Newly renovated House originally built in the 1800’s by the town Miller. Frenbrae has all of the charm with the must have upgrades. It features two completely renovated bathrooms and a beautifully renovated kitchen. The Dinning Room over looks the Locks and the table can seat 10 comfortably and has a Wine Fridge. The Dinning Room still has the original windows from the wrap around porch. Fernbrae was once owned by the Opinicon Inn at that time it was used as a B&B. The three bedrooms upstairs are spacious with a seating area, to curl up and read or just relax. The Main floor bedroom has a King Bed. ‘Fernbrae’ is a beautifully restored Centurion (Circa 1895) Nestled in a unique location in the tiny community of ‘Chaffey’s Lock’, part of the Unesco World Heritage - Rideau Canal. You constantly hear the beautiful sound of waterfalls as they are right in front of the property. The southern doors of the lock lead you directly to Opinicon lake and through to Sand lake and on as far as Kingston. The north doors take you on a short journey up the Canal and to Clear lake and beyond as far as Ottawa! The Catarqui Trail; a multi use trail, runs through Chaffey’s Lock. One could literally walk, cycle, ski, snowmobile for hours as the trail goes for more than 100 miles! It’s easy to lose yourself in the in the peaceful serenity of the Rideau Canal but shopping and dining etc are near by. You can walk to the Opinicon Inn, featuring two restaurants and an Ice Cream shop. The Rideau Lakes Town of Westport, and village of Newboro are just a short drive away and offer several restaurants and ,unique to the area, stores to pass an afternoon or two. Westport even has a beautifully scenic winery that, as well as world class wine offers delicious wood fired Pizza right in the winery! Cyclist, Motorcycle enthusiasts, sports car owners will love the winding twisty paved road that is the Opinicon road. Boat rentals, canal tours, fantastic fishing are just some of the features of this area. But if just sitting back and enjoying the serenity of rushing water and peaceful surroundings is your thing then you could not pick a better place than Fernbrae ~Welcome~
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
If the Patio cushions are dry, please place them in the cottage. If they are wet, please tilt them up so they can dry more quickly. Please place the toss cushions in the Deck Box on the patio.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 9592089
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
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 Charleston Lake Provincial Park. Kilborn's on the Rideau and Westport Community Arena are also worth visiting. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling.
Thousand Islands National Park - 48 min drive - 66.7 km
Kingston Waterfront - 55 min drive - 66.0 km
Queen's University - 56 min drive - 61.6 km
Getting around
Gananoque Station - 43 min drive
Kingston, ON (YGK-Norman Rogers) - 70 min drive
Restaurants
Stoodleys - 12 min drive
Julianna's - 12 min drive
Stage Coach Inn - 16 min drive
Jeannie’s Chip Wagon - 8 min drive
The Stagecoach Inn - 16 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Fernbrae Retreat at Chaffey’s Lock pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Fernbrae Retreat at Chaffey’s Lock?
As of 29 June 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Fernbrae Retreat at Chaffey’s Lock on 8 September 2026 start from NZ$699, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
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 within a 15-minute walk of Rideau Canal and Indian Lake. Kilborn's on the Rideau and Big Rideau Lake are also within 12 miles (20 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!🤗🤗
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!
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.
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.
My husband and I stayed at the Fernbrae Retreat for a last minute fishing trip! He was hesitant because it didn’t have a dock but we managed to rent a slip at Browns Marina and we had the best of both worlds! Kim and Bill were perfect hosts! Communication was prompt and clear. The cottage was a dream! Everything we could ever want or need was there. The location was perfect! We loved to sit by the fire at night listening to the sound of the rushing water nearby! And the neighbors were lovely and incredibly welcoming! We felt right at home! We will be back!
Thank you Kim and Bill for a fantastic getaway!
We had a family reunion to celebrate my parents’ 70th anniversary. Fernbrae was perfect! The location: Nice walking (e.g., the Cataraqui Trail, very close by) for my sisters and I, while my parents enjoyed strolling down to watch activity at the locks. We had their anniversary dinner at the Opinicon Hotel across the locks - thumbs up there, it’s been fixed up beautifully. The house: nicely furnished, the kitchen very well equipped, beautiful patio area. Fit our needs to a tee! Kim was a pleasure to deal with, and she and Bill nicely stopped by to introduce themselves and congratulate my parents. This one is 5 stars all round!
Wonderfully restored historic house on Chaffey's Lock. Just off the water spill over and heard the rushing water in the back ground when sitting outside. Host thought of just about everything a guest would want or need. Cozy cottage with great well supplied kitchen and really nice dining area for our home cooked dinners. Would heartily recommend -- especially to those many Opinicon veterans who have been fenced out.
Lovely location. Lots to see and do, or beautiful to just stay put and relax. Sun and shade.
Quirky little cottage from 1895, but renovated, clean, comfortable accommodation.
Lots of comfortable seating inside and out.
Lots of parking.
Only one single (bath) towel per person for four nights not so great.
Bed linens very nice.
Let us bring our firepit which was much appreciated as they do not offer one. Bonfires a must at the cottage.
Weather was kind of weird so the pilot light for the fireplace, was not on yet, it was quite cool 10-14 degrees but they came and started it for us. Window air conditioner was good when needed as it also hit 28 degrees!
Induction stove a learning curve, not much direction.
Lovely resort style restaurant just a short pleasant walk away.
Very enjoyable all around.
Lovely hosts to work with from booking, to payment, to questions, to arrival and departure.
Thank you for a great weekend.
Rijkelijk ingericht huis met alle voorzieningen. Prettige indeling, mooie slaapkamers, recent gerestaureerd, comfortabel en very nice hosts.
Dennis v.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021
About the host
Hosted by Kimberly Watling
Recently retired and working harder then ever. We share our lives with three adult children, two dogs and a Grandchild.
Why they chose this property
Fernbrae is a beautiful old cottage with lots to offer. Newly renovated with the charm of yesteryear. She’s easy to fall for, we did. I hope you do too.
What makes this property unique
Fernbrae Cottage overlooks “Chaffey’s Lock” which is situated on the Rideau Canal system. Both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Site of Canada. It connects Ottawa to the St. Lawrence River near Kingston ON. The Rideau is 202 kilometres long. It is one of the oldest continuously operated canals in North America. Out of the 47 Locks on the canal, 24 are still hand operated. Lock 37 “Chaffey’s Lock” is one of theses.
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests