Coombs, Errington and Whiskey Creek
The rural inland communities west of Parksville. Acreage, horse country, and a maker's streak, a short drive from town.
Planning a move to the rural Oceanside communities?
Our free Oceanside Relocation Guide is a practical handbook covering the inland communities, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and the surrounding area, with pricing patterns, a phase-by-phase checklist, and advice for buyers coming from the Lower Mainland or out of province.
- ✓ A Fit Check to match you to the right community
- ✓ What the move actually costs, taxes and fees included
- ✓ The trade-offs, not just the highlights
- ✓ A phase-by-phase moving checklist
Living in the inland communities
Head west from Parksville on the road toward Port Alberni and you leave the coast behind fast. Errington first, then Coombs, then Whiskey Creek, and the character shifts with each one. This is acreage country, larger lots, older properties, and a slower rural way of living within a short drive of town.
There is a second current out here worth naming plainly rather than dressing up. Alongside the rustic, equestrian side there is a maker's streak: a Buddhist retreat centre, a wood-fired sauna and cold-plunge spot, a cidery tucked up one of the roads. It is a mix of horse people, makers, and people who came for the quiet and the land, and it gives the area a genuinely different feel from the coastal towns.
If you want services and shops close at hand, Parksville is a short drive east and is where most errands out here end up.
The inland communities at a glance
Housing
Acreage and rural-residential lots, older properties, some with paddocks and outbuildings. Larger parcels the further west you go.
Best For
Buyers who want land, privacy, and a rural pace, and are happy to drive into Parksville for the rest of it.
Trade-Off
Rural, so services, groceries, and health care all mean a drive. Whiskey Creek especially is well out of town.
Errington, Coombs and Whiskey Creek
Three rural communities along the Alberni Highway, each with its own feel. Here is how they differ.
Errington
The closest to Parksville, and horse country. Larger properties, many with paddocks, a bit of light industrial along one side of the highway, and older acreages on the other, with the Englishman River running through. Englishman River Falls Provincial Park is out here.
Coombs
Known for the Old Country Market, the goats-on-the-roof place, which has grown over the years into a cluster of little shops and pulls people in year-round. Rural past the market, with a maker's streak running through it.
Whiskey Creek
The far end and the most rural, with a rougher edge. What it has going for it is food people will drive for and a position at the doorstep of some of the best country around: waterfalls, Cameron Lake, and old-growth forest.
Inland real estate
This is an acreage market. Lots run larger than anything in the coastal towns, from a half-acre up to multi-acre parcels, and the housing is a mix of older rural homes, hobby farms, and the occasional newer build on a big lot. Errington, closest to Parksville, tends to draw the buyers who want space without a long drive, while Whiskey Creek offers the largest and most private parcels the further out you go.
Pricing depends heavily on lot size, whether the land is usable or treed, and what outbuildings come with it, so it varies more than a typical residential street. We keep specific figures general and walk through current numbers directly with buyers, since the market moves. See current area listings.
Schools in the inland communities
These communities are served by School District 69 (Qualicum). Errington Elementary is the local catchment school for Errington, Coombs, and Hilliers, with the far-west corner of Whiskey Creek falling into Bowser Elementary's area.
Errington Elementary (K to 7)
1390 Fairdowne Road, Errington. The catchment elementary for Errington, Coombs, and Hilliers, and part of Whiskey Creek.
Arrowsmith Independent School (private)
861 Hilliers Road, Qualicum Beach. A private school in the Hilliers area, preschool to Grade 7.
Secondary: Ballenas or Kwalikum
Errington Elementary is the one school in the district that feeds both secondaries. Students continue to École Ballenas in Parksville or Kwalikum in Qualicum Beach depending on where in the catchment they live.
Important right now: catchments here are current for the 2025/26 school year, and the secondary split for Errington Elementary depends on your exact address, so this is a case where the locator matters. The far-west and Alberni Highway corridor toward Cameron Lake falls into Bowser Elementary's boundary. French Immersion in the district runs through École Oceanside into École Ballenas by district-wide lottery. In January 2026 the district approved elementary catchment adjustments for 2026/27 and deferred a secondary boundary review, so confirm the exact catchment for a specific address on the School District 69 school locator before relying on it.
Parks, food and local spots
The inland draw is part outdoors and part the small, independent places you find tucked along the rural roads. The Old Country Market anchors Coombs, but there is more out here than the goats.
Old Country Market
2326 Alberni Highway, Coombs. The goats-on-the-roof market, a cluster of shops and eateries that draws visitors year-round, including Billy Gruff Creamery for ice cream.
Englishman River Falls Provincial Park
Errington Road, Errington. Two waterfalls, forest loops and trails, and a swimming spot in summer.
Hammerfest Mountain Bike Trails
Near Coombs, on Mosaic private forest land, managed by the Arrowsmith Cycling Club. A network worth knowing for riders.
The maker's streak
Yutori Acres
Coombs, by appointment. A wood-fired sauna and cold-plunge contrast-therapy retreat on a natural property.
Kathok Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Centre
2800 Grafton Avenue, Qualicum Beach, on the edge near the inland communities. A Tibetan Buddhist meditation centre and gardens, open to visitors on Sundays.
Swayne Creek Ciderhouse
2132B Swayne Road, Errington. A small cidery in a wooden barn overlooking the orchard, open Friday to Sunday.
Trees Diner
1385 Alberni Highway, Errington. A classic local diner and bakery, with a related Trees Restaurant and Bakery out in Whiskey Creek.
Whiskey Creek and just beyond
Whiskey Creek eats
McBaked pizza and Bigfoot Burgers both draw a crowd from beyond the community, along with Trees Restaurant and Bakery.
Cameron Lake & the CPR Trail
Just west of Whiskey Creek. A lake known for its cutthroat trout fishing, with the CPR Trail running along it.
Nearby: falls and old growth
Little Qualicum Falls and Cathedral Grove's old-growth stand sit just past Whiskey Creek. Not in the community, but close enough to be your backyard if you live out here. Little Mountain Lookout is the other way, just over the line in Parksville.
Distances & commute
Rural and inland, with everything routed back through Parksville. Times below are approximate and vary with where in the community you are.
- Errington to Parksville: about 10 minutes
- Coombs to Parksville: about 10 to 15 minutes
- Whiskey Creek to Parksville: about 15 to 20 minutes
- Downtown Nanaimo from the area: roughly 40 to 50 minutes
The old E&N rail trail runs on the historic railway grade between Parksville and Coombs, a low-traffic route for cycling and walking through the countryside. For everyday health care, the Oceanside Health Centre urgent care is in Parksville, open seven days a week until 9:30pm, and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital is the drive south for anything needing a full emergency room. These communities are car-dependent, with residents driving into Parksville for most services.
The inland communities are for
These areas work best for buyers who:
- ✓ Want land, acreage, and room between neighbours
- ✓ Value privacy and a rural pace over walkability and services
- ✓ Are drawn to horse property, hobby farms, or a maker's kind of community
- ✓ Do not mind driving into Parksville for groceries, schools, and health care
If the inland communities aren't the right fit
These communities offer land and a rural pace. If your priorities lean a different way, these nearby areas may fit better.
Parksville
The larger town a short drive east, with services, single-level housing, and beaches close at hand. Explore Parksville.
Qualicum Beach
A walkable village with a protected core, quieter than Parksville and still close to the rural inland. Explore Qualicum Beach.
Lighthouse Country
The rural north coast, where waterfront is more within reach, if you want rural living with the ocean rather than acreage. Explore Lighthouse Country.
If none of these feel quite right, explore the full Oceanside Neighbourhood Guide to see how the communities compare side by side.
Inland communities FAQs
What is it like to live in Coombs or Errington?
Rural and spacious. These inland communities west of Parksville are acreage country, with larger lots, older properties, horse acreage, and a maker's streak of small independent businesses. They suit buyers who want land and privacy within a short drive of town, and who do not mind driving into Parksville for services.
What types of homes are in the inland communities?
Mostly acreage and rural-residential properties on larger lots, from a half-acre up to multi-acre parcels, with a mix of older rural homes, hobby farms, and the occasional newer build. Lots run largest the further west you go toward Whiskey Creek.
Which schools serve Errington, Coombs and Whiskey Creek?
Errington Elementary (School District 69) is the catchment school for Errington, Coombs, and Hilliers, with the far-west corner of Whiskey Creek in Bowser Elementary's area. Errington Elementary is the one district school that feeds both secondaries, so students go to École Ballenas or Kwalikum depending on address. Confirm with SD69.
What is the Coombs Old Country Market?
It is the goats-on-the-roof market on the Alberni Highway in Coombs, a long-running cluster of shops and eateries that draws visitors year-round. The goats grazing on the grass roof in summer are its signature, and it anchors the community's identity.
How far are the inland communities from Parksville?
Errington is about 10 minutes from Parksville, Coombs about 10 to 15, and Whiskey Creek about 15 to 20, with downtown Nanaimo roughly 40 to 50 minutes from the area. Everyday services and health care are in Parksville, so these communities are car-dependent.
Is there anything to do in the inland communities?
Yes. Englishman River Falls Provincial Park, the Hammerfest mountain bike network near Coombs, the old E&N rail trail to Parksville, and, just beyond Whiskey Creek, Cameron Lake, Little Qualicum Falls, and Cathedral Grove. The area also has a wood-fired sauna, a cidery, and the Old Country Market.
Thinking about a move to the rural Oceanside communities?
If you are comparing communities and want a clearer breakdown of how each one fits different lifestyles and budgets, the Oceanside Relocation Guide walks through it in detail. Or book a quick call with Travis or Kiel to talk through whether the inland communities fit.