Funky Fulford
Charming village offers big services
Fulford wharf is a welcoming place
Home to one of Salt Spring's three ferry terminals, Fulford balances quaint village appeal with a surprising number of amenities, making this south-end centre a favourite stop for those passing through and a treasure in its own right.
Just a few streets perched along the edge of the harbour make up the village proper. Fulford's residents are passionately committed to retaining the community's small village character, resulting in a homey collection of small shops and cafes nestled in historic cottages near the water's edge. Here visitors can peruse and buy a variety of unique goods, from fine linens to local artwork, to hemp clothing.
Hungry travellers will find an organic cafˇ and bakery, a restaurant focussing on fresh West Coast cuisine, and a traditional pub with a deli and a cold beer and wine store located on the road to Ganges. A friendly tourist information service is usually available at a booth next to the Fulford Inn, while Fulford village itself has a post office.
Patterson's Market, a general store that in pioneer times was a branch of Mouat Brothers Trading Co., offers full grocery services, including fresh produce, and also has a gas pump. Store owner Bruce Patterson is known as the unofficial "mayor of Fulford," and can often be seen deep in discussion with community members and visitors.
Salt Spring's well-known creative side is not to be missed in Fulford, with several artists' studios in both the immediate village area and along other south-end roads. Just outside the village on South Ridge Road, The Point Gallery shows local, national and international talents in a non-commercial setting.
Recreational activities are easily pursued in Fulford, which hosts a government dock, a private marina and a kayak rental/touring shop. Several advanced hiking trails begin at the upper village.
For more leisurely pursuits, Drummond Park and a great beach is at the head of the harbour (across the road from the Fulford Inn), a quick walk, cycle or drive from the village. A grassy area and recently upgraded playground overlooking the beach are specifically dedicated to children. This is also the location of Fulford Day, an annual family event in August, set for August 14 this year.
Travellers venturing beyond the village environs will find a wealth of farm stands offering local eggs, vegetables, garlic, honey and cut flowers.
Many people who arrive on Salt Spring via Fulford Harbour are on their way to Ruckle Provincial Park, an undeniable 486-hectare jewel of the Gulf Islands. It deserves to be on a visitor's "must-see" list because of its fabulous hiking trail network, including several kilometres of coastline paths, access to the shoreline and its heritage values. The property was donated to the provincial government in 1974, more than a century after Henry Ruckle and his family first homesteaded there. Their original home still stands near the orchard behind the barn, and other outbuildings have maintained a sense of pioneer farming history.
Ruckle Park also contains the largest provincial campground in the Gulf Islands, with 78 walk-in sites and eight drive-in sites, and amenities such as pit toilets, a cold water pump and group fire rings.
For more information about the park, visit www.bcparks.ca.