FAQ

Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage is at 75 The Point Drive in Keene, Ontario, inside Bellmere Winds Golf Resort on Rice Lake in the Kawarthas region. It’s about 90 minutes northeast of Toronto and 25 minutes from downtown Peterborough.

The cottage has three bedrooms and sleeps six comfortably. It’s well-suited for families, two couples, or parents travelling with adult children or in-laws.

The cottage is 600 square feet of living space, plus two outdoor decks and a screened sunroom that overlooks Rice Lake.

Yes. Mildred’s has direct waterfront access from the cottage to the resort’s beach on Rice Lake. The beach and the multi-slip dock are shared by everyone staying at the resort. The bottom near shore is mostly sand, and the lake is shallow enough at the swim area for kids and warm enough to swim by mid-June.

For the 2026 season, bookings go through the Great Blue Resorts booking system — visit the Book page for current availability or contact us for help. Starting in 2027, direct online booking will be available on this site through MotoPress.

Minimum stays vary by season: – Peak summer (July–August) and long weekends: typically 3 nights minimum – Shoulder season (June, September): 2 nights minimum – Off-season weekdays: occasionally 1-night stays available

Check current rates and minimum stays on the Book page.

• Long weekends (Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic, Labour Day): book 9–12 months out
• Peak summer weekends (mid-July to mid-August): 4–6 months out
• Midweek summer: 3–4 weeks out is often available
• September & October weekends: 4–8 weeks out, and these are the best value of the year

The cancellation policy is set by the Great Blue Resorts booking system. Full details are available at the time of booking. For 2027 direct bookings, terms will be published when the booking system goes live.

Yes, a refundable damage deposit applies — amount and terms are confirmed at booking through Great Blue Resorts.

Rates start at CAD $254 per night plus resort fees and applicable taxes. Pricing varies by season — peak summer weekends and long weekends are higher; midweek and shoulder season (June, September) are lower. For exact rates and availability for your dates, see the Book page. The 2026 season runs through Great Blue Resorts; 2027 will support direct booking on this site.

• 3-bedroom waterfront cottage at 75 The Point Drive
• Direct waterfront access to the resort’s shared beach and multi-slip dock
• Two outdoor decks and a screened sunroom
• Pillows (with pillow protectors) and mattress protectors on every bed
• Fully equipped kitchen (stove, fridge, microwave, kettle, coffee maker, dishwasher, cookware, dishes)
• 1 Gigabit fibre Wi-Fi
• 43″ Roku Smart TV (Netflix, free streaming options)
• Free use of all Bellmere Winds Golf Resort amenities (see below)
• Free use of canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards (resort-provided, included with your stay)

As a guest at Mildred’s, you have access to the full resort: – Saltwater swimming pool (heated, lifeguard on duty) – Splash pad for kids – Beach on Rice Lake (shared by resort guests) – Sports court (basketball, tennis) – Fitness centre – 19th Hole Patio Grill (on-site restaurant) – Bellmere Winds 18-hole championship golf course (separate green fees apply) – Shared laundry facility

Free, included with your stay: – Canoes – Kayaks – Stand-up paddleboards (SUPs)

These are provided by the resort and free to use during your stay.

Paid rental from the resort: – Motorized fishing boats

You do not need a Pleasure Craft Operator Card to rent a fishing boat at Bellmere Winds. However, when you rent the boat the resort provides a Transport Canada Boating Safety Checklist. You must complete the checklist and carry it with you at all times while operating the boat. This is a Transport Canada requirement, not a resort policy.

Yes. The cottage has 1 Gigabit fibre internet. It works well for streaming, video calls, and remote work.

About 90 minutes from downtown Toronto, depending on traffic. Take the 401 East to the 115/35 North, then follow signs to Keene.

About 3 hours from Ottawa via the 401 West and 115/35 North.

The closest large supermarket is in Peterborough (25 minutes away) — Loblaws, No Frills, Sobeys all available. There are also small general stores in Keene and Bewdley for top-ups, but selection is limited and prices are higher.

Yes — both Bell and Rogers have solid coverage at the resort and around Rice Lake.

Yes, a car is essential. There’s no public transportation to the resort, and you’ll want one for groceries, dining out, and exploring the area (Peterborough, Cobourg, Serpent Mounds Park, etc.).

• Peterborough (25 min): Canadian Canoe Museum, downtown shopping and restaurants, Peterborough Lift Lock, Hunter Street pubs and breweries
• Cobourg (30 min): Historic downtown, Lake Ontario beach, antique shops
• Serpent Mounds Park (10 min): Ancient Indigenous burial site with interpretive trails
• Warsaw Caves (40 min): Explorable caves and hiking
• Bellmere Winds Golf Course: 18-hole championship course on-site

See the Neighbourhood page for more area details, and the blog post on Things to Do Near Rice Lake for a 3-day itinerary.

Yes. Rice Lake is one of the best bass fisheries in southern Ontario, and you can catch panfish, bass, and pike from the resort’s shared multi-slip dock or by renting one of the resort’s motorized fishing boats. You’ll need an Ontario fishing licence — buy online at ontario.ca or at the bait shops in Keene or Bewdley. See the Rice Lake Boating and Fishing Guide for spots, licences, and what to bring.

Yes. Rice Lake is shallow (averages 7–8 metres), so it warms up earlier than most Kawarthas lakes — comfortable swimming by mid-June and still warm in early September.

Pet policies are set at the time of booking through Great Blue Resorts. Contact us for current pet allowance and any associated fees.

• Check-in: Typically 4:00 PM
• Check-out: Typically 11:00 AM

These times are confirmed through Great Blue Resorts at booking.

The cottage has steps to the front entrance. If you have specific accessibility needs, please contact us before booking and we’ll do our best to accommodate.

The cottage is non-smoking indoors. Smoking is permitted on the outdoor decks and outside the cottage, with appropriate disposal of butts.

Yes. You need to bring your own bed linens (sheets, pillowcases, duvets/blankets), bath towels, and beach towels. Pillows are supplied (with pillow protectors), and every mattress has a protector on it — but the sheets, pillowcases, and towels are on you. Plan accordingly: one set of sheets per bed in use (3 beds), bath towels for each guest, plus beach towels for swimming.

• Bed linens — sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers / blankets for 3 beds (pillows and mattress protectors are provided)
• Bath towels for each guest
• Beach towels for swimming and the dock
• Bug spray (essential June through early July)
• Sunscreen and hats
• Water shoes if you have sensitive feet
• Fishing tackle if you plan to fish (or pick up at Elmhirst’s General Store in Keene)
• Groceries (best to stock up in Peterborough on the way in)
• Personal toiletries

Most everything else — kitchen supplies, BBQ propane, basic cleaning supplies — is on-site.

The pool, splash pad, beach, sports court, fitness centre, and on-site restaurant patio are all free to use as a resort guest. Canoes, kayaks, and SUPs are also free. Golf course green fees and motorized fishing boat rentals are paid separately, directly to Bellmere Winds.