If you’ve been around Meaford lately, you might think that we’re obsessed with hiking and cycling trails. Two weekends ago, a ribbon cutting ceremony at Meaford’s Fred Raper Park celebrated the completion of the Tom Thomson Trail, a 43 kilometre trail system connecting Meaford to Owen Sound.

And then, last weekend, the scissors were out again for the grand opening of the Trillium Trail, which meanders through the woodland at Memorial Park.

And that’s just for starters. If you’re looking for great retirement activities, hiking and cycling have got to be two of the best. And if you’re in Meaford, you can take your pick from a variety of trails offering everything from challenging climbs to easy strolls, with views and vistas of Georgian Bay, rolling hills, dramatic crevasses, steep cliffs, flashing rivers and bucolic fields.

As well as the two recent additions to Meaford’s trails, you have the Georgian Trail which follows the old Northern Rail Line from Meaford to Collingwood. And it seems no matter what road you take, you’ll come upon access to sections of the famous Bruce Trail as it winds and doubles back through the beautiful Niagara Escarpment. Then there’s the wonderful Trout Hollow Trail along the Bighead River and the rugged trail through the Bayview Escarpment Nature Reserve (which is also part of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve).

We’ll dig out the hiking boots and give you a tour of some of these natural local wonders over the next few weeks, starting with Trout Hollow tomorrow.