METCHOSIN
METCHOSIN
Metchosin is a charming rural municipality located on the coast with a population of just over 5000. It is bounded by Colwood, Langford, Sooke and the San Juan de Fuca electoral district. The area is home to small farms, which were established by independent settlers in the 1850s who found the land to be quite productive. One of the very first farms established was the Bilston Farm, located on the shores of Witty’s Lagoon.
Metchosin’s local government has maintained the area’s rural lifestyle by imposing a minimum lot size of one to two acres, a factor that contributes to the district’s stability today. The majority of the properties in Metchosin are single-family dwellings on larger lots, spread across nine neighborhoods.
Despite its sparse population, Metchosin is a close-knit community with a rich “help your neighbor” tradition. The area relies mostly on private wells for water, though some neighborhoods are served by a community water system. Public transportation is limited, and the Fire Department is volunteer-based. Private garbage collection should be arranged, but a blue box recycling service is available to all residents.
Metchosin Sub-Area Attraction Pages:
Witty’s Lagoon
Looking for a beautiful beach and great park to hike near Victoria? Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park has it all! With beaches, inlets, forest trails, and other nooks and crannies to explore, it’s an impeccable family park that’s simply beautiful all year round.
Attractions around Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park
- Metchosin Golf & Country Club: A gorgeous place for a challenging round of golf. The clubhouse sells hotdogs, chips, and beer and feels more like a cool hangout.
- Pioneer Museum: A 20-minute walk from Witty’s Lagoon Park, this museum takes you back in time to discover life in early Metchosin and the surrounding area.
- Devonian Regional Park: Within a 5-minute drive, Devonian Regional Park is another beautiful natural wonder. You can enjoy a walk on its trail, explore a nice beach, and enjoy bird watching.
- Matheson Lake Regional Park: About 10 minutes’ drive from Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park, Matheson Lake Regional Park is an excellent opportunity for boating and fishing.
About Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park
Witty’s Lagoon Park is a seashore park known for its bird sanctuary and diverse landscape. Woodlands, a freshwater creek, salt marsh, sandy beaches, and rocky headlands provide habitat for a wide range of plants and animals, making it great for visitors of all ages.
Here you can easily spend most of a sunny day with all the activities the park provides:
- Start at the Nature Centre, where staff and volunteers can answer your questions about the park and point you in the right direction to the trails. There you will also find brochures and interpretive displays on the lagoon’s natural and cultural history.
- Witty’s Park is known for its 5km network of trails and boardwalks that meander through an impressive Douglas-fir forest, leading to the wonderful beach at Witty’s Lagoon. Nature trails for all ages with different fitness levels in the most nature-filled environment are well worth a look. You can choose from old-growth forest trails, quiet lagoon trails filled with various local birdlife, or a stunning walk on the oceanfront!
- Don’t miss Sitting Lady Falls, a wooden viewing platform that offers a place to rest and take photos.
- If you’re interested in birdwatching, you’ll be in heaven as over 160 bird species have been seen in the park.
- Eventually, you’ll arrive at the beach area, which is popular during the summer as people picnic at the tables, lounge on the sand, and children run, swim or play in the water.
- The rocky shore at Tower Point can be accessed from the beach at low tide or from the Tower Point entrance. There you will find a wide range of fascinating plants and animals, well adapted to the harsh environment of changing tides. The harbour seals play in kelp beds, and sea lions pass by on their migration route each spring.
Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park also has wheelchair-accessible trails, giving people with physical restrictions the opportunity to enjoy Mother Nature at her best. With an informational kiosk, paved and well-organized parking, accessible toilets, and picnic areas, this park is accommodating to anyone who loves spending time outdoors. Enjoy the ocean breeze, watch sea animals, and listen to birds sing – what more could you ask for? It’s a great place to walk your dog, see seals, deer, or even a whale if you happen to bring binoculars!
Traveling to Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park
If you want to drive to Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park, there is plenty of parking available at the main entrance.
If you prefer using the bus to Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park, please check the BC Transit schedule here.
Pioneer Museum
At the Metchosin Pioneer Museum you will experience a journey back in time to discover life in early Metchosin and the surrounding area, located on the Municipal Grounds at 4450 Happy Valley Road. The museum’s wall painting represents an early farming community with a typical farmhouse interior.
Attractions around the Metchosin Pioneer Museum
The spectacular Metchosin Pioneer Museum lies just about half an hour from Downtown Victoria in rural Metchosin and within 10-15 minutes’ drive to other popular destinations:
- Metchosin Golf & Country Club – gorgeous place for challenging golf and the clubhouse sells hotdogs, chips and beer and feels more like a cool hangout.
- Matheson Lake Regional Park represents an excellent opportunity for boating and fishing.
- Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park is an impeccable family park with beaches, inlets, forest trails and so many other nooks and crannies to explore.
- Devonian Regional Park – another beauty of nature, where you will enjoy the walk on its trail, explore a nice beach and enjoy bird watching.
About the Metchosin Pioneer Museum
The Metchosin Pioneer Museum is a charming and well-preserved establishment that boasts a collection of interesting antiques. One of its main attractions is the Parker Stagecoach, a 100-year-old vehicle that was once used for delivering mail, household goods, and people to the community. The museum also features an array of farm equipment and artifacts from the turn of the century, making it a must-visit destination for history buffs.
In addition to the exhibits, the museum offers gently used books for sale, with all proceeds going towards supporting the establishment. Donations of books are also welcome. The museum is operated by a dedicated group of volunteers who rely on membership to ensure its smooth operation, including maintaining the building and designing exhibits.
If you’re interested in supporting the Metchosin Pioneer Museum and becoming a member, simply follow this link. To schedule a visit, please call 250-478-5066 or 250-474-5815. Don’t miss the chance to take a stroll down memory lane at this quaint and fascinating museum.
History of the Metchosin Pioneer Museum
The Metchosin Pioneer Museum is a heritage-driven society that operates the Metchosin School Museum, which is located in the second oldest community settled on Vancouver Island. The building, which was the first school in British Columbia built after confederation into Canada, opened in 1872 as a schoolhouse and 100 years later reopened as a museum dedicated to preserving the history of Metchosin and the Schoolhouse.
The Metchosin School Museum society, mostly comprised of senior citizens from the area, leases the school building at a nominal cost of $1 per year since the building is owned by the school district and was to be used for preserving the community’s artifacts and collections. Interestingly, the museum opened on March 25, 1972, which coincided with the 100th anniversary of the building.
Based on the Parks Canada Classification System for Historical Collections, the museum’s collection has been organized into three main categories:
- Tools & Equipment for Materials: This category includes 33 agricultural items and 21 animal husbandry items.
- Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology: 81 merchandising items such as tins, jars, boxes, and bottles artifacts fall under this category.
- Communication Artifacts: This category makes up the majority of items in the Schoolhouse section of the collection, with 203 books and mainly photographic items.
The Metchosin Pioneer Museum is one of the oldest heritage-driven societies and is dedicated to preserving the history of Metchosin and the Schoolhouse.
Location and Hours
Municipal Grounds at 4450 Happy Valley Road
Sundays from 11 a.m to 2 p.m.
Mid-May to Mid-October
Free admission
Travelling to Metchosin Pioneer Museum
If you want to drive to Metchosin Pioneer Museum, there is a plenty of parking available at the main entrance.
If you use the bus to Metchosin Pioneer Museum, please check the BC Transit schedule here.
Metchosin Golf Club
Metchosin Golf & Country Club is a picturesque 18-hole course located off Rocky Pint Road in the urban Mill Bay municipality, just half an hour away from Downtown Victoria. The course has a challenging layout all year round, making it an ideal destination for avid golfers looking for a new challenge. However, it’s also forgiving enough for inexperienced golfers, and it won’t break the bank.
Attractions Near Metchosin Golf & Country Club
The spectacular Metchosin Golf & Country Club lies just a short drive away from several popular destinations, such as:
- Metchosin Pioneer Museum, where visitors can discover life in early Metchosin and the surrounding area.
- Matheson Lake Regional Park, which offers excellent opportunities for boating and fishing.
- Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park, a family-friendly park with beaches, inlets, forest trails, and more.
- Devonian Regional Park, another beautiful natural park where visitors can enjoy a walk on its trail, explore a nice beach, and go bird watching.
About Metchosin Golf & Country Club
Metchosin Golf Course has that rare quality of being challenging for the avid golfers yet forgiving for the inexperienced golfer without being a dent to your wallet. The golf course is challenging enough to allow you to use every club in your bag through wide fairways and undulating greens.
Several significant upgrades have been made to the course over the years. They have recently built an 18 hole disc golf course so that disc golfers will not be interfering with the flow of regular golfers. Friday through Tuesday after 3pm play 18 holes of disc golf for only $10.
To view the map of the golf course, please click here.
Rates for golfing are the following
Weekday Green Fees (Monday to Friday, excluding holidays)
9 Holes $16.00
18 Holes $26.00
Twilight (after 4pm) $15.00
Weekend Green Fees (Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays)
9 Holes $18.00
18 Holes $28.00
Twilight (After 4pm) $15.00
*Seniors $1 off 9 Holes,
$2 off 18 Holes
Power Cart Rental
9 Holes $18.00
18 Holes $30.00
Those who decide to become a member of Metchosin Golf Club will enjoy benefits of membership:
- Attractive annual fees/dues
- RCGA certified handicaps
- Club tournaments
- Club social events
- Companionship
- Play in your own group
- Play at your own level
- Assistance with rules
- Member tee-times
- Men’s, Ladies, and Senior divisions
- Preferred rates on power carts
- Limited club storage available
- Special guest rates
- Discount rate on coffee
Membership Fees are the following:
- Unrestricted membership $900 (includes taxes and initiation fee)
includes 7 days a week of unlimited play (including holidays) - Restricted membership $800 (includes taxes and initiation fee)
*Monday to Friday (no weekends or holidays) - Individual & partner $1500 plus tax
* first year only, regular membership dues apply after the first year - Family membership $1800 plus tax
*individual + partner and up to 3 kids
The clubhouse sells hotdogs, chips and beer and feels more like a cool hangout. With their exceptional service and friendly staff will make your experience a memorable one, where laid back atmosphere is free of pretentiousness.
The clubhouse also offers a great casual setting for your banquet, special event, or golf tournaments. Metchosin Golf & Country Club banquet hall can easily fit up to 120 people. This room is great for:
- wedding receptions,
- Christmas parties,
- birthday’s,
- celebration of life and more.
Room Rental Fee
- Any event other than a wedding:
60 people or less $175 plus tax
61 people or more $125 plus tax - Weddings:
60 people or less $300 plus tax
61 people or more $200 plus tax
Traveling to Metchosin Golf & Country Club
If you want to drive to Metchosin Golf & Country Club, there is plenty of parking available at the main entrance.
If you prefer using the bus to Metchosin Golf & Country Club, please check the BC Transit schedule here.
Devonian Regional Park
Looking for a great Park in the Metchosin area? Devonian Regional Park is a gem nestled between two farm properties in Metchosin just about 40 minutes’ drive from downtown Victoria. It has a beautiful one-kilometer trail that goes down through lavish vegetation and woods, and ends up at a nice long pebble-covered beach.
Attractions around the Devonian Regional Park
The spectacular Devonian Regional Park.lies just about half an hour from Downtown Victoria in rural Metchosin and within 5-7 minutes’ drive to other popular destinations:
- Metchosin Golf & Country Club: This picturesque 18-hole course with a challenging layout is open all year round.
- Pioneer Museum: Travel back in time and discover life in early Metchosin and the surrounding area.
- Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park: This impeccable family park has beaches, inlets, forest trails, and so many other nooks and crannies to explore.
- Matheson Lake Regional Park: This park offers an excellent opportunity for boating and fishing.
About Devonian Regional Park
This small nature sanctuary offers a quiet refuge. Devonian Park features 40 acres of mixed woodlands along a winding creek, and Sherwood Pond, an important staging area for migratory birds.
Devonian Regional Park preserves two different forest types and provides access to the ocean and a long cobble beach. A 0.9 km trail leads through the first forest type encompassed by Douglas-fir, Grand fir, Western red-cedar and Western hemlock. The trail winds through this mixed forest that grows on both sides. Closer to the water, the trail passes through the second forest type on a more exposed, dryer, steep rocky slope toward the beach, which Garry oak/Arbutus forest dominates.
Devonian Regional Park offers
- Short hiking trails that access the beach area along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The trails are quite easy, and there is a scenic viewpoint from the rocks above.
- Equestrian trail with a view over meadows.
- A stone beach where you can find a spot on a log for a picnic. You might see river otters, harbor seals, or even a pod of orcas. The water is pristine and a great place to take your dog for a swim. Walking along the beach, you can easily get to Taylor Beach or even Witty’s Lagoon.
- Spectacular views of Juan de Fuca Strait, Race Rocks, and the Olympic Mountains from the park. On a clear day, you can see Victoria, with Mount Baker in the background, and to the south is Port Angeles, Washington, on the Olympic Peninsula.
- Bird watching, as the dense woodlands are home to birds such as the pileated woodpecker, the great horned owl, and the small kinglet with its yellow markings.
Map of the park with featured trails is available here.
Be aware that there are no toilets at the beach, only near the parking lot.
Travelling to Devonian Regional Park
If you want to drive to Devonian Regional Park, there is plenty of parking available at the main entrance.
If you prefer using the bus to Devonian Regional Park, please check the BC Transit schedule here.