian era and open for tours at 341 Main Street.
- Bath Museum: A local history museum in Bath’s Old Town Hall with artifacts and exhibits covering the village’s history dating to its settlement in 1784. Located at 434 Main Street.
- Neilson Store Museum & Cultural Centre: A museum housed in a former general store on Amherst Island, covering the island’s first settlers from 1789 at 5220 Front Road, Stella.
- Odessa Fairgrounds: One of the oldest fairgrounds in Ontario, located in the village of Odessa.
- Loyalist Parkway: The historic Highway 33 corridor through the township, marked at its eastern entrance by gates officially dedicated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1984.
Makers & Merchants
Bath's Main Street has an independent character worth slowing down for. Amherst Island adds galleries, wool, and farm gate stops. Wilton has been drawing people off the highway for cheese since 1867.
Explore Local Shopping in Loyalist Township
- MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company: A family-run craft brewery in Bath with over 200 years of farming heritage behind its operation, growing its own hops, wheat, and barley on-site at 1915 County Road 22.
- Wilton Cheese Factory: Fresh curds and aged cheddar direct from a working factory in the village of Wilton. Open seven days a week at 287 Simmons Road.
- The Hive: A working artist collective at 363 Main Street in Bath, where local artists display and sell their work from a vibrant studio space.
- Books on Main: An independent bookstore in Bath with new and bargain books and board games at 368 Main Street.
- The Weasel & Easel: A gallery on Amherst Island where local artists and artisans display and sell their work at 5220 Front Road, Stella.
- Topsy Farms Wool Shed: Island-made wool blankets, yarn, and natural fibre goods from a working sheep farm at 14775 Front Road, Stella.
- Verde: An environmental general store in Odessa offering earth-friendly alternatives at 739 Simmons Road.
Places to Stay
With this much to see and do, a day trip may not be enough. From hotels and B&Bs to lakeside cottage rentals, find the right place to stay and turn your visit into an overnight.
FAQ
What are the best historical sites to visit in Loyalist Township?
Bath holds the Fairfield-Gutzeit House and Bath Museum on Main Street. Odessa is home to the Babcock Mill on Bridge Street, open seasonally from May. Amherst Island has the Neilson Store Museum in Stella covering early settlement history from 1789.
Is the Wilton Cheese Factory open for visits in 2026?
The retail store at 287 Simmons Road in Wilton is open seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm for fresh curds, aged cheddar, and specialty cheeses. Contact the factory directly at wiltoncheese.ca to confirm current availability.
How do I take the ferry to Amherst Island?
The ferry departs from Millhaven and takes approximately 15 minutes to reach the village of Stella. Check the current schedule and fares at amherstislandca.com/ferry before travelling.
What are the best outdoor activities in Loyalist Township?
Amherst Island is one of Ontario’s premier birding destinations year-round. Parrott’s Bay Conservation Area and Sand Beach Wetlands offer shoreline trails and birdwatching. Topsy Farms has a groomed trail to the Sugar Shack on the island.