The township sits at the far southwest corner of the MRC, on the Ottawa River, in the lowlands just before the first hills of the Canadian Shield. Good soil, and pretty countryside. In 1802, about 400 Scottish Highlanders came to start a farming colony, which is where the name comes from: Lochaber is a district of Inverness, not far from Loch Ness. The big original township later split in three, and Lochaber-Partie-Ouest became its own municipality in 1891. By the early 1900s, most of the population was French-speaking.
Farming is still the engine, with a wave of agritourism since the early 2000s: pick-your-own, meat sold at the farm, craftspeople. Route 148 runs through the township and brings a lot of the customers, many from Gatineau. The township has taken some clear stands, too. In 2020 it was the first municipality in the MRC and in the Outaouais to build sustainable development and farmland protection into its planning rules across the board.
What makes Lochaber-Partie-Ouest
St. Thomas Anglican Church
Built in 1876 at the corner of Rang 5 and Montée du 4. A landmark of the area’s Scottish roots.
Traces of the first settlers
The Lochaber Bay cemetery (1845), the Silvercreek general store site (1900), and a 1920s-30s wayside cross restored in 2020.
Ottawa River wildlife refuge
The township shares a wildlife refuge with Gatineau that runs the whole length of its shoreline. The MRC calls it the largest in Quebec on the Ottawa River.
Pick-your-own at the orchard
Berries in early summer, apples from late August, then squash and pumpkins in the fall, with no admission fee for individual visitors.
Thurso golf course
Nine holes with two sets of tees each, so you can play 18. The club dates from 1963.
A few local businesses in Lochaber-Partie-Ouest
- Verger Croque-Pomme · orchard and cidery · Montée Berndt
Twenty hectares certified organic by Ecocert since 2024, about 4,000 apple trees and some thirty varieties, many you won’t find in stores. Seven ciders made on site. - Club de golf Thurso · golf course · Montée Ranger
Founded in 1963, with a superintendent who’s been there more than 25 years. Plenty of players say its greens are among the best in the region. - Bayview Farm · beef farm · Route 148
A family farm selling beef raised without hormones, antibiotics or animal by-products. - Denise Fournier, céramiste · ceramics studio · Route 148
She has worked in raku in Petite-Nation since 1995 and runs workshops where you make the dishes and then eat a meal off them.
Getting found in Lochaber-Partie-Ouest
People searching here usually have something specific in mind: a family apple-picking trip, a tee time, a beef order for the freezer. They’re in Gatineau, Ottawa or Thurso, and they compare on Google before heading out on 148. What farms and makers in the township often lack online: current seasonal hours, what’s available this week, and an English version. A simple bilingual site with the season front and centre, plus a complete Google profile, is often the difference between “let’s go” and “maybe next year.”
Lochaber-Partie-Ouest has a population of 1,044 (2026), according to the Quebec government's population order.
Petite Nation Numérique is not affiliated with the municipality or the MRC; this information comes from public sources.
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DetailsFrequently asked questions
I sell beef straight from the farm. Is a website worth it?
Yes. People buying in bulk want to know what cuts you have, the prices and how to order. A clear site with a simple order form answers that and saves you a lot of phone calls.
My season is short. How do I keep the site current?
We set it up so you can change your hours and what’s available yourself, in a couple of minutes, from your phone.
Where are you based?
In Montpellier, in the MRC de Papineau. We work across the MRC, Lochaber-Partie-Ouest included.
Do you come to Lochaber-Partie-Ouest?
Yes. We are based in Montpellier and meet clients in person anywhere in the MRC de Papineau, including Lochaber-Partie-Ouest. We can also work entirely online.
My business is small. Is an online presence worth the investment?
Yes, particularly in a rural region. A complete Google profile and a simple site are often enough to stand out from competitors who aren't online. We start with what pays off most for your budget.