Limehouse

Rob hails Limehouse Conservation Area as one of his top hikes ever.  Having been his sidekick on most other hikes, I was particularly curious to see what this place was like first-hand, given the fact that I knew what his comparison points are!  So, we chose a nice fall day to check out the kilns and natural splendour of Limehouse.  Actually, we ended up going back again to get an even broader perspective of this incredibly diverse natural environment. 

There are many ruins of buildings from the original Limehouse community, including a powder house (for storing explosives) and kilns of varying sizes (used to prepare the limestone).  This section of the hike is proposed as a National Historic Site.  As you meander along, you'll notice traces of community history, including structures on the edge of the creek.  Though, as old as this area is, there's always room to grow and change.  Recently, we returned to Limestone and found that the little footbridge that we took on our first trip had been replaced further upstream by a larger, sturdier bridge that still crosses Black Creek and joins up with the Main Trail.  This project was organized by the Limehouse Kiln Society, a group that finds investors to help them in their effort to maintain and restore the various structures in the Conservation Area.

One of the particularly amazing things about the relatively short trip throughout the conservation area (about 4.5 kms) is the fact that you'll walk through such an array of natural landscapes.  For example, along the Bruce Trail section of the hike, you will be walking alongside the edge of a swamp one minute and then you'll notice an outcropping of boulders and cliffs that seem to be out of place.  The rocks, created at one point by glaciers, offer many opportunities to explore the little caverns, nooks and holes that they create.  The most famous of these is called "Hole in the Wall."  As you explore this section of the trail, keep an eye on your footing and make sure to step over the extremely deep cracks! 

For a longer hike, there are many offshoots to explore--- including hiking along the railroad tracks or along the Creek.  Overall, you should bank on at least two hours to get a good idea of what this Conservation area has to offer, longer if you are interested in hiking along the Bruce Trail for a while. On our way to Limehouse and within the town limits, there are artisan shops to visit, including one that we found particularly intriguing-- wooden sculptures that have been created using a chainsaw.  All in all, I have to agree with Rob in saying that whether you opt for a shorter hike and a tour of the town and surrounding area, or decide to make a day of it on the trails, Limehouse is definitely a sure bet!

Official Geocaching Website

What's geocaching?