Swan’s End Bed & Breakfast

I want to live here!
The Swan’s End is a short, lovely walk from the ferry dock at Ward’s Island. Being on the island felt like being back in an Irish village for me, it was so green and the people were so nice. There are two café’s to eat at on the island, so you don’t have to go to the mainland for lunch or dinner if you don’t want to. Now, on to the actual B&B…
The house is surrounded by an english style garden that attracted many butterflies in the mornings we were there, and looks out over a small bay where some of the locals keep small boats. You wouldn’t know it were a bed and breakfast if you didn’t know the address, it doesn’t have a huge sign advertising anything. The house itself is a beautiful two story craftsman with amazing floors, is well-​decorated but not over-​furnished like you see in some B&Bs. I was able to see both rooms, since we had two parties staying here, and they are equally lovely. Our spacious room had a very comfortable queen sized bed, two large windows that allowed a lot of natural light in, a writing desk, a television, a bookcase full of books, and even a chair right by the window (which opens) that you can sit in to read those books. The bathroom was also very roomy, and had a large bathtub (baths! not just showers!). She even had a bottle of nice smelling bath salts for guest use by the bath tub, in addition to other toiletries. We slept soundly, with our windows open to let in the breeze and the sounds, both nights we were here.
The breakfasts cooked by Mrs. McRae were delicious and very filling. Her eggs benedict and baked eggs are absolutely wonderful, and she had breakfast ready for the four of us at the time we decided on. As the nightly price includes a generous breakfast, I found it quite reasonable for such an idyllic setting. The owner is extremely nice, and very helpful. I look forward to coming back to the Swan’s End during my next trip to Toronto!

Absolutely fantastic.
The last time I was on the island I was a kid, but I needed a last-​minute solo getaway and this luxurious cottage B&B was just the ticket.
The host and hostess are phenomenal. They very graciously made me feel welcome. They gave me lots of tips for where to go on the island, (which beaches were best!), invited me to come and go as I pleased and really cared to get to know me. (Being a solo ‘traveller’ the company was very welcome!)
Beautiful accomodations, friendly dog, lovely view and conscientious hosts. I’d go back in a minute.
Oh, and I’m petrified of spiders. Kiloran very kindly hoovered them up for me whenever I made a move to sit on the porch, and even did periodic ‘spider checks’! to make sure I hadden’t been eaten by the little crawlies.
Have I mentioned the sheets? Spectacular. and the bath? Fantastic. The feel of Swan’s end is rustic charm meets city chic. At once I felt both comfortable and stately … in a bed of opulant self-​indulgence.
What I needed was a little me-​time self-​pampering and that’s just what I got. It’s now 6 months later and I’m starting to crave summer on the island!

Were you aware that there is an absolutely stunning, beautiful and very accommodating Bed & Breakfast inn situated on the Toronto Island? Imagine a place that can make you feel as though you are staying in Virginia or North Carolina yet it is only a ferry ride across from the city waterfront. Swan’s End B&B is a small oasis that makes you feel like you’ve just travelled to another world. It is quiet, picturesque and very romantic.
We stayed at the Swan’s End on a Sunday evening. We took the ferry that services the island residents which takes you right to Algonquin Island. It was a lovely stroll from the ferry to the B&B. Let me tell you, this place ain’t no little cottage. Five years ago the owners levelled the original building and built what is there now. It has two bedrooms on the upper level, both with private ensuites. The front of cottage faces out to a peninsula of water which is such a pretty view. You can sit on the porch looking out over this and let me tell you, in a million years you’d never believe you are 15 minutes off the main waterfront in T.O.
The hosts are literally invisible and it felt like we were in the house by ourselves. We so loved this spot!
Breakfast is really wonderful. They offer you a great choice to pick from including Huevos Rancheros, Eggs Benedict, Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes with bacon. For dinner we walked over to the Rectory Café which is a lovely spot and compliments the stay. We felt like we’d just gone off to Martha’s Vineyard sans the flight, the hours at the airport and the customs officers. It was a refreshing and lovely break for us. Usually its a minimum two night stay but we stayed on a Sunday evening and they waived that requirement probably because it was a Sunday evening.
The price tag for a room is $ 175.00 a night (including breakfast). Steep, yes. Worth it, absolutely. Mind you, a hotel room in downtown Toronto would minimally be around $ 100 so for what we got we thought it was a perfect respite spot.