Hatley Park & Castle - March 18, 2010

Part 1

Revisiting places can lead to disappointment.

My parents first took me to Hatley Park in greater Victoria when I was very little. Many glorious summer days were spent in the rose, Italian and Japanese gardens when my grandmother and other relatives came to visit. I particularly remember sitting in the shade of the castle's porte-cochere, and gazing at the 'huge' water wheel which turned out not to be huge at all - I was just small. I always felt relaxed and at home at the park as if it was my own personal garden. I continued to go as an adult with family and friends.

All my life the park had been FREE to visit. This all changed a few years ago after it became a National Historic site operated, I believe, by a university. Somebody decided to charge a fee and this then involved fencing in the garden area. There was a public outcry but the operators eventually got their way. They appeased locals in the immediate neighbourhood by allowing them free access and by lowering the proposed fee for everyone else. I hadn't been back since.

The fee of under $5 might not be a lot but I resent paying to see 'my' (and the public's) park which, in my opinion, should still be free.

Information for the visitor is very poor. I couldn't find any indication, for instance, that parking is extra. Expect to pay a couple of dollars for that. One website shows an entrance fee of $4.75, another shows $4.50 increasing to $9 from May to October. Entry with castle tour is more. We felt bad for a couple of visitors what had come all the way from Vancouver expressly to tour the castle only to find it closed.

I'm a little disgusted with some of the changes that have taken place, such as the addition of more modern buildings, and fences chopping up the grounds. The lion's head fountain was turned off and some things had an unkempt appearance.

Nowadays you have to park below the castle. It's unfortunate that an ugly parking lot interrupts the sweeping views to the lagoon and ocean. First time visitors wouldn't know to drop less mobile people up at the castle since there is no indication upon entering where you have to pay.

The castle from the Italian garden.

At least the huge mast eyesore from when it was run by the military is gone from the front of the castle.

Back lawn.

Arbutus tree. (Some photos have odd colouring because our camera was on the wrong light setting.) I used to see deer on the lawns on occasion.

The peacocks are still around. I didn't notice any white ones this visit.

Part of the Italian garden. It probably would have been better to visit about a month from now when there would be more plants and flowers.