Grey County is a region defined by its natural beauty. Pristine Georgian Bay shoreline marks its northern border, nearly half the landscape is covered in forest, and the dramatic Niagara Escarpment cuts across the region. The cliffs of the escarpment stand tall, offering spectacular views from breathtaking lookouts across the county.
The highest point in Grey County, just south of Pretty River Valley Provincial Park, sits 544 metres above sea level. That’s high enough for some great sightseeing, but what if you could go higher? Much higher? What sights would you see from above the county?
Owen Sound Flight Services, operating year-round out of the Meaford International Airport, offers sightseeing flights that will quite literally give you a whole new perspective on Grey - and Bruce - County.
Exploring the region from the air is an unforgettable experience, whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning to the family cottage you’ve enjoyed for decades.
But the fun with OSFS actually starts on the ground. A custom “Gone Flying” sign hangs on the door, and staff are warm, welcoming, and good-humoured – just see the Weather Forecast System (AKA the Magic 8 Ball) for proof! From the office, it’s a short walk across the tarmac to a simply gorgeous Cessna 172 Skyhawk II four-seater.
Just climbing aboard this legendary aircraft (a 172 holds the record for longest flight ever) is an incredible feeling. You strap into the cockpit, put on the headset, and feel the excitement build as the engine roars to life and the single propeller begins to blur. From taxiing to takeoff, in a plane this size, you are up close and personal with every single step. Once in the air, the value of the Cessna 172 for sightseeing becomes immediately apparent. The wings are above the cabin, leaving your view unobstructed, and with windows ahead, behind, and to your side – there is no shortage of view to take in as gorgeous scenery rolls out below you in every direction.
Depending on the flight selected, you’ll fly over Owen Sound, with its iconic grain elevators, before banking toward Sauble Beach in neighboring Bruce County. From the air, you can clearly see a series of sandbars just beneath the waves of Saugeen Beach, and the water runs a stunning gradient from deep turquoise to pale aquamarine. Heading north, you’ll follow the shore and hunt for shipwrecks. The pilot is both helpful and patient in this process, circling wreck locations until you find not just the ship, but the perfect angle. Back over Grey County, you may pass over Big Bay – the stone skipping capital of Canada, or over the dense forest atop Kemble Mountain before making your way toward Cobble Beach – one of Grey County’s premier golf courses. The genius of Cobble’s course design is immediately apparent from the air, with the 9th and 18th holes both running right along the Georgian Bay shore.
As the tour winds down, the final step is the landing, and like everything else in a plane this size – it is an incredible experience. Farmers fields to your right, hangars to your left, all surrounded by Grey County woodland – one final, memorable view before you taxi to a stop and disembark.
Sightseeing is hungry (and thirsty) work, and fortunately, the airport is home not just to OSFS, but to truly exceptional dining at Williams on 26. The diner boasts large windows overlooking the runway, a stylish bar and dining area, and a menu full of delicious standards and specials – the perfect “après-flight” experience.
In a region known for its expansive natural beauty, a sightseeing flight with Owen Sound Flight Services is a truly unforgettable experience, from takeoff to touchdown.
.jpg)
