Getting to Cottage Pirouette

Please download and print our map, or jot down the directions that apply to you.

 

By Train
Getting to Victoria from points north on Vancouver Island.

From many cities along the east coast of Vancouver Island, there is the famous E and N Rail line, and we encourage you to enjoy this scenic mode of transport. Courtenay is the furthest point north on the line, the station at 899 Cumberland Road, but the train will stop in many other cities, such as Nanaimo, Duncan, Chemainus, and more. It finally arrives in sunny Victoria, right at the Johnson Street Bridge, which is exactly where you'll catch the #25 or #6 bus to Cottage Pirouette B & B. (See bus transportation information here ...)

 

By Automobile

From Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, or from the Victoria International Airport:  

We offer two versions here ... the quick version avoids downtown Victoria, and gets you to your B & B in approximately 30 minutes, but it will take a bit of quick decision-making at various exits and intersections.  The second version has only 2 turns, easily done, but will add another 10 minutes (at least) to your trip, and takes you through town.  

Quick, and slightly complicated: Take Highway 17, which is all you can do when getting off the B.C. ferry at Tsawassen, and then exit at Mackenzie Avenue. Once exited, you'll have to make a choice to go to UVic, or Nanaimo ... you'll choose to turn right, onto Mackenzie Avenue. Immediately get into the left-hand lane, and at Glanford Avenue, turn left. Immediately get into the right hand lane, and jut before the 7-11, veer right onto Tillicum Road. Follow Tillicum for about three miles, go through the lights at Craigflower Road, and Tillicum will take a one-block shift to the left and become Lampson Street. Follow Lampson for about two miles, and find Cottage Pirouette B & B on your left side.

Easy, and slightly longer: Take Highway 17, and as it becomes the downtown Victoria core the name of the highway changes to Douglas Street. Turn right at Pandora Avenue, and cross the Johnson Street Bridge, whereupon the name of the road changes to Esquimalt Road. Stay on Esquimalt for about 2 miles, and turn left at Lampson Street. You'll see us at 401, on your left.

From North Vancouver Island:

Take Highway 1 south down the island. Please drive carefully on the Malahat, a short section of the highway which is tremendously scenic and a treacherously meandering mountain trail. The beauty is outstanding in this area, but many lives have been lost on this particular piece of highway. Stay in the right lane, and let the "race car-driver wannabees" pass you. Approaching Victoria, you'll see signs for Esquimalt and  CFB Naden, and a small sign for Admirals Road. Exit onto Admirals Road, and stay on it FOREVER it will seem ... you'll pass the Esquimalt First Nations Reserve, Naden and the CFB Dockyard, and eventually, Admirals Road turns into Bewdley Ave.  Stay on Bewdley for 3 blocks, and turn left onto Lampson St. Your bed and breakfast accommodation is one off the corner, on the right.

From the Western Communities or Sooke:

You'll be on Highway 1A, or Sooke Road, and after passing the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, you'll see an exit for View Royal. Turn right onto that exit. Stay on View Royal Avenue until you reach Admirals Road. Turn right onto Admirals Road. Follow as above.

 

From downtown Victoria:

In a nutshell, you're heading west out of town, so keep the ocean water on your left, and you'll arrive at your destination.

Photo by Benjamin Madison Victoria Daily Photo

From wherever you are in downtown Victoria, getting to the Johnson Street Bridge is your goal; cross the bridge, whereupon the road name will change to Esquimalt Road. Stay on Esquimalt for 4 km. (2 miles) and turn left onto Lampson Street.

Car Rental Companies in Victoria include: Thrifty, Discount, Hertz, Avis and Budget.

BICYCLE

Off of the B.C. Ferry at Swartz Bay Terminal:

Download this map for an overview of the area you'll be cycling. Take the Lochside Trail, and enjoy the scenery! Lochside will eventually become the Galloping Goose Trail, with a funny little shift at McKenzie and Borden. Just follow all the cyclists in front of you to get through that intersection and onto "the Goose". At SwitchBridge, you'll turn left to head toward the city.

Now, after Selkirk Trestle, which is the highlight of the entire Goose outing, there are many ways you can pedal southwest to get to us ... so depending on how you feel about hills, or cycling lanes on busy roads, or going the "long way round" to avoid hills and busy roads, count on another 10 minutes of pedalling towards Cottage Pirouette B & B. We've created a simple map for this section here.

• Roundabout, not too hilly or busy way: Off the Trestle and straight into the bushes on the right, through Bamfield Park, to Pine, to Hereward, to Esquimalt, and quickly shifting to Dunsmuir, turning left onto Lampson St.
• Straightforward, but more traffic congestion way: Straight up Raynor, turn left on Catherine, right on Esquimalt, left onto Lampson.

You can also load your bicycle onto the bus at the ferry terminal, and be carried into town that way.

 

 

From downtown Victoria:

Cross the Johnson Street Bridge, and note that cyclists are asked to ride in the center of the lane, to prevent cars from trying to overtake you on what is a relatively narrow bridge. If you decide to walk across the bridge, you must cross over at the pedestrian crosswalks on Wharf Street. You can walk your bicycle all the way to Tyee Road, where you can cross the street, and continue on Esquimalt Road, as part of the vehicular traffic. Turn left at Lampson and come down the hill.Tips on cycling in and around Victoria are available at the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition website.

 

 

 

 

BUS

City Bus -- From the B.C. Ferry at Swartz Bay Terminal. Stand outside and wait for a #70. Board the bus and ask for a transfer. In town, ask the driver to drop you near Yates Street. Wait on Yates Street, between Douglas and Broad St., for either a #6: more frequent, but you must ask the driver to drop you off at the corner of Esquimalt and Lampson Street, and walk down the hill, or a #25: less frequent, but drives right in front of your B & B destination, at 401 Lampson St.

Pacific Coach Lines -- If you're leaving from downtown Vancouver just enjoy the bus ride from Vancouver, onto the ferry, and all the way into downtown Victoria's bus terminal. From there, many taxis await you, and it's easy for you to load your things and get to Cottage Pirouette B & B. If you want to save $12 in cab fare, and IF your luggage is not stored down below on the bus, then you can ask the driver to drop you near Yates Street, and catch a city bus, as above. You'll have to pay the city bus fare separately from the Pacific Coach Lines fare.