Out & About #1126 | Limehouse Conservation Area + Williams' Orchard

10/11/2025

Thanksgiving hiking is an annual tradition I don't intend on breaking anytime soon.

This year's three-day would be the most hectic of them all: Hiking, apple acquisition, groceries, chores, pie making, and hangouts would all need to take place within this time frame. Needless to say, some things would need to give.
As with majority of cases, this would be my sleep and sanity.

Commencing a sunny Saturday morning was a trip to Milton. Originally, I had intended to undertake the Limehouse Conservation Area trails solo, but later invited my browsing partner to join.

We stopped first at Tim Hortons, my usual pick for quick sustenance and indoor plumbing facilities.

I took to an $8.99 Supreme Stack, which included steak slices and bacon. Adding lettuce for a source of greens and freshness was denied, so I adhered to the predetermined constituent lineup. A small Iced Chai Latte with Oat Milk set me back $3.29 more.
Extremely plush was the potato bun - a delightful choice for both the Supreme Stack and Thanksgiving Stack's flavourful components. Another pleasant surprise was the peppercorn sauce, which was smoky and delectable, and not spicy in the slightest! The shaved steak strips and bacon were also nowhere as heavy as envisioned, and the overall concoction was still tasty without lettuce.

Similarly, the Iced Chai exceeded expectations with a lightly spiced presence.

My browsing partner has been expressive about a preference for McDonald's over Tim's, citing familiarity and consistency in the menu. I wrinkled my nose in distaste, for McDonald's fare was so synthetic it could hardly be considered food. The lack of variety and steady climb in price further justified a shift towards more varied options, should you ask me.
A Bagel sandwich and hot Brewed Coffee were consumed across from me.

We then made our way towards the day's POI.

Boasting free admission, Limehouse Conservation Area was quickly found to be a popular attraction for Thanksgiving long weekend. Visitor volumes were staggeringly high, leading me to grimace with disgust. Besides the surge in traffic on the trails, several of these groups rambunctiously paraded the trail, either shouting/conversing loudly or blasting music from a portable speaker. Observing one of these groups emerge from a rental vehicle drifting into the gravel lot led to much disdain and head-shaking.

There was just one "official" parking area, according to the trail map. From Station 1, we followed the Limehouse Access Trail towards Bruce Trail. The proposal was undertake a counter-clockwise loop about the conservation area, terminating at the highlight of the kiln and "Hole in the Wall".

Credit Valley Conservation, 2025

Fall foliage is a scene that few Canadians ever tire of. For about two to three weeks, the province welcomes a glorious gradient of gold, tangerine, turmeric, mahogany, and more. External temperatures are comfortable, with perhaps breezy gusts or crisp, autumn air welcoming trail-goers. Sorrowfully short-lived is the season, and soon we will be anticipating subzero conditions and cracking skin once more.

View the full album HERE !

With my browsing partner in tow, it wasn't surprising to stop and take note of natural elements that would have otherwise gone unnoticed by yours truly. A creepy crawler bearing a slick, petroleum-like sheen stood out amongst the fallen leaves; it was a supposedly uncommon sighting, and I later learned of it to be poisonous.

Station 4 was a scenic stop in itself, with rugged surface cloaked in moss and dusted ever so gently with colourful leaves.

Dampness was present in the air, but particularly on exposed surfaces of logs and leaves. Rainfall from the week past had resulted in prominent dew droplets.

Along the path, we drew close to a waterway. The stream boasted incredibly clear waters, rendering ripples even more mesmerizing.

I was quite intrigued by the varied landscape, eagerly climbing underneath and into mossy trees. The former led to temporary staining of my backpack, while the latter made for amusing snapshots.

Where the Black Creek Side Trail intersected with Bruce Trail, we descended down to the bridge to cross over to the Draw Kiln and Powder House.

This section offered an undoubtedly breathtaking view of fall at peak colour change, edged with shrubbery and rushing currents.

Unknown to me was the historic significance of the lime kilns that once occupied the space.

The chambers were an interesting attraction positioned within a limestone quarry once used for storage of raw materials in the late 1800s/early 1900s.

Before attempting the final obstacle of the trail, I tucked my camera back in my bag for safety purposes. Given its proximity to the main entrance, Stations 3, 4, and 5 were amongst the busiest in terms of visitor volumes. After all, it provided a shortcut to see the rock formations without undertaking the entire trail.

Leading towards the "Hole in the Wall" were countless jagged rocks. Given its narrowness, only one person could pass through at a time. We had paused before the cave entrance to allow incoming traffic to pass through, then made our way inwards.

Admittedly, I grew frustrated at this point as I had requested photos from my browsing partner and the outcomes failed to align with the vision. Eager to redo the shots, I resorted to hovering near the area until the path cleared. Ultimately, the flow of visitors - in conjunction with my browsing partner's unwillingness, did not permit further photos.

In a fit of annoyance, I retraced my steps through the cave and began to explore the adjacent area. "It looks like the trail connects from that side" my browsing partner had announced earlier. I set off to find this connection, but ultimately began to struggle climbing over asymmetrical rocks instead.
I reentered the cave area from a dimly lit corridor, where a plastic water bottle on the ground confirmed human passage. It didn't take long before I accidentally banged my shin against a protruding rock. The combined thickness of my body and backpack also made it impossible to proceed further into the crevices. It was my sign to turn back.

And so I did, panting heavily to overcome the uneven surfaces from which I had somehow come. The rocks were slippery and I almost lost my footing. In the face of urgency, my outstretched hand grasped for the nearest sturdy surface: A log that I had thought to be structurally sound was, in fact, sodden and soaked like a sponge. The firm grip did not provide me much support as it had caused excess moisture to seep from the log into my glove. Suffice to say, I was utterly repulsed. My displeasure surged swiftly.

Eventually, I made my way back onto the trail, through the cave, and climbed up the ladder. My browsing partner was waiting on the other side, and immediately assumed the target of my frustrations. "The trail did not connect." I glared.

Some more photos later, we began our walk back to the entrance.

Generally speaking, the trails made for an exceptionally mild "hike" - if one could use that term at all. Trail textures were nicely varied, ranging from rocky, silty, and bouncy and covered with pine needles. Save the stretch that involved the ladder, the entirety of the trails were quite forgiving. It is recommended to complete the loop counter-clockwise, as it makes for nicer viewpoints and facilitates climbing the ladder back to ground level.

I must also warn against going off trail, for obtaining a bruised shin is hardly enjoyable.

2.5 hours later, I deemed a snack being appropriate. We headed back to the same neighbourhood, but stopped at McD's instead of Tim's. My browsing partner was adamant on obtaining (faux) sustenance from the American chain. Meanwhile, I strode two blocks over back to Tim Hortons, where I procured a 10-pack of Timbits and this year's release of trick-or-treating vessel, a glow-in-the-dark Black Cat Halloween Timbits Bucket.

Next on the agenda was a quick stop at Williams' Orchard.

The goal was not apple picking, but rather evaluating picks from the already picked varieties in the barn.

Each basket was priced at $15, with one smaller bucket of Cortlands at $8. Species of interest included Mutsu, Jonagold, and Ambrosia. Upon arrival, my visual assessment deemed most of the assortment to be merely passable. Neither Ambrosia nor Honeycrisp piqued my curiosity; meanwhile, the Mutsu were gargantuan but consistently bruised across their surfaces. In the end, I settled for an $8 bag of Cortland and $15 bag of Jonagold.

My browsing partner also took to a 4L jug of apple cider for the upcoming Thanksgiving supper.

On the way back was Andrews Farm Market & Winery. Naturally, I suggested making a stop.

The farm store boasted apples, (overpriced) corn on the cob, sunflowers, jams and preserves, assorted candy, and, of course, pies. A fan directed towards the pies circulated aromas of butter and baked fruit into the air, immediately beckoning for attention. When I neared the selection though, I was baffled to find both fruit and pumpkin pies priced at a whopping $26!

Beautifully decorated throughout, Andrews Farm was a splendid place for family-friendly activities, but certainly not the most economic.

Heading next door to the wine cellar, we lay eyes on their alcoholic offerings. Pumpkin Spice Fruit Wine had replaced the summer exclusive Strawberry Fields. Based on the sample provided, the formula was indeed reflective of its name. The aroma of warm spice was undeniable, though it lacked the complexity to spur repeated sips.