Other Communities

Other Communities include Highlands, Malahat and Shawnigan Lake.

Highlands

The rural character and natural beauty of the Highlands makes this region feel as if you are far from the city, when you are only minutes away. Horse and hobby farms, parks, hiking trails and rural homes are interspersed throughout this forested area. It is home to protected Douglas fir habitat and old-growth forest.

Many people choose to live in the Highlands because of its rural character and natural beauty. Residents are encouraged to build their homes with the least environmental impact by minimizing vegetation removal, using materials that blend in with the landscape and positioning homes so that they are not highly visible from the road or viewpoints.

Mount Work Regional Park boasts swimming holes, fishing spots and hilly terrain as well as the highest peak on the Saanich Peninsula. Lone Tree Regional Park has a two kilometre trail that winds uphill, leading hikers to fabulous views of the Highlands, Victoria and the Olympic Mountains.

During a normal winter, the Highlands experiences cooler temperatures and more rainfall than Victoria, which is needed to recharge well water resources and maintain ecosystems during dryer conditions that occur during the summer and fall months.

The Highlands is home to many interesting plants and ecosystems such as wetlands, woodlands, wildflowers and old growth trees. The roads are scenic, narrow and winding.

Estimated Distance / Travel Time from the Highlands:

  • to Swartz Bay Ferry: 37 km / 45 min;
  • to Victoria International Airport:  32 km / 40 min;
  • to Downtown Victoria: 16 km / 20 min.

Malahat

The Malahat and surrounding area is rugged region with steep cliffs and heavily forested areas. As you drive along the Malahat you will see spectacular scenic vistas of the Saanich Inlet, the Saanich Peninsula, Saltspring Island, and the BC Gulf Islands in the distance. Malahat Proper is a rugged region containing mature forests and steep cliffs. Winding north from Victoria, the Malahat Drive offers spectacular views of the Saanich Peninsula and Gulf Islands.

 Estimated Distance / Travel Time from the Malahat:

  • to Swartz Bay Ferry: 63 km / 65 min;
  • To Victoria International Airport: 58 km / 60 min;
  • To Downtown Victoria: 40 km / 45 min.

Shawnigan Lake

To the north is the community of Shawnigan Lake, an area noted for its pristine lake views and water-based recreational opportunities. The community of Mill Bay, with its quiet waterfront streets, is found at the north end of the Malahat Drive. Beyond Mill Bay is the farming village of Cobble Hill, located on the southern end of the famed Cowichan Valley.

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