Grafton offers two distinct ways to enjoy a stay: exploring the history of the village’s buildings and enjoying nature near Lake Ontario. The village’s history is represented by a self-guided tour and several named buildings; south of the village, there is also a nature sanctuary and Wicklow Beach. As you plan your trip, you can choose to focus on architecture, a walking tour, cycling or time by the water.

Historic Buildings and Local History

The Township of Alnwick-Haldimand provides a Grafton Heritage Tour Map for visitors and residents. A self-guided walking tour of Grafton includes 22 unique buildings. For exploring the village’s history, you can choose between a tourist map and a walking tour featuring a clearly stated number of buildings.

Barnum House was built in 1819 and is considered one of Ontario’s finest examples of neoclassical architecture. Neoclassical architecture draws on classical design models; this classification adds an architectural focus to the building’s construction date.

The 1812 Heritage Shops include antique, book and gift shops. They are located in an Ontario-designated heritage building dating from 1820, which formerly housed a barber shop, a post office and a general store. The construction dates are close together but belong to different buildings: 1819 for Barnum House, and 1820 for the building that houses the 1812 Heritage Shops.

Nature and the Lake Ontario Shoreline

Grafton is very close to Lake Ontario; visitors can enjoy the lake air and see the lake. South of Grafton lies the Nawautin Nature Sanctuary and Wetland Trail, a 5.31-hectare nature sanctuary. Its features include deer, foxes, beavers, rabbits and birds, a small covered bridge, several ponds, and a gravel beach that slopes gently down to Lake Ontario.

Nearby Wicklow Beach offers a different focus. The rocky beach is suitable for a quiet swim or a picnic; access and beach conditions may vary seasonally. Check these details before planning a specific visit. Wicklow Beach is also on the Waterfront Trail and the signed Presqu’ile Promise cycling route.

The nature destinations offer different experiences: the sanctuary focuses on wetlands and wildlife, while Wicklow Beach features a rocky shoreline and the option to swim or picnic. You can choose according to whether you’d rather visit the sanctuary or spend time by the water.

Walking Tour or Cycling Loop?

The Shelter Valley Cycling Route is another option for cyclists: a 50 km loop that starts and ends in Grafton. The self-guided walking tour of 22 buildings and the cycling route offer different ways to discover Grafton: the walking tour focuses on local history, while the cycling route features the stated distance and loop format. The clearly defined start and end points in Grafton give the cycling route a definite connection to the village.

Discover more destinations: Brighton, Cobourg, Bewdley, Port Hope, Campbellford, Gores Landing, Roseneath, Colborne

For the main travel overview: Northumberland County.