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Fernbrae Retreat at Chaffey’s Lock

Photo gallery for Fernbrae Retreat at Chaffey’s Lock

A nighttime marina with boats docked along a narrow waterway, illuminated by street lamps.
A modern living room with a sectional sofa, a coffee table, and a dining area with wooden chairs and a chandelier.
A stone fireplace with a television above it, logs, and a basket of pinecones.
A natural setting with a stream, trees, and a stone bridge.
A house with a front porch, a stone wall, and outdoor seating.

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Rideau Canal

Popular amenities

  • Balcony or patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Onsite parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Chaffey’s Lock Elgin, ON
  • Place, Opinicon Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Indian Lake
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Place, Kingston Waterfront
    ‪56 min drive‬
  • Airport, Kingston, ON (YGK-Norman Rogers)
    ‪65 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

1

1 King Bed

2

1 Queen Bed

3

1 Queen Bed

4

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Main floor

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Upstairs Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

Add dates for prices

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About the area

Rideau Lakes

Located in Rideau Lakes, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Bayview Yacht Harbour and Len's Cove Marina are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Foley Mountain Conservation Area and Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre. Kilborn's on the Rideau and WTC Communications Arena are also worth visiting. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling.
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Map
Chaffey’s Lock Elgin, ON

What's nearby

  • Opinicon Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Indian Lake - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Rideau Canal Lock 36 - 16 min drive - 20.7 km
  • Queen's University - 56 min drive - 61.3 km
  • Kingston Waterfront - 56 min drive - 65.3 km

Getting around

  • Gananoque Station - 43 min drive
  • Kingston, ON (YGK-Norman Rogers) - 70 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Julianna's - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Jeannie’s Chip Wagon - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Kenney's Hotel&Restaurant - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Ferg's Cook House - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Intoxicated Cakes by Rasa - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Fernbrae Retreat at Chaffey’s Lock pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Fernbrae Retreat at Chaffey’s Lock?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Fernbrae Retreat at Chaffey’s Lock?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Fernbrae Retreat at Chaffey’s Lock?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Fernbrae Retreat at Chaffey’s Lock located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is steps away from Rideau Canal and Opinicon Lake. Indian Lake is 0.3 mi (0.4 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 31 out of 33 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 33 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 33 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 33 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 33 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our Fernbrae cottage stay was delightful! Very cozy, lovely surroundings and a gorgeous time of year to visit with the autumn foliage. We enjoyed the area’s history, and took advantage of the many hiking trails. Our hosts were very easy going, and answered any questions we had very quickly. Highly recommend these hosts and this historical cottage!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Another lovely visit. Always great to go back to Fernbrae.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We were delighted with our stay at Fernbrae this past week. The home was up-to-date, clean, well appointed and fully outfitted. Our hosts were upbeat and quickly answered all our questions. To top it off, the weather was great, and there were lots of sites to visit in the area. Thanks, Kim and Bill. From Donna, Christine, Carole, Sandy and John.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful turnkey historic vacation home. All the comforts of home, clean and inviting! Lovely location as well! Thank you!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect cottage with lots of history. Quiet, clean and well organized. We rented a boat and ate lunch and dinner at the Opinicon resort. We were 4 adults and 3 kids, lots of space for all of us. Owners are wonderful and caring and made sure we had everything we needed.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We found Fernbrae Cottage to be a perfect get-away. It is situated next to Chaffey locks which provides an interesting diversion, but it is far enough away from it to have privacy from other sightseers who tend to walk in the other direction toward an excellent ice scream store and the restaurant/pub at the Opinicon resort.It is also located central to day trips to Westport, Smith Falls, Merrickville, Perth, Brockville, Cananoque, and Kingston.The deer sightings are an extra bonus.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cozy well equipped and very clean
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Location, Management, and furnishings outstanding

Kim and Bill Watling made us feel welcome and helped to make our stay comfortable all around.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our daughter was married at the Opinicon resort on the weekend. Fernbrae's location was perfect. Comfortable, cozy, and well maintained! Kim is an amazing host! Highly recommended place indeed!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

delightful cottage

loved the decor, and all the finishing touches. had everything we needed for a relaxing stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The setting of the cottage is in a lovely spot. Beautiful trees all around. The cottage was rustic but charming. Kitchen was well equipped for cooking in.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Girls Weekend Getaway

Lovely cottage and very clean. Walking to Opinicon for icecream and having dinner on their patio was awesome. Day trips to Westport and Perth were fun and the little shops were easy to spend money lol. Nice weekend getaway
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay

This was by far our favourite property. It was clean, very well decorated and fully equipped with all that we needed. Kim was an exceptional host. The location was amazing with the sound of the rapids and quiet walks. Definitely would come back.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing

Had a great time with friends.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quaint little house

We spent 3 nights at Fernbrae, traveling the Rideau during the day. The home is old but lovely, and decorated with care. We were pleased with both the location and the accommodation.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Gem

A unique little historic oasis.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great 5 day stay. The house had everything we needed and more! Very thoughtfully decorated. Bill and Kim checked on us without being intrusive. Bill responded to a minor request promptly.Lots to do in the area. We even rented a pontoon boat for an afternoon on the lake. Highly recommend. Great family reunion.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Little piece of heaven

We had a nice little getaway with my elderly parents and sister’s family. The downstairs bedroom was perfect for our needs. We thoroughly enjoyed the cottage as it was nestled in it’s own little piece of heaven. Thanks for the lovely setting for making some family memories.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Eight friends stayed an Fernbrae for a week. There was a lot to do in the area for everyone to explore. It was interesting being on Chaffey’s Lock, watching the boats going through. We had dinner one night at the Opinicon which was nice to be able to walk to. Weather was great so there was lots of room. If the weather is bad it’s small for 8 adults, however each room has its own sitting area if you need some time apart.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gathering of Old Friends

This is our second summer stay at Fernbrae, but we have been sharing annual holidays for over four decades. Fernbrae is not only central for our travels, but it offers the perfect mix of private accommodations and resort amenities along the historic Rideau Canal. We will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fernbrae Cottage is a wonderfully updated heritage cottage with all the amenities. The bedrooms are large and comfortable, the kitchen is extremely well equipped, the decor is spare but tasteful, and there are some nice extras like a wine fridge and an air fryer that stood out when it came to enjoying great meals.I do want to say a word about the setting, because it's not a typical cottage location. Fernbrae is on the edge of the small town of Chaffey's Lock, which brings some benefits and some drawbacks. The bonuses include access to a fantastic restaurant, the Opinicon, and a great ice-cream parlour nearby. I'd also shout out the Catarquai Trail, which is a refurbished railway that's now a walking trail that goes on forever.The drawbacks are that the cottage is busier than you might expect, with a road nearby and a busy lock a few hundred feet away. Fernbrae itself is called out in the town's walking tour map! It's not noisy, it's just not as private as a lakeside cottage. Also, the area is heavily wooded, so the outdoor seating areas are in constant shade even on sunny days. I don't say this to dissuade anyone, because we had an excellent time and truly enjoyed our stay. Exploring the areas around the lock (check out the Lockmasters Museum!) helped us appreciate Canadian heritage in a new way. I just want people to understand what they're renting so they aren't surprised.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Birthday

Thank you Kimberly and Bill for sharing your lovely cottage with us, all 4 of us over 60’s found it warm and inviting. Felt very much like home! Lots to see and do, but just sitting on the porch and watching the world go buy was the best!! We WILL be back!🤗🤗
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful escape

Beautiful property, stocked with all essentials. Friendly hosts. Would've loved all bedrooms to be air conditioned. Was a very warm week. Hand rails on back steps would've been great too. Still a wonderful home!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fernbrae Escape

Hello Kim and Bill, We had a wonderful stay at Fernbrae! Just unpacking now and realized that we brought home the guest book. Will send that back in the mail ASAP!. Huge thanks, Betty and all.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We are all seniors and as soon as we walked into this cottage it gave us a big hug.It was so welcoming & everything was of an excellent quality and comforting.The host greeted my husband on the next day to familiarize us with the heating & air conditioning as well as the oven. He was most welcoming.Of all the vrbo's we have rented this was an upgrade and we had a lovely time touring around the small towns and talking to the boaters at the lock. The beds were extremely comfortable and the 2 bathrooms were bright & nicely designed for easy accessibilty. Thank you for making our week comfortable with added features that you would only find in your own homes.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2025
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