Beacon Hill Park - the Jewel in Victoria�s Crown!

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Ask a Victorian about Beacon Hill Park and watch their eyes twinkle and their mouth soften. Ahhh! For Dashwood Manor guests, this historic and enchanting 200 acre park is directly across the street, inviting and ready for a leisurely morning stroll or a delightful afternoon�s search of the park�s secret treasures and hidden wonders.

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A place to park our hearts and a place to seek refuge, Beacon Hill Park has long been a gathering place for the people of this region. The local Coast Salish peoples, as the original inhabitants of the region,�gathered wild camas bulbs here, a lovely blue flower still abundant in the spring through the park. The park has sacred significance as burial mounds from these�First Nations�peoples�are still visible on the hill.

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This land was purchased by the Hudson�s Bay Company and used from as early as 1843 to ward boats off Brotchie Ledge, a dangerous underwater shipping hazard. Company officers would light two beacons on the top of the hill to mark Brotchie�s location for incoming ships. The land was set aside as a protected area by Sir James Douglas, governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island, in 1858. In 1882, the land was officially made a municipal park of the City of Victoria and given its present name. The City of Victoria�soon brought in by-laws prohibiting cattle grazing, games of chance, discharging firearms and cleaning carpets on the grass. The stories this park could tell!

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Look for the stone bridge near the central west side by Fountain Lake. The bridge was built in the 1880s as part of Scottish architect John Blair�s landscape design for the park. Blair created a lasting design with over 2000 trees and shrubs, including the many rhododendrons that remain a special feature.

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Wander the trails and pathways of the park to discover the world�s tallest�free-standing�totem pole, water fountains, an abundance and variety of gardens, duck ponds, a free putting course for golfers, a farm animal petting area for children, playgrounds for children, an active, outdoor musical pavilion, massive fir and cedar trees, a bald eagle nest, cricket pitch, lawn bowling, sports fields, and endless vistas across the strait.

A special treat each spring is a visit to the west side of the park along Douglas Street to see the great blue heron colony. This massive bird has been designated as a species at risk by British Columbia's Ministry of the Environment, Lands and Parks so it's wonderful to see nature at its best and most precious so close to home. Mother Nature has strict rules, however, so it's not unusual to see the bald eagles invading the nests and snacking on a young, helpless baby heron. What a treasure to explore!

Each July, Beacon Hill Park is the venue for�Victoria's spectacular�annual nighttime festival of lights called Luminera. Started as a humble lantern festival a few years ago, this has become a magical spectacle of thousands of handmade paper lanterns combined with family-based activities, live music, pageantry and performance art.

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Beacon Hill Park has long been a favourite spot for weddings. A number of Dashwood Manor Bed and Breakfast guests have had their ceremonies along the beach, by the ponds or amongst the magnificent gardens at Beacon Hill Park. If you are considering having your wedding in our city, we can suggest marriage commisioners, great locations for intimate ceremonies and restaurants to celebrate the occasion.

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More Links

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Weddings West, a website for wedding planning with a directory for wedding commissioners. For more information about commissioners, email Joan Hoffman�(jnlhoffman@shaw.ca) or Laurie Smith�(laurieesmith@shaw.ca), two experienced and friendly commissioners we have worked with over the years.

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