Four Mile Beach Inn
10 reviews 1528 Bay St Lawrence Rd, Dingwall, NS +1 902-718-7366 www.fourmilebeachinn.com suggest an edit
24 September 2022 5:09
Stayed there 4 straight summers when i lived back east. Got married there.planning to go back.
This is a response to Gerresten review from 4 years ago. He's correct that the inn has characteristics that some find an advantage and others find a detriment. Where he's off i think is the number of people who would find the inn's characteristics a positive.if you look at the reviews there are a lot of people who come down on the positive side.first, you have to go out of your way to get here and when you do there's not a lot there.you go to this inn if you want to get away from being constantly on-line, having a tv blaring in the next room and if you want to get away from people who are attracted to or need these things on vacation.lack of AC is an issue as temperatures rise.but this place is a gem, you have solitude/peace and quiet, a chance to disconnect, and owner-operators who really, truly care and provide personal, not corporate, service.so,
lack of AC, a bit of an issue but not a deal breaker.i've stayed places in hotter climates without AC
lack of TVs - a huge plus
weak internet.when needed we'd drive up to the community centre in cape north.they even left the wifi running at night.so you could park out front and use it.but i go on vacay to get off line, not to be constantly tethered.good strong wifi was just up the road for that emergency web session or download of something.less than 10 min drive, 30 mins by bike.bigger issue was lack of cell service, rogers didn't cover this area well.i think that may have changed.but, i found that a plus as well for disconnecting.one electric outlet in the room? That's plenty if you're only charging your phone.my wife brought a blow dryer and had no trouble using it.other guests.we found that the people who stay here come on purpose and know exactly what they're getting or stumble upon it because it's one of the few properties in the area.i think the former outnumber the latter.and having other guests that are attracted to the inn because of what it is also adds to the charm.and like everyone says, john and janet are just wonderful people and excellent hosts.gil is correct in that this isn't some martha stewart, nappa valley, B&B.he's upset that he stayed here, my wife and i are overjoyed that we found this place.i think if i stayed at some place he liked, i'd probably be appalled.
This is a response to Gerresten review from 4 years ago. He's correct that the inn has characteristics that some find an advantage and others find a detriment. Where he's off i think is the number of people who would find the inn's characteristics a positive.if you look at the reviews there are a lot of people who come down on the positive side.first, you have to go out of your way to get here and when you do there's not a lot there.you go to this inn if you want to get away from being constantly on-line, having a tv blaring in the next room and if you want to get away from people who are attracted to or need these things on vacation.lack of AC is an issue as temperatures rise.but this place is a gem, you have solitude/peace and quiet, a chance to disconnect, and owner-operators who really, truly care and provide personal, not corporate, service.so,
lack of AC, a bit of an issue but not a deal breaker.i've stayed places in hotter climates without AC
lack of TVs - a huge plus
weak internet.when needed we'd drive up to the community centre in cape north.they even left the wifi running at night.so you could park out front and use it.but i go on vacay to get off line, not to be constantly tethered.good strong wifi was just up the road for that emergency web session or download of something.less than 10 min drive, 30 mins by bike.bigger issue was lack of cell service, rogers didn't cover this area well.i think that may have changed.but, i found that a plus as well for disconnecting.one electric outlet in the room? That's plenty if you're only charging your phone.my wife brought a blow dryer and had no trouble using it.other guests.we found that the people who stay here come on purpose and know exactly what they're getting or stumble upon it because it's one of the few properties in the area.i think the former outnumber the latter.and having other guests that are attracted to the inn because of what it is also adds to the charm.and like everyone says, john and janet are just wonderful people and excellent hosts.gil is correct in that this isn't some martha stewart, nappa valley, B&B.he's upset that he stayed here, my wife and i are overjoyed that we found this place.i think if i stayed at some place he liked, i'd probably be appalled.
19 June 2022 22:28
Right now they are redoing the place for a better environment! Can't wait till opening day! Real nice that it has new owners that will keep this old gem alive!
27 November 2021 20:50
I stayed at Four Mile Beach Inn in August during my Cabot Trail bike tour. It's kind of a preserved general store/house of the bygone time very Scottish I supposed. From there I visited Meat Cove for a whale watch boat ride. Because the closest and the only Angie's Family Restaurant is some 8.5 km away, John and Janet helped picked up my 2nd day's dinner for me so I didn't have to cycle there (17 km for a round trip). The door of my room wouldn't close properly, but all in all a fun place to stay for something different. Great breakfast buffet too by the way.
07 November 2021 11:40
People were very friendly. Room was clean and bed comfortable. Gave very good references for restaurant.
09 November 2020 6:36
People were friendly, the rooms clean and very comfortable. The breakfast was great, I would go back.
16 October 2019 1:17
This is a wonderful place. I stayed in the upstairs suite. The breakfasts were delicious with homemade breads and muffins accompanied by cereal, yogurt, eggs, etc. The innkeepers were quite helpful in planning our activities. The history of the inn and island is well preserved. I hope make it back to this gem.
28 September 2019 10:17
My husband Don Brison, myself and my husbands brother only spent one night but found it charming. The room was clean and so was the bathrooms. The buffet breakfast was lovely, fresh fruit, homemade pastries & homemade jams. A great way to start the day. Will put on my list of places to stay next time we are out that way.
01 September 2018 4:15
The owners proudly call this a "heritage B&B" and you'd better know what they mean! Basically, this B&B is set like you're visiting back in the 1940s or 1950s. It's certainly NOT contemporary in any way. As a result, this B&B will only appeal to a narrow spectrum of travelers. Nostalgic people and heritage buffs will love this place (as might B&B "newbies"), but most experienced travelers will be sorely disappointed because the place differs significantly from traditional B&Bs and also from the way it is sold online.
If you’d like to experience life like it was almost a century ago, then you will be happy here. Don’t expect anything better. Here are the facts to help you make a wise decision.
1) AIR CONDITIONING: There is none. The only source of fresh air for our hot upstairs room (heat rises) was a small 30x8 inch opening in one window. We found a fan for us but we had to remove the bug screen, so we started receiving bugs and mosquitoes.
2) WI-FI: Yes, technically, they have wi-fi, but it is delivered over a weak and unreliable cellular phone connection. For practical, modern day users, you won't have useful wi-fi or internet access.
3) ELECTRICITY: There was one outlet in our bedroom and one in the bathroom.
4) OCEAN VIEW: The web site promises a "great view of the ocean" which is absolute nonsense. We looked out a small, dirty window at a small patch of water between trees. If I put a business card at arm's length, the "view" would be completely obscured.
5) CREDIT CARD SECURITY: To my horror, Janet processed our credit card upon arrival on an obsolete manual imprinter (may not even be legal anymore). Certainly, they are not secure because all you credit card information is visibly printed for anyone to see (and pilfer). I can't believe she's allowed to continue this practice!
6) THE BED: I've stayed at a lot of B&Bs and hotels, and I must say this was the worst bed ever. I could feel the springs poking in my back and sides. It's what I'd expect at a flop house in the slums. Either it was a bargain basement purchase or it was original equipment from decades ago. In addition, the bed squeaked loudly with every move.
7) BATHROOM: Once we got in the room, my wife found a large spider and cob web on the wall above the toilet. It clearly was not new to the location. Also, there is no place to put toiletries so we had to use the floor, which was filthy (our bare feet showed dirt just walking around in the bathroom). The morning shower provided just a few minutes of hot water for my wife and barely lukewarm water for me.
8) TV: There is none. No clock radio in the room either.
9) BREAKFAST: Our options consisted of a couple of hard boiled eggs and various breads/pastries most of which seem to have been store bought. Very disappointing.
10) CLEANING: The owners say rooms are cleaned every day. Then why was there a resident spider in our room and why did our feet get so dirty walking on the bathroom floor? As we were leaving some other angry guests commented that their room had not been cleaned (nor towels replaced) during their multi-day stay.
11) DETERIORATION: If you look closely at some of my photos, you will see an interesting phenomenon. There are rocks and shells collected around the toilets and along some of the walls. At first we thought it was quaint until we discovered they were placed to cover up growing deterioration and rot. In some places under the rocks and shells we noted black smudge, which we hope was not black mold.
CONCLUSION: Decide from my first hand experience whether this is a place you wish to visit. My advice for most people is to consider other nearby options and avoid this establishment completely. I wish I had!
If you’d like to experience life like it was almost a century ago, then you will be happy here. Don’t expect anything better. Here are the facts to help you make a wise decision.
1) AIR CONDITIONING: There is none. The only source of fresh air for our hot upstairs room (heat rises) was a small 30x8 inch opening in one window. We found a fan for us but we had to remove the bug screen, so we started receiving bugs and mosquitoes.
2) WI-FI: Yes, technically, they have wi-fi, but it is delivered over a weak and unreliable cellular phone connection. For practical, modern day users, you won't have useful wi-fi or internet access.
3) ELECTRICITY: There was one outlet in our bedroom and one in the bathroom.
4) OCEAN VIEW: The web site promises a "great view of the ocean" which is absolute nonsense. We looked out a small, dirty window at a small patch of water between trees. If I put a business card at arm's length, the "view" would be completely obscured.
5) CREDIT CARD SECURITY: To my horror, Janet processed our credit card upon arrival on an obsolete manual imprinter (may not even be legal anymore). Certainly, they are not secure because all you credit card information is visibly printed for anyone to see (and pilfer). I can't believe she's allowed to continue this practice!
6) THE BED: I've stayed at a lot of B&Bs and hotels, and I must say this was the worst bed ever. I could feel the springs poking in my back and sides. It's what I'd expect at a flop house in the slums. Either it was a bargain basement purchase or it was original equipment from decades ago. In addition, the bed squeaked loudly with every move.
7) BATHROOM: Once we got in the room, my wife found a large spider and cob web on the wall above the toilet. It clearly was not new to the location. Also, there is no place to put toiletries so we had to use the floor, which was filthy (our bare feet showed dirt just walking around in the bathroom). The morning shower provided just a few minutes of hot water for my wife and barely lukewarm water for me.
8) TV: There is none. No clock radio in the room either.
9) BREAKFAST: Our options consisted of a couple of hard boiled eggs and various breads/pastries most of which seem to have been store bought. Very disappointing.
10) CLEANING: The owners say rooms are cleaned every day. Then why was there a resident spider in our room and why did our feet get so dirty walking on the bathroom floor? As we were leaving some other angry guests commented that their room had not been cleaned (nor towels replaced) during their multi-day stay.
11) DETERIORATION: If you look closely at some of my photos, you will see an interesting phenomenon. There are rocks and shells collected around the toilets and along some of the walls. At first we thought it was quaint until we discovered they were placed to cover up growing deterioration and rot. In some places under the rocks and shells we noted black smudge, which we hope was not black mold.
CONCLUSION: Decide from my first hand experience whether this is a place you wish to visit. My advice for most people is to consider other nearby options and avoid this establishment completely. I wish I had!
15 August 2018 9:47
Super friendly place, feels like a home away from home. Rooms are nice, lots of places to relax, great breakfast each morning. Very much recommended.
31 March 2018 8:25
Lovely owners! Very kind with lots of valuable advice about what to see. We had an entertaining introduction to the Inn, receiving lots of information about it's history.
Bedroom had an ensuite bathroom. Everything was clean and comfortable. Breakfast was exciting - we didn’t realize how many other people and rooms made up this inn. Great atmosphere! Celtic music regularly played throughout the shared spaces and everyone was very friendly. Breakfast buffet consisted of fresh bread, baked goods, various jams, boiled eggs, and fresh fruit. The only downside was a small leak in our bathroom ceiling during a rainfall (the house is over 100 years old and otherwise very well maintained) but when we notified the hosts, they mentioned they'd be taking care of it right away. Overall a great stay! Would definitely recommend.
Bedroom had an ensuite bathroom. Everything was clean and comfortable. Breakfast was exciting - we didn’t realize how many other people and rooms made up this inn. Great atmosphere! Celtic music regularly played throughout the shared spaces and everyone was very friendly. Breakfast buffet consisted of fresh bread, baked goods, various jams, boiled eggs, and fresh fruit. The only downside was a small leak in our bathroom ceiling during a rainfall (the house is over 100 years old and otherwise very well maintained) but when we notified the hosts, they mentioned they'd be taking care of it right away. Overall a great stay! Would definitely recommend.