NEPEAN NEIGHBOURHOODS
Bells Corners, Ottawa: Neighbourhood and Real Estate Guide
Last updated: September 2026
Bells Corners, Ottawa is a west-end Nepean community of about 9,400 people (2021 Census) set along Robertson Road and completely surrounded by the Greenbelt, between Nepean’s inner neighbourhoods and Kanata. It’s best known for Lynwood Village, one of Ottawa’s first large tract-housing subdivisions of bungalows, along with Arbeatha Park, Westcliffe Estates and a busy commercial strip.
For buyers, Bells Corners offers some of the most affordable detached homes in the west end on generous lots, quick access to Highway 416 and Kanata, and trails into Stony Swamp from many streets. It’s popular with first-time buyers, downsizers and renovators. Here’s what to know.
The History of Bells Corners
Bells Corners grew up at the junction of the old Richmond Road and the concession road leading west to Hazeldean, roughly midway between Bytown and the military settlement at Richmond. It was named for Hugh Bell, who ran a tavern from 1834 to 1863 on the site of today’s Bells Corners Public School. When the post office opened on August 6, 1851, “the Corners” officially became Bell’s Corners; the apostrophe has since dropped away.
Nepean’s original centre
In 1850, the first meeting of the Nepean Township council was held in Bells Corners. After Ottawa annexed Westboro in 1950, a new Nepean town hall was built at Old Richmond Road and Robertson Road and used until the late 1980s, when the city hall moved to Centrepointe. Most of the original village was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1870; the former Hartin’s Hotel, rebuilt after the fire, is among the oldest surviving buildings.
Sandstone for Parliament
North of Robertson Road, quarries in the Nepean sandstone formation supplied stone for Parliament’s Centre Block and Peace Tower. The main quarry operated until 1962, when the National Capital Commission expropriated the land for the Greenbelt. The Nepean Museum is a good place to learn more about the area’s past.
Bells Corners Neighbourhoods: Lynwood Village, Arbeatha Park and Westcliffe Estates
Bells Corners is really three residential areas plus a commercial and light-industrial zone north of Robertson Road.
Lynwood Village (Bells Corners East)
Lynwood Village is the heart of Bells Corners. Land assembled in the 1950s was developed from 1958 by builder Bill Teron, who went on to plan Kanata. By 1960, 400 families lived in his bungalows; construction continued through 1966, and the area now has more than 1,700 homes. Most are one-storey bungalows and some split-levels on wide lots, with carports or single garages. The Lynwood Village Community Association runs programs and events.
Arbeatha Park
Arbeatha Park, developed from 1955 to 1958, is a smaller and slightly older pocket of bungalows and modest two-storeys east of Lynwood, near the Greenbelt edge.
Westcliffe Estates (Bells Corners West)
Westcliffe Estates, founded in 1969, is a larger community of more than 2,000 homes west of Moodie Drive. Most of its older homes (1969 to 1976) were built by Assaly, and the Terrace Drive and Mill Hill area was added in 1986. It has higher densities than the rest of Bells Corners, with townhouses, condos, a seniors’ residence and co-operative housing alongside detached homes. The Westcliffe Estates Community Association is active in local planning.
Bellwood Estates
Bellwood Estates, established in 1959 as a mobile home park, has about 256 homes on leased land, now operated by Parkbridge. Because owners buy the home but lease the land, financing and monthly costs work differently from freehold property, so buyers should review the lease terms carefully.
Sell Your Ottawa Home for Just 1% Listing Commission
Why pay 2.5% listing commission to sell your home when you don't have to? Jason Polonski lists Ottawa homes for a simple 1% listing commission. Full MLS® and REALTOR.ca exposure, professional photography, powerful online marketing, expert pricing, and a skilled negotiator fighting for every dollar of your sale price. Top-tier service — you just keep thousands more when your home sells. Smart sellers are already making the switch. Your home deserves the best, and your wallet deserves a break.
Homes for Sale in Bells Corners: Housing Types and Prices
Bungalows on generous lots
Bells Corners has one of the largest concentrations of bungalows in Ottawa. For downsizers, that means one-floor living in an established neighbourhood; for young buyers, it means a detached house with a yard at a lower entry point than newer suburbs; for renovators, it means solid 1950s and 1960s houses on lots with room to expand. The City’s rules on secondary dwelling units also make some lots attractive for a basement or garden suite.
Townhouses and condos
Westcliffe Estates and parts of the Robertson Road corridor have freehold and condo townhouses and some apartment condos, which can be among the most affordable ownership options in the west end.
What to check on a 1950s or 1960s home
Most Lynwood and Arbeatha homes are 60 to 70 years old. Ask about the electrical service size and panel, any remaining original wiring, galvanized or older plumbing, the water service line, insulation levels, the roof and the foundation. Our guide to buying a 1960s–1980s home in Nepean goes through each system.
Where prices sit
Bells Corners typically offers some of the lower detached-home price points in Nepean, with a wide spread between original-condition and fully renovated bungalows. The Ottawa Real Estate Board publishes board-wide figures only, so recent comparable sales are the best guide for a specific home. See current listings on the Nepean homes for sale page.
Planning updates after you buy? See our guide to renovating a bungalow or backsplit in Nepean.
Get Cash Back When You Buy a Home in Ottawa
Can you get cash back when buying a home in Ottawa? Yes. Jason Polonski, a Chairman's Club REALTOR® serving Ottawa and Kanata, shares part of his commission with buyers — up to $3,000 cash back at closing.* You still get full-service, award-winning representation: expert pricing, sharp negotiation, and hands-on guidance from first showing to keys in hand. No cut corners and no rebate-only shortcuts — just real money back in your pocket when you buy your Ottawa or Kanata home.
Living in Bells Corners: Greenbelt, Recreation and Shopping
Trails at your door
Bells Corners sits inside the Greenbelt, and the surrounding land includes the Stony Swamp Conservation Area, the largest forested area of the Greenbelt, with trails, boardwalks and interpretive signs. The Trans Canada Trail follows the old rail line west toward Carleton Place, and the Rideau Trail passes nearby. Deer, foxes and wild turkeys are regular visitors.
Parks and recreation
The community has nine public parks, including Lynwood Park, Arnold Park, Entrance Park (with an outdoor pool), Westcliffe Park and Williams Park. Bell Centennial Arena and outdoor rinks cover winter sports, and the Lynwood Park Tennis Club and Valleystream Tennis Club are nearby. Wesley Clover Parks, home to equestrian events and festivals, is just north across the highway.
Shopping and services
The Robertson Road commercial strip, designated a Business Improvement Area in 2009, has grocery stores, restaurants, car dealers and everyday services. Bayshore Shopping Centre and the Kanata Centrum are each about ten minutes away. Bells Corners has several churches and a mosque, and a number of retirement residences, which makes it a practical choice for downsizers.
Schools and Commuting From Bells Corners
Schools
Bells Corners has Bells Corners Public School (OCDSB), Our Lady of Peace Catholic elementary (OCSB), and Bell High School for grades 7 to 12. French-language families are served by CECCE schools including Collège catholique Franco-Ouest, and by CEPEO. Many students take the bus unless they live close to their school. Confirm catchments for any address; our Nepean schools guide explains how.
Commuting
Highway 416 and Highway 417 are both a few minutes away, so Kanata’s tech park is roughly 10 minutes by car and downtown about 20 to 25 minutes outside rush hour. Robertson Road carries heavy commuter traffic between Kanata and the core at peak times. The O-Train West Extension’s Moodie Station, just north of Bells Corners, will add rail service toward downtown once it opens; check OC Transpo for timing. Our guide to commuting from Nepean has more detail.
Walkability
Much of Bells Corners has no sidewalks, and cycling on Robertson Road and Moodie Drive can feel unsafe. Most daily errands are by car, though many homes are within walking distance of the Robertson Road shops.
Buying in Bellwood Estates: What’s Different About Land-Lease Homes
Bellwood Estates is one of the few land-lease communities in Ottawa’s west end, and it can be an affordable way to own a detached home in Bells Corners. It works differently from a typical freehold purchase, so go in with your eyes open.
What you own
In a land-lease community, you buy the home but lease the land it sits on from the operator. You pay a monthly site fee on top of any mortgage, property-related costs and utilities. Site fees can change over time, so ask for the current amount and the history of increases.
Financing
Some lenders treat land-lease homes differently from freehold homes, and mortgage options may be more limited. Speak with your lender early, before you make an offer.
Rules
Communities have rules on renovations, additions, pets, sheds and resale. Read them carefully, and have your lawyer review the lease and any approvals needed when you buy or sell.
Condition
Many homes are older manufactured homes, some substantially upgraded. Check the roof, windows, skirting, heating and electrical, and have a home inspector with experience in this type of home.
Who it suits
Land-lease homes can suit downsizers who want a small detached home and a community setting at a lower purchase price. Compare the total monthly cost, including the site fee, with a condo or townhouse before you decide.
Buying or Selling in Bells Corners
Who Bells Corners suits
- First-time buyers who want a detached home with a yard close to Kanata and the core.
- Downsizers who want a bungalow near shops, churches, retirement residences and the Queensway Carleton Hospital, about five minutes away. See our guide to downsizing in Nepean.
- Renovators and investors looking for solid houses on lots with room for additions or secondary suites.
- Outdoor lovers who want the Greenbelt at the end of the street.
Tips for sellers
Bells Corners buyers compare updated bungalows carefully against original ones. Updates to the roof, windows, panel, kitchen and bath have a big effect on price, and a pre-listing inspection can reduce surprises. Find out what your home is worth.
Compare nearby areas
Bells Corners buyers often also look at Qualicum and Graham Park, Crystal Beach, and Kanata’s older neighbourhoods such as Kanata. Start with our Nepean neighbourhood guide for the full picture.
How Jason Polonski Helps Bells Corners Buyers and Sellers
Jason Polonski is a REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty, based just west in Kanata, with more than 15 years of west-end experience and a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Marketing and Finance from Concordia University. His construction and electrical trades background is especially useful in Bells Corners, where many homes are 60-plus years old: he checks panels, wiring, foundations and rooflines on showings and tells you which issues belong in your conditions.
As a move coordinator, he helps downsizers and move-up buyers line up their sale and purchase, and offers a 1% Listing Commission, charged on the final sold price. His recognition includes the Chairman’s Club (2025, 2021) and Best in Ottawa Top REALTOR® seven years running. Learn more about Jason or read his reviews on Google.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bells Corners is part of the former City of Nepean, now in the City of Ottawa. It sits between Nepean’s inner neighbourhoods and Kanata, surrounded by the Greenbelt, in College Ward.
It’s named after Hugh Bell, who ran a tavern at the crossroads from 1834 to 1863. “Corners” refers to the junction of Richmond Road with the concession roads to Hazeldean and along the base line.
Bells Corners is best known for 1950s and 1960s bungalows in Lynwood Village and Arbeatha Park. Westcliffe Estates adds 1970s and 1980s detached homes, townhouses and condos, and Bellwood Estates is a land-lease community of about 256 homes.
Many downsizers choose Bells Corners for its bungalows, retirement residences, churches, Robertson Road shops, Greenbelt trails and quick access to the Queensway Carleton Hospital.
Downtown Ottawa is typically 20 to 25 minutes by car outside rush hour. Kanata’s business parks are about 10 minutes away.
Bell High School serves grades 7 to 12 for OCDSB students in Bells Corners. Catholic and French-language options are also available. Always confirm the catchment for a specific address.
