The township is named after a region of Scotland, and it still shows: Gore United church, Gore Baptist church, the MacGillivray cemetery, Montée du Gore. Lochaber appears on maps by 1795 and became a township municipality in 1855. Thurso split off in 1886 and Lochaber-Partie-Ouest in 1891. What’s left is 70 km² of farmland crossed by Highways 148 and 317 and the Blanche River, including part of Parc national de Plaisance.
It’s a farming township, and not just on paper. The municipality’s “treasure map” lists about twenty addresses: grass-fed beef, bison, lamb, rabbit, eggs, honey, maple syrup, berries, turned wood, ceramics. Most sell right at the farm, by appointment or at a stand, and many still rely mostly on word of mouth and the nearby Highway 50.
What makes Lochaber
The treasure map
The municipality maps its farmers and makers on its website. It’s the best place to start planning a farm-gate tour.
Gore heritage
Gore United and Gore Baptist churches, the Gore United and MacGillivray cemeteries, old barns: the township’s heritage list tells a good part of its English-speaking history.
Route verte rest stop
Cyclists on the Route verte have a rest stop on the 148 with a bike rack, a bike-camping platform and a dry toilet built by a local artist.
Summer berries
Currants, blackcurrants, blueberries and raspberries sold straight from the grower on the 148.
A piece of Plaisance park
Part of the national park lies inside the township. A good excuse to pair a farm-gate tour with a walk by the water.
A few local businesses in Lochaber
- Ferme Brylee · Grass-fed beef, lamb and pork · Route 317
A fifth-generation family farm that hosts group farm-to-table meals in its hundred-year-old barn. - Ferme Takwânaw · Bison meat · Montée du Gore
Bison sold straight from the farm, listed on the municipality’s producer map. - Débitage des Cantons · Rabbit farm and butcher · 5e Rang Est
Rabbit, plus homemade tourtière, pâté, terrines, sausages and jerky. - Apis Rustica · Honey, bees and fruit shrubs · Route 148
Sells honey, but also bees to other beekeepers and fruit-bearing shrubs. - Érablière G.M.S. Leduc · Maple syrup and maple butter · Route 148
Syrup and maple butter for sale all year, not just in spring. - Denise Fournier Céramiste · Ceramics studio · Route 148
A ceramist who brings culinary art into her pieces, working in a studio built in a tree. - La Tournerie François Cloutier · Wood turning · Montée du Gore
A workshop specializing in wood turning, on the same road as the bison farm.
Getting found in Lochaber
People who buy at the farm search with specific words: “grass-fed beef Ottawa area”, “bison near Gatineau”, “local honey Thurso”, “sugar shack Petite-Nation”. Gatineau is about half an hour away on the 50, and Ottawa not much further, which is where most of the buyers are. The catch is that several producers in the township only show up on the municipal map, or under a Thurso mailing address that confuses things. A well-placed Google profile and one page with the products, seasonal prices and how to order or pick up, in French and English: for a farm, that’s often the difference between selling to the neighbour and selling to the city.
Lochaber has a population of 504 (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
My mailing address says Thurso, but I’m in Lochaber township. Does that matter?
A bit, yes, because Google and customers get mixed up. We make sure your profile shows the right spot on the map and mentions both names, so people find you either way.
I sell by order with pickup at the farm. Do I need an online store?
Not necessarily. A clear page with what’s in season, prices and an order form is often enough. We only add online payment if it actually makes your life easier.
Do you come to Lochaber?
Yes. We are based in Montpellier and meet clients in person anywhere in the MRC de Papineau, including Lochaber. 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.