StoneHaven Le Manoir an oasis in Quebec’s Laurentian mountains

The resort is full of heritage with a charm that leaves a lasting impression

Published Aug 28, 2024  •  Last updated 6 minutes ago  •  4 minute read

StoneHaven Le Manoir, in Quebec's Laurentian Mountains, provides a scenic backdrop to go with a vibe that dates back more than a hundred years. STONEHAVEN LE MANOIR PHOTO

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As we winded our way around forests and lakes, then drove up a lane toward an impressive luxury boutique hotel that stands in what was originally a residence constructed in 1908, we were struck by the beauty that surrounded us.

It didn’t take long to figure out StoneHaven Le Manoir Relais & Châteaux, sitting on a hill, is an oasis — a place of tranquility to soothe the soul. That’s what “vacations” are all about, right?

It’s great to get away from the city, to visit Quebec’s Laurentian mountains, which, for me, also has a strong nostalgic feel — my mom grew up in nearby Morin-Heights and my birth certificate confirms I was born in Saint-Jerome.

And, now on a beautiful mid-summer day, we (I’m on this retreat with my wife Kelly-Anne) pull up to the resort. We take a deep breath, excited to take a break from the hustle and bustle, put away the stress and just relax for a couple of days.

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It’s a romantic getaway, a chance to spend time together (yes, there was some hand holding) but to us, it became so much more.

StoneHaven Le Manoir, which we found featured on booking.com, is about a two-hour drive northeast from Ottawa and about an hour from Montreal.

StoneHaven Le Manoir, in Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains. TIM BAINES/POSTMEDIA

The resort is impressive, full of heritage with a charm that leaves a lasting impression. The rooms, filled with antique furniture (which blends in perfectly with the architecture), highlight the art deco spirit going back to the beginnings of what has become a main resort, plus a new pavilion (with 17 additional rooms).

There’s an interior courtyard, with a magnificent Italian garden. Through most of the property, there’s a breathtaking view of Lac-des-Sables. Gazing at the lake and the area’s mountains, standing in the middle of the great outdoors, puts your mind at ease

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Elaborate chandeliers go back to the early 20th century.

If you’ve had enough of sitting by the pool or the jacuzzi, there’s access to trails for walking in the summer and cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in the winter.

There’s a feeling of opulence, you’re treated like royalty — from the experience at the front desk with the receptionist and concierge to the service in the on-site gourmet restaurant (breakfasts on the veranda are as good as it gets and I especially enjoyed the P.E.I. beef at dinner).

StoneHaven Le Manoir, in Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains. PHOTO COURTESY OF BOOKING.COM

To the side of the pool, there’s a spa — we were still on Cloud 9 hours after finishing our one-hour therapeutic massage session with Sophie. Not far away is a steam room built into the rocks.

If you’re looking for something to put your mind to work, there’s a room with a well-stocked library, games like Sorry and Risk, plus some puzzles.

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The history of the resort: It was built as a Scottish-inspired residence on a 140-acre lot in 1908 (it belonged to Montreal businessman Douglas McGibbon), put together by more than 200 carpenters, masons and labourers, then restored to its present beauty that has strong ties to its roots when it was purchased by real-estate developer Georges Coulombe in 2015.

On the first full day of our getaway, Kelly-Anne, the adventurer of the two of us, hiked along well-marked trails and spent a Zen moment by the lake. I drove to nearby Royal Laurentien, a golf course many times recognized as one of the Top 100 in Canada. One word: Amazing. It really is a terrific golf course carved out from the mountains, with lakes, brooks and cascading waterfalls providing a terrific backdrop to a really good layout. There are other excellent golf options nearby — Mont Tremblant is about 25 km away.

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Let’s backtrack for a bit. The trip was arranged through Booking.com, a site that can help you not only with hotels, they have vacation homes, apartments, villas, chalets, bed and breakfasts, resorts, hostels, apartments, farm stays, boats, igloos, villas, treehouses and more. It’s the best of one-stop shopping — you can also book rental cars, flights, airport taxis and attractions on the site. Booking.com has more than 29 million total reported listings in more than 175,000 destinations in more than 220 countries and territories across the globe.

Royal Laurentien is a golf course many times recognized as one of the Top 100 in Canada. It’s easy to understand why when you get the opportunity to take in the beauty. TIM BAINES/Postmedia

Also important to note: Booking.com is a leader in sustainable travel … and StoneHaven Le Manoir fits right into that, with a third-party sustainability certification and it’s a Booking Genius (a program which offers access to bonuses like discounts, free breakfasts, room upgrades and priority customer service support) property.

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Sustainable travel? A poll showed 78% of Canadian travellers agreed that sustainable travel is important to them, with 70% saying they want to travel more sustainably over the next year (from April 2024).

Also worth noting … and a big thumbs up of a recommendation here … we each packed a Samsonite Companion Weekender bag, with the interior lining made from Recyclex, a material created using 100% post-consumer recycled PET plastic bottles. Yeah, back to that sustainable thing. There’s so much to like about these bags, definitely something worth checking out if you like to travel and think the future of this planet is something you should be taking seriously.

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