This is Northumberland

Welcome to Wicklow Beach in Alnwick Haldimand Township, Ontario.

Head south of Highway 2 in Grafton on Wicklow Beach Road and you’ll come to this rocky beach that is the perfect spot for a quiet swim or picnic. Located on both the Waterfront Trail and the Presqu’ile Promise signed cycling route, it’s a great opportunity to rest and cool off on a summer bike ride.

Whether you’re cycling or driving, be sure to stop into Grafton for a bite to eat or plan for an overnight getaway at Petit Pont by the Grafton Village Inn. Ste. Anne’s Spa is only a few minutes away so you can have a truly relaxing experience while you’re in the area.

What is Northumberland?

Northumberland is People, Partnerships & Possibilities. we put quality of life first, and from that, partnerships and possibilities naturally flow.

Northumberland County is 86,000 people strong in a prime location that covers almost 2000 square km in south-eastern Ontario. Along the 401 corridor, Northumberland County spans west-east from Port Hope to Brighton, and north-south from Rice Lake and the Trent-Severn Waterway in Trent Hills to Lake Ontario. Just a 90-minute drive from both Toronto and Kingston, Northumberland is home to a vibrant and growing community of small towns, villages and hamlets.

Work in Northumberland

Get grounded and still have a great career. Raise your family here. Find partnerships in the many growing business sectors. Or start your own business.

• Working here means having easy access to Canada’s largest city (Toronto) about 100 km away(1), as well two major 400 highways, and Canada’s largest airport (Pearson). We are also within a day’s drive from Ottawa or Montreal, and hours from major U.S. border points at Niagara Falls and the 1000 Islands.
• Whether in manufacturing or hi-tech, you’ll be part of a qualified and diverse workforce, with five universities and colleges in a 50 km radius.
• You can also delve into work that strengthens our deep agricultural roots. Farming is a vital part of our local economy. That’s one reason why we are home to the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre (OAFVC), a small-batch food processing facility and launch-pad for entrepreneurs.
• Access land that is $200-$600k/acre cheaper than Toronto and the GTA, and offer employees opportunities to rent or buy at prices that are far less than those in Toronto and other urban centres.

Play in Northumberland

Get away for a wellness experience or connect with the great outdoors. Be entertained, dine on local flavours and create lasting memories. The possibilities are endless.

• Lace up your boots or hiking shoes and venture out on the many four-season trails here, some within the Northumberland County Forest, Ganaraska Forest, Peter’s Woods Provincial Nature Reserve, Alderville Black Oak Savanna, and Presqu’ile and Ferris Provincial Parks.
• For fresh air and fun, pick from 20 mapped multi-use trails, 15 boat launches and marinas, 16 ideal fishing spots, 11 golf courses, 10 top cycling routes, and 15 nature conservation areas.
• Enjoy a great mix of arts and culture with local theatre and live music in noteworthy and welcoming historic venues – or renowned Canadian and international artists, from full symphony orchestras and choruses, to fiddle and folk, in a 400-seat timber-frame barn.
• Spend time exploring our small town and rural heritage, with more than 40 provincially and nationally significant historic sites, heritage buildings, museums and art galleries.
• Take your family on easy outings where you can pick up farmers market produce, visit local farms to meet alpacas and goats, try local food at cafés and bistros, roll up your sleeves at artisan workshops, or go see a show.
• Explore our historic waterways. Named for the wild rice harvested by the Mississauga-Ojibway, Rice Lake is an amazing attribute in the north, and part of the Trent-Severn Waterway (TSW), which also connects our communities.

Live in Northumberland

Become a local and enjoy a natural blend of rural charm, friendly people, small town hospitality, and a touch of cosmopolitan flare.

• With a population density of 46.9 people per square km(2) of land area, there’s lots of room to spread out.
• Settle down in a waterfront community – or just enjoy the relaxed lakeshore lifestyle all around you – with Lake Ontario to the south and capped off with Rice Lake and the Trent-Severn Waterway to the north.
  
• Small town affordability with close proximity to Canada’s biggest urban centre is something that sets Northumberland apart. Reporting on 2022, national stats show a single family dwelling is approximately 40% less in Northumberland County around the 401 corridor, compared to a single family dwelling in the Greater Toronto Area(3).
• Health care is accessible for youth, family and seniors with two community hospitals (Cobourg and Campbellford). In December 2019, Northumberland was recognized as one of the first 24 Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) in the province, outlining a common purpose to achieve the province’s vision of a better connected, people-centred health care system.
• With 32 elementary schools, 6 secondary schools, 1 private school, and college and university campuses nearby, Northumberland offers education for all ages.