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Elora Ontario bed and breakfast:
One of the best bed and breakfasts in Elora Ontario
recommended by Janette Higgins.
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Southwestern Ontario
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Tynavon Bed and Breakfast (formerly Old Bissell)
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David Bluhm and Christopher Craig
84 Mill Street East
Elora, Ontario
Canada, N0B 1S0
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| Phone: 519-846-6695 |
| Toll Free:866-334-3305 |
| Truly something special -- and the back entrance is almost as grand as the front at this Elora bed and breakfast. |
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Review by Janette Higgins
author of The Best Places to B&B in Ontario: A Selective Guide
Six editions of the book were published to critical and popular acclaim. Janette now publishes her B&B
reviews and holiday reports online.
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Note 1 to reader: Every Ontario bed and breakfast receives my consideration. I travel incognito, pay where I stay and write reviews of the top 5%. Here is one I recommend. Janette Higgins
Your introduction to Tynavon Bed and Breakfast (formerly The Old Bissell House bed and breakfast) will probably be through the back door. That's because it's the entrance most convenient to the parking area. In fact, however, the back entrance of this heritage stone home is so inviting you can't help but be drawn to it. You get to it by way of a garden path leading to a full-length verandah. The panelled door has sidelights and transom window. Inside, the tiled foyer is beautifully decorated. Turns out it's only slightly less grand than the mirror-image front entrance.
When my friend and I arrived host Chris Craig greeted us warmly and showed us to our room. Along the way we had a peek at the other bed and breakfast rooms since no one else was there yet. They've all been beautifully decorated by Chris and his partner David Bluhm and named after rivers that have meaning for the couple. The look is simple understated elegance with lots of warm touches. We stayed in the pretty Grand Room with twin beds and bathroom down the hall. (The beds can be made up as a kingsize if you prefer.) Like the others it has terry robes, clock radio, a deep window seat, wide pine plank floors and small sitting area.
The room I really took to was the blue-and-white Loire Room with French toile roman blind, fresh white linens and a unique 'headboard' with a fleur de lys motif. Spritzes of yellow provide spark. The serene Isla and Hudson Rooms are done in neutral taupes and creams with lichen green walls in the Isla. All three have queen-size beds and en suite bathrooms.
Next morning breakfast was brought to us by Dave who, when not hosting the B&B, can be found flying planes for a large commercial airline.(Chris worked in arts managment but he's now switched full time to the bed and breakfast game.) The dining area is at one end of the large guest living room. It's also been redecorated with sunny yellow walls, comfy neutral-toned sofas and mission oak furniture, one of Chris's passions. It's dominated by a large gas fireplace with traditional surround.
As for breakfast, we had croissants with Chris's delectable homemade strawberry lavender jam. These were followed by fruit-sauced French toast with first-rate bacon. Breakfasts vary of course and yours could well be oatmeal pancakes with oven-roasted stone fruits, peameal bacon and fresh baked orange cranberry scones. All accompanied by some of the best coffee you'll find anywhere. It was so good my friend dispensed with her usual cream and sugar.
You won't lack for things to do after breakfast. Elora is quite a tourist attraction, what with its gorge and quarry, restaurants, boutiques and artisans' studios. The Elora Music Festival is a renowned annual event. You can also hike, walk, canoe, bike and fly fish. Even bounce along on a rubber tire in Elora's Grand River if you fancy.
Note 2 to reader: I appreciate your support of the continuation of my research by letting David and Christopher know you read my consumer review of their bed and breakfast on this bbontario website. Many thanks! Janette Higgins, Travel Writer
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Reviews of Janette Higgins'
favourite places beyond Ontario
More of Janette Higgins' reviews
of Ontario's best bed and breakfasts
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Tynavon Bed and Breakfast (formerly Old Bissell), Elora, Ontario
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| Tell your hosts Janette Higgins sent you! |
| E-mail: |
Click Here |
| Website: |
http://www.tynavon.ca |
| Best to call: |
10 AM - 10 PM |
| Languages: |
English, French, Spanish |
| Season: |
bed and breakfast is open all year |
| CDN $ Rates: |
S or D $110-145 contingent upon season (plus 5% GST and 5% PST) |
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| Cards: |
VISA/MC/Interac |
| Restrictions: |
not suitable for children; smoking on verandah; no guests' pets |
| Facilities: |
4 bedrooms (2 queen with 3 pc bath en suites; 1 queen with 4 pc bath en suite; 1 king or 2 twins with 4 pc private-use bath); guest living room on main floor plus second floor sitting room with guest fridge; central air; furnished front verandah |
| Parking: |
driveway off Queen St; lockable shed for cyclists |
| Breakfast: |
full breakfast |
| In Residence: |
E.T. the Persian/Himalayan cross, not allowed in bed and breakfast quarters |
| Location: |
4 blocks from downtown in Elora which is 1.5 hours W of Toronto |
| Directions: |
take Exit 295 from Hwy 401. Go N on Hwy 6 through Guelph to Fergus. Go W on Cty Rd 18 (turns into Mill St in Elora) |
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