Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • It’s A Shore Thing Summer Getaway
    • Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch Getaway
    • Raft. Relax. Recharge
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • It’s A Shore Thing Summer Getaway
    • Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch Getaway
    • Raft. Relax. Recharge
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / news / Vancouver Island hidden escape offers peace, private swimming pond + plenty of fun

Hidden Pond’s unique crystal clear spring fed pond is great for swimming, any time of year! Dan Shipley / West Coast Traveller photo

Vancouver Island hidden escape offers peace, private swimming pond + plenty of fun

November 29, 2022 //  by Daniel Shipley

Share this:

When my wife and I left Victoria for our luxurious anniversary weekend getaway at Metchosin’s Hidden Pond Bed and Breakfast and Retreat Centre, the November windstorm had just begun. As the wind increased and we began to notice evidence of power outages in the darkened houses along the way, we realized that Mother Nature might have other plans.

When we arrived at the retreat, nestled on 10 forested acres a few kilometres off Happy Valley Road, we had just enough time to look around the warm and welcoming rooms (including a large open living room, fully stocked kitchen and dining area, and a spacious bedroom with a king-sized bed) when the lights went out.

With help from owners Rob and Jo-Ann Kevala, we found flashlights, lit candles, made a roaring fire in the stone fireplace and joked that our luxurious getaway had suddenly turned into “glamping.”

With our dog, Sasha, comfortable on the fur rug in front of the living room fireplace, we knew our time there would still be comfy and cozy.

“We opened Hidden Pond about three years ago,” Jo-Ann says. “We had always wanted to create a smaller, dog-friendly space where we could host family reunions, small retreats and that sort of thing.”

READ MORE: The wild West Coast is just a sip away

Although the retreat is only about a half-hour from Victoria, it feels remote and tranquil, with an orchard, forest trails and spring-fed swimming pond – a feature that called to us both as cold water swimming enthusiasts.

“There are quite a few nearby attractions,” Jo-Ann says. “But most people find that when they get here and experience our rural retreat and the uniqueness of the pond, they don’t want to go anywhere else!”

Hidden Pond Bed and Breakfast and Retreat Center is a unique setting for groups, families or couples who want a quiet, private getaway. Dan Shipley / West Coast Traveller photo

We awoke the next day to a beautifully sunny, quiet morning, and with tea in hand, strolled the thickly forested property, enjoying the fresh air as the dog frolicked in the ferns. Next we measured the temperature of the pond – six degrees! – and jumped into the frigid water. With hoots and hollers of exhilaration, we broke the peace, then scurried to the exquisitely warm hot tub

READ MORE: Let the South Island show you its Spirit

Things to do nearby

After starting the day off right, we took the scenic half-hour drive up Highway 14 through the community of Sooke, to the Shirley Delicious café on Sheringham Point Road. This popular West Coast roadside gem serves up lunch, brunch and all kinds of fresh-baked goodies – the laughing and energetic young woman behind the counter gave my wife a free muffin – just because!

From left: Sheringham Point Lighthouse; Shirley Delicious café, coffee art and local artwork; the view from Sheringham Point. Jen Blyth / West Coast Traveller photos

With coffees in hand we continued a little further up the road to visit Sheringham Point Lighthouse, a 20-metre-high beacon of safety that’s stood on the rocky coastline for more than 100 years. We took our time there, mesmerized by scenery and the waves crashing on the rocks below, before heading back to Hidden Pond.

After a lazy afternoon checking out the orchard and berry patch and fetching more firewood from the ample supply, we made the short trip down Happy Valley road for dinner at My-Chosen Cafe.

A rustic and cosy fixture of the Metchosin community, this restaurant features a backyard paddock called Critter’s Corner, complete with an assortment of goats, donkeys and other farmyard animals.

My-Chosen Cafe is a cosy Metchosin fixture, offering home-style cooking … and goats and donkeys in the backyard. Dan Shipley / West Coast Traveller photo

After being seated beside the fireplace, I enjoyed their delicious Workman’s burger, made with local Berryman Brothers lean ground beef and served on a toasted brioche bun, while my wife tucked into their tender breaded veal cutlet, topped with sautéed mushrooms, onions and gravy.

We completed the meal with a glass of smooth, indigo-coloured Empress Gin, made by local Victoria Distillers, before returning to Hidden Pond where we found the lights back on. After stoking the fire once again, we settled in for a wonderful evening of peace and quiet, before a restful night’s sleep.

We arose the next morning and at a leisurely pace – our gracious hosts told us we were welcome to stay the whole day – cooked a hearty breakfast, had one last walk through the trees, then packed up and headed back to the city.

All said and done, it turned out to be both a fun adventure, and a restful respite from the hectic pace of everyday life, at an amazing retreat, thoughtfully created by our amazing hosts!

If you go:

• Hidden Pond Bed and Breakfast and Retreat Centre is located just 30 minutes from Victoria at 4431 Spellman Pl., Metchosin. Learn more at hiddenpond.ca

• Shirley Delicious – Both a local favourite and visitor staple, this roadside café serves fresh-baked goodies, brunch, lunch, coffee and treats, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday to Monday. Visit at 2794 Sheringham Point Rd., about 15 minutes west of Sooke, or online at shirleydelicious.ca

• My-Chosen Café is in the village centre of Metchosin at 4492 Happy Valley Rd. Visit from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday (from 9 a.m Saturday and Sunday) and online at mychosencafe.com

Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!

Share this:

Category: news, TravelTag: British Columbia Destinations, Canada, Metchosin, Staycation secrets, Things to do, Things to Do in Vancouver Island

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Knowledge is power: New guidebooks map accessible PNW trails

What is an ‘easy’ hike? For a mountaineer, an easy hike might be one that…

Knowledge is power: New guidebooks map accessible PNW trailsRead More

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in Kelowna

A Kelowna photographer captured images of a pack of wolves while on a weekend hike…

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in KelownaRead More

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in Golden

He might be a better skier and influencer than any Gen Z could imagine, possibly…

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in GoldenRead More

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!

What’s going on around the West Coast? Here’s your inside guide to what’s happening where,…

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!Read More

Nothing is the New Something in B.C.’s Southern Gulf Islands

Many travellers believe spring and summer are the best times to explore. That means the…

Nothing is the New Something in B.C.’s Southern Gulf IslandsRead More

Vancouver Island photographer’s bald eagle image is Canada’s choice for international contest

A dramatic image by professional Vancouver Island photographer Anthony Bucci will represent Canada in a…

Vancouver Island photographer’s bald eagle image is Canada’s choice for international contestRead More

Fuel up for outdoor adventures in The ‘Loops: Serving up seconds on magical meals and memories!

The best compliment you can give a chef? Returning for seconds! Oh, and to tell…

Fuel up for outdoor adventures in The ‘Loops: Serving up seconds on magical meals and memories!Read More

The writer who’s been everywhere shares his 2023 California travel wish list

By Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times I’ve been meandering around California for decades, which is…

The writer who’s been everywhere shares his 2023 California travel wish listRead More

Tourism hopes high in B.C. as China lifts border rules, but recovery may take months

Zhengwen Hao says the phone for his Richmond, B.C., restaurant hasn’t stopped buzzing in recent…

Tourism hopes high in B.C. as China lifts border rules, but recovery may take monthsRead More

Previous Post: « Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks ʔiisaak Pledge; Paddling Together
Next Post: Talks ongoing about national park in South Okanagan Similkameen »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

Knowledge is power: New guidebooks map accessible PNW trails

January 30, 2023

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in Kelowna

January 25, 2023

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in Golden

January 25, 2023

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!

January 24, 2023

Recent Posts

Knowledge is power: New guidebooks map accessible PNW trails

January 30, 2023

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in Kelowna

January 25, 2023

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in Golden

January 25, 2023

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!

January 24, 2023

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I Love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon

Copyright © 2023 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved