Leeds and the Thousand Islands Real Estate
St. Lawrence islands, granite shore, and the UNESCO 1000 Islands landscape — Leeds and the Thousand Islands is geography as destiny.
Living in Leeds and the Thousand Islands
Leeds and the Thousand Islands Township spreads across the northern side of the 1000 Islands, that remarkable geological accident where the Canadian Shield breaks through the St. Lawrence River plain in a scatter of 1,864 named islands. The township's communities — Lyndhurst, Lansdowne, Delta, Seeley's Bay — are inland agricultural hamlets, but the St. Lawrence River shoreline is the real draw: granite island outcroppings, Boldt Castle visible across the American border, and a boating culture that draws visitors from across North America to Gananoque's marina gateway.
The Old Stone Mill in Delta — a National Historic Site built in 1810 and one of Ontario's oldest surviving grist mills — anchors the inland heritage story. The Rideau Canal's southern reaches touch the township's northwest, at Seeley's Bay, connecting the St. Lawrence ecosystem to the Ottawa watershed. For buyers, this township offers one of Ontario's most dramatic natural settings at prices well below what equivalent waterfront commands in Muskoka or even the Kawarthas — the American border proximity being the only geographic footnote that occasionally surprises.
St. Lawrence Island Properties
1000 Islands waterfront and island properties along the St. Lawrence offer dramatic granite-shore boating lifestyle — summer communities with weathered boathouses, deep water dockage, and American border proximity that adds international flavour.
Inland Heritage Homes
Delta, Lansdowne, and Lyndhurst harbour stone and frame farmhouses from the 1820s–1880s — Loyalist country heritage homes on agricultural lots with the Old Stone Mill as a community landmark.
Seeley's Bay Rideau Properties
Seeley's Bay's position where the Rideau system meets the St. Lawrence corridor offers a dual-waterway boating lifestyle rare even by Ontario standards — access to both the Rideau Canal and the 1000 Islands in one address.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly are the Thousand Islands and how many are there?
The Thousand Islands are 1,864 named islands (by agreement: an island must have at least one living tree and be above water 365 days a year) straddling the Canada-US border in the St. Lawrence River. They're the result of Precambrian Shield granite breaking through the river plain — a geological phenomenon that also runs beneath Kingston and connects to the Frontenac Arch.
Is it easy to boat between Canada and the US in the 1000 Islands area?
You can, but all border crossing rules apply — you must report to Canada Border Services or US Customs when crossing. Gananoque has a CBSA pleasure craft reporting station. The international border runs through the middle of the river, and some popular islands and channels are on the US side.
What is Boldt Castle and can I visit it?
Boldt Castle is a 120-room castle on Heart Island on the American side of the 1000 Islands, built by hotel magnate George Boldt in the early 1900s for his wife. It's one of the most visited attractions in the region and accessible by tour boat from Gananoque and Kingston.
What are schools like in Leeds and the Thousand Islands?
The township is served by the Limestone District School Board and Catholic DSB for Kingston-area schools. Secondary students typically travel to Gananoque Secondary School. The rural setting means school bus transport is standard for most students.
Is hunting and fishing significant in this township?
Very much so. The St. Lawrence is one of Ontario's best smallmouth bass fisheries; the inland lakes in the township's north offer walleye, pike, and perch. Deer and turkey hunting on agricultural and Crown land are significant autumn activities for local residents.
What is Ontario's Land Transfer Tax?
Ontario's Land Transfer Tax applies to all Leeds and the Thousand Islands purchases: 0.5% on the first $55,000; 1.0% on $55,001–$250,000; 1.5% on $250,001–$400,000; 2.0% on $400,001–$2,000,000. First-time buyers receive a rebate of up to $4,000. There is no municipal land transfer tax in Leeds and the Thousand Islands Township.