Easy Bike (2)
2 - 3 hr All Ages & Abilities (AAA ride)
This route follows the Lochside trail and follows the same trail back, so the duration of your ride is up to you! (Expect 2 - 3 hrs if you want to stop for lunch at Mattick’s Farm.) Lochside trail is mostly fully separated from traffic, but some sections share the road with vehicles travelling at 30km/hr or less.
Here’s the link for the map. Or, scroll to the bottom of this blog for a map on this page and more detailed directions.
Recommendations
Mattick’s Farm - Red Barn Sandwich
about 1 hr (one way)
Tall as the Barn custom sandwich for $12! Go into the Red Barn grocery store and head to the back right corner
eat in the beautiful garden at the center of Mattick’s Farm shopping center
Mattick’s Farm - Adriennes’ Restaurant
about 1 hr (one way)
grab and go bakery or sit and dine restaurant
patio available on a first-come-first-served basis
Michell’s Farm - Harvest Road
1.5 - 2 hrs (one way)
locally-sourced trailside food stand
Want more? You can continue north all the way to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal
road riding with heavier, faster traffic is required
Directions
Return by reverse route
Cross the Johnson St Bridge heading away from Victoria into Esquimalt
Follow the path to the right
Turn right onto the wooden bridge
After the highway overpass go right at the 3-way intersection
Keep going!
You’ll cross McKenzie Ave - follow the green paint for 2 quick turns to stay on track
Lochside will transition from trail to a local traffic road and back again - continuing straight ahead will keep you on Lochside all the way to Mattick’s Farm
Stop for a break - snack / meal / sit in the garden / window shopping
When leaving Mattick Farm (shopping center to your back) turn right, then take the next right to return to the trail (there is a shared path you can take to avoid riding on the road)
The trail will continue to transition to a local traffic road and back again - continuing straight ahead will keep you on Lochside all the way to Michell’s Farm
You can continue north to Sidney or even Swartz Bay, however road sharing with heavier, faster traffic is required