Battersea: Beach at Dog Lake, Trail and Miniature Railways

Battersea offers several reasons to visit: a sandy beach at Dog Lake, a trail along Milburn Creek, miniature railways and the Battersea Pumpkin Festival. Each offers something different—from time by the water and a walking route to railway engineering and a seasonal festival. As you plan your trip, you can decide which of these sides of the area interests you most.

Sandy Beach at Dog Lake

Gilmour's Point Beach is an east-facing sandy beach on Dog Lake. The beach has a pavilion and picnic areas, making it easy to combine time by the water with a break at a picnic spot. If you’d like to include a beach day in your vacation plans, Gilmour's Point Beach is a specific spot on Dog Lake to consider. Its east-facing aspect and sandy shore characterize this destination, while the pavilion and picnic areas offer places to take a break.

Trail Along Milburn Creek

Another way to experience Battersea is the Milburn Creek Trail, a 3.1 km loop along Milburn Creek. Two starting points are listed: one beside the baseball field and the other behind the church on Wellington Street. This gives you a choice of two trailheads when planning your walk. The 3.1 km length makes the loop’s distance clear, and, together with its route along the creek, makes the trail a distinct option for anyone looking to add a walk to their stay.

Miniature Railways in Battersea

The Frontenac Society of Model Engineers operates two miniature railways. The elevated railway, “High Level,” has three gauges: 3½, 4¾ and 5 inches; it is designed for smaller models. There is also a ground-level railway, “Ground Level,” with a gauge of 7¼ inches. The two layouts therefore differ both in their construction and in the gauges offered. Model railway enthusiasts can make these technical differences the focus of an outing.

The Frontenac Society of Model Engineers holds public ride days during its operating season, from May to October. The society is located in Battersea at 26 Doris Smith Lane, between Doris Smith Lane and the baseball field. If you’d like to visit on a ride day, the May-to-October period is an important seasonal detail to keep in mind when planning your trip. The different gauges and two types of railway also offer specific details to look out for as you explore the site.

Fall Festival and Loughborough Lake

The Battersea Pumpkin Festival takes place annually in early October. The festival includes a corn maze and a train ride. If you’re travelling to Battersea for the festival, you can plan around this seasonal event. It differs from the model railway ride days, which take place during the operating season from May to October.

There is a boat launch at Loughborough Lake at 2250 Battersea Water Street. It’s a distinct point of reference for travellers planning to visit Loughborough Lake. Dog Lake, with Gilmour's Point Beach, and Loughborough Lake, with its boat launch, are separate destinations; plan around whichever lake matters for your stay.

When looking for a vacation rental in Battersea, consider your travel dates alongside the reason for your trip. A stay around the Pumpkin Festival, held annually in early October, has a different seasonal focus from a visit during the miniature railways’ operating season from May to October. For the beach, trail and lake, the focus is on the destinations and points of reference listed above.

More places to explore: Kingston, Sharbot Lake, Wolfe Island, Sydenham, Mountain Grove and Cloyne.

For the broader travel overview: Frontenac County.