Literary Landmarks: 8 P.E.I. Places that Inspired L. M. Montgomery’s Writing

2. Green Gables Heritage House

8619 Route 6 (west of Route 13), Cavendish, Prince Edward Island

Originally belonging to Montgomery’s cousins, the setting for the Green Gables farmhouse (of which the oldest section was built in 1830) was the inspiration for Anne Shirley’s home in Anne of Green Gables. Today, visitors can explore the grounds and house, furnished according to the novel, at Green Gables Heritage Place.

3. Haunted Wood Trail

8619 Route 6 (west of Route 13), Cavendish, Prince Edward Island

Located just beyond the Green Gables Heritage House is a spruce grove like the spooky Haunted Wood in Anne of Green Gables. Visitors can walk the 900-meter loop and put themselves in the shoes of Anne and Diana as they let their imaginations run wild.

4. Lover’s Lane

8619 Route 6 (west of Route 13), Cavendish, Prince Edward Island

Lover’s Lane, a part of which leads to the Balsam Hollow Trail, was Montgomery’s “favourite object in nature.” She wrote about it lovingly in Anne of Green Gables, and made it one of Anne’s favourite spots as well. The winding 800-meter trail behind the Green Gables Heritage House is brimming with natural beauty.

5. Rachel Lynde’s House

7600 Cawnpore Ln, Hunter River, Prince Edward Island

This large home is said to be the inspiration for Rachel Lynde’s house in Anne of Green Gables. Dating back to the 1850s and once belonging to Montgomery’s cousins, the house was moved from its original location to where it stands now—where it was opened as the Shining Waters Country Inn in 1942.

6. Lake of Shining Waters

4542 Route 20, Park Corner, Prince Edward Island

The Lake of Shining Waters—or, the pond at Park Corner—appears in Anne of Green Gables to demonstrate Anne’s imaginative ability to give romantic names to beautiful places (she insisted “Barry’s Pond” was not a beautiful enough name for such a splendid sight).

7. Inn at Ingleside

4615 Route 20, Park Corner, Prince Edward Island

This house, now the Montgomery Inn at Ingleside, is where Montgomery’s paternal grandfather used to live, and where she loved spending time as a child. It is believed she used this home as inspiration in several of her novels, including Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside, and Anne of Ingleside.

8. Silver Bush

4542 Route 20, Park Corner, Prince Edward Island

Right by the Lake of Shining Waters lies the Campbell family farm (now called Silver Bush). This was where Montgomery’s cousins lived, and was like a second home to her. She was married in the Campbell parlor on July 5, 1911. She set several of her novels here including The Story Girl, Pat of Silver Bush, and Mistress Pat. Today, it houses the Anne of Green Gables Museum.

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That’s the end of our literary landmarks tour! We hope you get the chance to discover these storybook settings for yourself. In the meantime, we invite you to learn even more about the acclaimed Canadian author L. M. Montgomery—and the new commemorative circulation coin minted in her honour.