Cottages For Sale in Blue Mountains & Grey County

Buying a cottage in Blue Mountains & Grey County

Grey County sits on the south shore of Georgian Bay, west of Collingwood and about two to three hours northwest of Toronto. The Niagara Escarpment runs through it, forming Blue Mountain, the Beaver Valley and the bluffs around Owen Sound. The Blue Mountains, Meaford, Owen Sound and Georgian Bluffs share the bay shoreline. Inland, Grey Highlands, West Grey, Chatsworth, Southgate and Hanover are farm and forest country with rivers and small lakes.

This is chalet country as much as cottage country. Buyers look for ski chalets and condos at Blue Mountain, near the private clubs at Craigleith, Alpine, Osler and Georgian Peaks, and around the Beaver Valley Ski Club near Kimberley. Georgian Bay waterfront runs from Craigleith and Thornbury through Meaford to Owen Sound and Big Bay. Lake Eugenia is the main inland cottage lake, joined by smaller lakes such as Bells, Wilder, Francis, McCullough and Williams.

Most properties have year-round road access, but this is snowbelt country, so plan for plowing and winter driving. Rural homes and chalets usually run on a well and septic system. Much of the escarpment falls under Niagara Escarpment Commission development control, and shoreline work can need a conservation authority permit. The Blue Mountains licenses short-term accommodation and limits where it can operate, so check the rules before buying a chalet to rent.

Getting there: About 2 to 3 hours from Toronto.

• Blue Mountain
• Ski chalets
• Georgian Bay waterfront
• Beaver Valley
• Lake Eugenia
• Bruce Trail