MindReachGetaways

Woodview, ON

Viamede Resort

Kawarthas cottage country since 1885: Stoney Lake waterfront, farm-to-table dining, sauna, and the deliberate calm of an analogue resort two hours from Toronto

OntarioCanadaKawarthas
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Our read

The water is the reason to come, and it stays small enough to feel like a house rather than a hotel.

Come here for

  • Being told what happens next, instead of planning it
  • Staying somewhere that takes its land seriously
  • Bathing culture over treatment menus
  • Small groups and solo travellers who dislike crowds

Skip it if

  • You want resort scale, with several restaurants and a crowd to disappear into
  • You want to arrive on a whim — reaching it takes planning
  • You would rather improvise your days than follow a timetable

We’d rather send you somewhere else than send you somewhere that doesn’t suit you.

From the property

Inside Viamede Resort

Guests and hosts, filmed at the property.

01 - Arrive

The place itself

Viamede Resort is one of Ontario's best-kept lakeside secrets: a historic, independently owned resort on the shores of Stoney Lake in the Kawarthas, founded in 1885 and still operating with an unhurried, unapologetically analogue charm that its guests fiercely protect. Two hours northeast of Toronto, the property sits at the edge of one of the most beautiful lakes in the Kawartha system. Clear blue water, granite islands, and a horizon that feels genuinely remote. The resort combines a gracious heritage main lodge with a mix of log-cabin-style lakeside cottages and hilltop suites. All designed for the slower rhythms of cottage-country living. Wellness amenities include a recently built indoor-outdoor pool, steam room, and sauna facility, which guests largely have to themselves given the property's orientation toward waterfront activities. The 1885 Restaurant delivers farm-to-table dining, with ingredients sourced from local suppliers and an on-site naturalist who leads wildlife programs for curious guests. Viamede runs without cable television. Deliberately. And furnishes its rooms and cottages with DVD libraries, board games, and the kind of deliberate quiet that encourages guests to decompress properly. Canoes, kayaks, a floating trampoline, and a private beach provide all the activity that is needed. It is pet-friendly, family-friendly, and designed to feel like your own personal cottage. Only better-resourced.

02 - Feel

Why it is different

Stoney Lake waterfront

One of the Kawarthas' clearest lakes: private beach, canoes, kayaks, floating trampoline, and a granite-island horizon that earns the designation 'Ontario's best-kept secret.'

Founded 1885 — heritage and character

Over 140 years of independent operation, a deliberately analogue philosophy (no cable, yes to DVDs and board games), and squeaky floors that are a feature, not a bug.

Indoor-outdoor pool, sauna, and steam room

A recently built wellness facility that guests largely have to themselves. Pool deck overlooking the small beach, sauna and steam room for quiet restoration.

Farm-to-table 1885 Restaurant

Breakfast is included in every stay; the 1885 Restaurant serves locally sourced seasonal dinners that reflect the agricultural heritage of the Kawarthas.

Lakeside and hilltop cottages

Log-style cottages with private decks, full kitchens, and fireplaces; hilltop suites with air-jet tubs. Accommodation with genuine character across multiple cottage styles.

03 · Live here

How the days go

  1. Arrival on Stoney Lake

    The drive north from Toronto through the Kawarthas brings you to a heritage resort where the main lodge's Cape Cod-style white-and-green exterior appears at the edge of Stoney Lake. A genuinely photogenic arrival.

  2. Settle into your cottage

    Unlock a lakeside or grounds-view cottage with its own kitchen, deck, BBQ, and fireplace. Put the DVD in the player, open a window, and begin the process of decelerating from city tempo.

  3. Morning on the water

    Take a canoe or kayak out onto Stoney Lake, swim from the private beach, or bounce on the floating trampoline. Activity equipment is included in the stay. The granite islands and clear water make even a simple paddle a restorative experience.

  4. Sauna and steam room

    The indoor-outdoor pool complex and adjacent sauna and steam room offer a quieter, adult-oriented counterpoint to the beach energy. Particularly rewarding in the morning or on cool evenings with the pool deck looking out over the lake.

  5. Dinner in the 1885 Restaurant

    Farm-to-table dining in the resort's heritage dining room, with local suppliers and fresh-kitchen preparation. Breakfast is included in every stay; dinner in the 1885 Restaurant rounds out the day.

04 - Stay

Ways to stay

Cottage Stay (1–3 Bedrooms)

Seasonal rates — confirm at viamede.com

Private lakeside or grounds-view cottage with kitchen, deck, BBQ, and fireplace. Full resort breakfast and all activities included. Sleep 3–7 guests.

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Hilltop Suite

Seasonal rates — confirm at viamede.com

King bed, corner air-jet tub, gas or wood-burning fireplace, wet bar, and private balcony. Full resort breakfast and activity access included.

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Main Lodge Guest Room

Seasonal rates — confirm at viamede.com

Comfortable rooms in the historic main lodge or hilltop building with lake or garden views, most with fireplace. Full resort breakfast included.

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05 - Know

Before you go

Written from what the property publishes. Not yet checked by hand. Confirm on their site before you book.

Viamede Resort is at 595 Mount Julian, Viamede Road, Woodview, ON K0L 3E0. From Toronto: take Highway 401 East to Highway 115 North toward Peterborough, then follow Highway 28 north toward Lakefield and Woodview, approximately 2 hours. On-site parking included. Viamede periodically runs a shuttle from Toronto's Union Station. Check viamede.com for current schedules.

Find it in Maps

Stay for

Summer cottage stays may require weekly or minimum 2-night bookings. Confirm at viamede.com.

Children

Viamede is family-friendly and welcomes guests of all ages. Pet-friendly cottages and some rooms also available.

If plans change

See viamede.com for current cancellation and deposit terms.

Where is Viamede Resort located?

Viamede Resort is at 595 Mount Julian, Viamede Road, Woodview, Ontario K0L 3E0. On the shores of Stoney Lake in the Kawarthas, approximately 2 hours northeast of Toronto via Highway 115 and 28.

How old is Viamede Resort and who owns it?

Viamede was founded in 1885, making it one of the oldest continuously operating resorts in the Kawarthas. It remains independently owned and operated. Which accounts for its distinct, non-chain character and its no-hidden-fees policy.

What wellness facilities does Viamede offer?

Viamede's wellness facilities include an indoor-outdoor pool, sauna, and steam room. A recently added complement to the resort's traditional waterfront and nature programming. The pool deck overlooks the small beach, and the sauna and steam room tend to draw those seeking quiet restoration between outdoor activities.

What is included in the cost of a stay?

Every stay at Viamede includes a full resort breakfast in the 1885 Restaurant, access to all resort activities and recreational programs, pool access, all-day coffee and tea station, air conditioning, Wi-Fi (in most rooms and cottages), and on-site parking. There are no resort fees or hidden charges.

What lake activities are available at Viamede?

Viamede sits on Stoney Lake, one of the Kawarthas' clearest and most beautiful lakes. Guests can swim from the private beach, canoe, kayak, use the floating trampoline, and explore the lake and its granite islands. Activity equipment is included in the stay.

Is Viamede Resort pet-friendly?

Yes. Viamede is one of the more genuinely pet-friendly resorts in the Kawarthas. Pets stay free in pet-friendly cottages and some hotel rooms. Confirm pet-specific room availability when booking at viamede.com.

Why does Viamede not have cable television?

Viamede deliberately operates without cable television as a reflection of its commitment to unplugging and reconnecting with nature, each other, and the lake. Rooms and cottages have DVD players and the resort maintains an on-site DVD library. Board games and nature programs are part of the rhythm. As their website puts it: 'the floors are squeaky and we have no cable but that is the way we like it.'

How do I book at Viamede Resort?

Book directly at viamede.com or call 705-654-3344. Summer cottages and peak Kawartha weekends book well in advance. Viamede periodically offers shuttle service from Toronto's Union Station for specific dates. Check viamede.com for current offerings.

06 · Go

Viamede Resort

Woodview, ON

The water is the reason to come, and it stays small enough to feel like a house rather than a hotel.

Season
Summer (June–August) for Stoney Lake swimming, waterfront activities, and warm evenings on the deck
Getting there
Viamede Resort is at 595 Mount Julian, Viamede Road, Woodview, ON K0L 3E0.
From where you are
Distance appears once we know where you are.
Included
Full resort breakfast daily in the 1885 Restaurant · Access to all resort activities and recreational programs · Indoor-outdoor pool, sauna, and steam room access · Canoes, kayaks, and waterfront equipment

If this one drew you in

Where we would look next

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Book direct