Scotstown has a number of things to recommend it as a base from which to explore the region by bike:
Charcuterie Scotstown and its grocery store
This Charcuterie has been around for at least two decades. It is run by Jean Désilet and his sons, who are truly passionate about saucissons secs, of which they make a delicious variety.
The store they run, which looks like a normal grocery store from the outside, has an outstanding butcher’s section, a very decent selection of wines and craft (and non-craft) beers, frozen baguettes (which are excellent), as well as fruit, veg, tinned food, cheese, etc…
Restaurant Le Petit Ecossais
As you can tell by the name, this restaurant serves Asian food. It is right by the campsite and by the lake – an artificial lake behind the local weir – where the swimming is very refreshing (see Taking a Dip, below).
Cantine Ma-Tania
This is a traditional Québec cantine serving hamburgers, poutine and the like. Definitely worth it after a long ride!
Scotstown petrol station and dépanneur
The gas station includes a convenience store, a good selection of beer, basic foodstuffs and a coffee machine. One of its great advantages is its extended opening hours: you can (almost) always get a hot drink, food and other essentials!
Municipal camp site: Camping de la Rivière Étoilée
Scotstown has beautiful campsite located along the river – Rivière au Saumon – at a point where it widens into a small lake behind the weir.
The campsite can accommodate recreational vehicles (by the parking area, close to the Petit Ecossais, see above) and traditional tents on large plots (away from vehicles, along the river, as per photo).
Bikes can be rented from the camp site, as can various canoes, kayaks and pedal boats.
The gravel cycling path that leads off towards Franceville and the Mont Mégantic starts at the camp site.
Taking a dip
The Rivière au Saumon is a clean waterway: its source is about 30km away as it drains the watershed that runs along the US border (see To the US and back cycle route). There are very few farms between the border and Scotstown, making the water wonderful to swim in.
The water is fairly deep in places (especially as one moves up the river away from the parking area), but is fine for splashing around in by the small jetty and boat launch.
Hiking and camping: Parc National du Mont Mégantic
It would be remiss of me not to mention hiking. There is a network of hiking trails in the Parc du Mont-Mégantic, to which Scotstown has easy access via the Franceville entrance (see Franceville loop). This can be accessed by car (about 7 minutes’ drive) or along the gravel path by bike (about 20-30 minutes’ cycle). The other park entrance is about 30km away (see Mont Mégantic and Mont St.Joseph ride)
The purpose of this web site is to inform about cycling opportunities around Scotstown, but there is no reason not to combine cycling with hiking!
It is also possible to camp at Franceville, or to rent camping places (and cabins) deeper inside the park.
Winter
Winter is a great time in Scotstown. There is some (very limited) fat biking in the Parc du Mont-Mégantic, but the real (though maybe disappearing, as climate changes …) attraction in winter is cross-country skiing.
Most of the hiking trails are also accessible in winter, best accessed with snow shoes or crampons…
Richard Shearmur 