NEPEAN NEIGHBOURHOODS
Tanglewood, Manordale and Woodvale, Ottawa
Last updated: September 2026
Tanglewood, Ottawa is a 1970s and 1980s Nepean neighbourhood between Woodroffe Avenue and Merivale Road, just north of Hunt Club Road, with a mix of townhouses, semis, detached homes and apartments. Across Woodroffe to the west, Manordale and Woodvale are older neighbourhoods of late-1950s and 1960s bungalows and family homes, close to the Nepean Sportsplex and the Ben Franklin Soccer Dome.
Together, these neighbourhoods offer some of central Nepean’s most approachable price points, with good access to Merivale Road shopping, Hunt Club and the south end. This guide covers each area, the housing, schools and what to watch for when buying.
About Tanglewood and Hillsdale
Tanglewood, also known as Tanglewood-Hillsdale, is in Knoxdale-Merivale Ward in the former City of Nepean. It’s informally bounded by the rail line to the north, Merivale Road to the east, Hunt Club Road to the south and Woodroffe Avenue to the west, and about 4,500 people live there (2021 Census).
Two phases of building
The Tanglewood section was built between 1975 and 1986, and the Hillsdale section in the early to mid-1980s. The housing is more varied than in most Nepean neighbourhoods: according to the 2006 Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, about 45% of dwellings were townhouses, 22% single-detached homes, 21% semi-detached homes and 12% apartments, with most homes owner-occupied. The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study publishes updated neighbourhood profiles.
An active community association
The Tanglewood Hillsdale Community Association, incorporated in 1988, manages the Tanglewood Park Community Centre and its outdoor rinks and courts on behalf of the City, runs Neighbourhood Watch with Ottawa Police, and has been active on local planning issues such as the Hunt Club extension and nearby commercial development.
Parks
Tanglewood Park has two play structures, a tennis court, a ball diamond and basketball and ball hockey courts. Hillsdale Park has play structures, two ball diamonds, an outdoor volleyball court and a soccer field. There’s a toboggan hill on the south side, and the Howard Darwin Centennial Arena is close by.
About Manordale and Woodvale
West of Woodroffe, Manordale and Woodvale are older and quieter, and mostly detached.
Manordale
Manordale, established in the late 1950s and early 1960s, was the first neighbourhood developed in what is now the Knoxdale area. Its homes are mainly bungalows, with some rental townhouses along Woodroffe Avenue. About 1,800 people live there (2021 Census). It has four parks: Manordale Park (with the Manordale Community Building), Sherry Lane Park, Roundhay Park and Ben Franklin Park, plus a fire station and Manordale Public School.
Woodvale
Woodvale, north of Knoxdale Road, was developed later in the 1960s. It’s grouped with Craig Henry in MLS® listings and has St. John XXIII Catholic Elementary School. Its housing is mostly 1960s detached homes, including bungalows and split-levels.
Recreation next door
Both areas are close to the Nepean Sportsplex, one of Ottawa’s largest recreation complexes, and the Ben Franklin Soccer Dome at Knoxdale and Hunt Club. Bike paths run through Sherry Lane and Manordale parks and along Hunt Club Road.
For neighbouring Craig Henry, see our Craig Henry guide.
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Homes for Sale in Tanglewood, Manordale and Woodvale
Townhouses and semis in Tanglewood
Tanglewood’s large share of townhouses and semis makes it one of the more accessible ways into central Nepean for first-time buyers, downsizers who want less upkeep, and investors. Many townhomes are part of condominium corporations, so review the status certificate, reserve fund study and condo fees with your lawyer. The Condominium Authority of Ontario explains your right to records. Our guide to Nepean condos and townhomes covers what to look for.
Bungalows in Manordale
Manordale’s 1950s and 1960s bungalows appeal to downsizers who want one-floor living, and to buyers who want a detached home with a yard and room to renovate. They are 60-plus years old, so ask about the panel and wiring, plumbing, the water service line, insulation, windows and roof. The City of Ottawa explains how to check for a lead service line on older homes.
1970s and 1980s homes in Tanglewood and Hillsdale
Detached and semi-detached homes from the 1970s and 1980s are generally better insulated than 1950s bungalows, but many are now due for roofs, windows, furnaces and air conditioners. Some late-1960s and 1970s homes in Ottawa used aluminum branch wiring; the Electrical Safety Authority has guidance on what to check.
Price context
These neighbourhoods generally offer lower entry prices than Centrepointe or Craig Henry detached homes, with a wide spread depending on housing type and condition. The Ottawa Real Estate Board publishes board-wide figures; for a specific home, use recent comparable sales. See current Nepean homes for sale.
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Schools Serving Tanglewood, Manordale and Woodvale
Catchments change and can differ from one side of Woodroffe to the other, so confirm for any address.
Tanglewood and Hillsdale
Elementary students have been served by Meadowlands Public School (English and early French immersion) and St. Monica Elementary School, with Merivale High School and St. Pius X High School for secondary grades. Redeemer Christian High School is a private option nearby. French-language students have attended Charlotte-Lemieux and Omer-Deslauriers (CEPEO) or Jean-Robert-Gauthier and Franco-Ouest (CECCE).
Manordale and Woodvale
Manordale Public School and St. John XXIII Catholic Elementary are in the neighbourhood, with Sir Robert Borden High School nearby for grades 7 to 12.
Use the OCDSB and OCSB school locators to confirm. Our Nepean schools guide explains the process.
Commuting, Shopping and Daily Life
Getting around
Hunt Club Road gives fast access east to the airport, the south end and Highway 416 to the west. Woodroffe and Merivale lead north to Baseline Road and Highway 417. Downtown is typically 20 minutes by car outside rush hour. Baseline Station, on the O-Train extension to Algonquin College, is a short bus ride north; check OC Transpo for current routes and the rail opening timeline. For intercity travel, VIA Rail‘s Fallowfield station is about five kilometres south.
Shopping
Merivale Road is Nepean’s main retail strip, with grocery stores, big-box retailers and restaurants, and the Hunt Club and Merivale area adds more. Tanglewood has dozens of small businesses within the community, including a pharmacy, restaurants and convenience stores.
Employers
Many residents work in the federal government, at Algonquin College, or in the Colonnade Road business park and offices along Hunt Club and Merivale. See our guide to commuting from Nepean.
A practical, value-focused location
What these neighbourhoods lack in prestige, they make up for in practicality. Groceries, pharmacies, big-box stores, the Nepean Sportsplex, schools and bus routes are all within a few minutes, and Hunt Club Road gives quick access to the airport, the south end and Highway 416. For buyers who care more about everyday convenience and price than about a particular name, Tanglewood, Manordale and Woodvale are often worth a closer look than their better-known neighbours.
Investing in Tanglewood and Manordale
Tanglewood’s townhouses and Manordale’s bungalows attract investors as well as owner-occupants, because of their price points and location near Algonquin College, the Nepean Sportsplex, Merivale Road and transit.
What makes a good rental here
- Location near transit and the college, with easy bus access to Baseline Station.
- Practical layouts: three bedrooms and a finished basement in a townhouse, or a bungalow with a separate side entrance that could support a basement suite.
- Reasonable condo fees and a healthy reserve fund, for condo townhouses.
Secondary suites
Some Manordale and Woodvale bungalows are well suited to a basement suite. The City of Ottawa’s secondary dwelling unit rules set out what’s allowed, and suites need building permits and fire separation.
Condo rental rules
If you’re buying a condo townhouse to rent, check the corporation’s rules on leasing and minimum rental terms, and budget for condo fees in your cash flow.
Know the obligations
Landlords in Ontario must follow the province’s residential tenancy rules, including rules on rent increases and maintenance. Rules change, so confirm current requirements before you buy.
Buying or Selling Here
Who these neighbourhoods suit
- First-time buyers looking for a townhouse or semi in central Nepean.
- Downsizers who want a Manordale bungalow or a low-maintenance Tanglewood townhouse near shops and recreation. See our guide to downsizing in Nepean.
- Families who want a detached home near the Nepean Sportsplex, parks and schools.
- Investors looking at freehold townhouses near Algonquin College and transit.
Buyer tips
Compare condo fees and reserve fund health, not just price, when looking at townhouses. For bungalows, budget for system updates. Include closing costs such as Ontario’s land transfer tax.
Seller tips
Buyers in this price range are value-focused, so presentation, a clean inspection and a realistic price matter. Find out what your home is worth, or read about Jason’s approach on the Nepean REALTOR® page.
Nearby neighbourhoods
Also consider Craig Henry, Parkwood Hills and Pineglen, Country Place and Merivale Gardens, or start with our Nepean guide.
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Jason Polonski is a REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty with more than 15 years of experience in Ottawa’s west end, a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Marketing and Finance from Concordia University, and a construction and electrical trades background. Whether you’re looking at a 1950s Manordale bungalow or a 1980s Tanglewood townhouse, he helps you understand the condition of the systems you’re buying and how condo finances affect the real cost.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Tanglewood is in the former City of Nepean, informally bounded by the rail line to the north, Merivale Road to the east, Hunt Club Road to the south and Woodroffe Avenue to the west. It’s in Knoxdale-Merivale Ward.
The Tanglewood section was built between 1975 and 1986, and the Hillsdale section in the early to mid-1980s.
Tanglewood has a high share of townhouses, along with semi-detached homes, detached homes and apartments. Many townhomes are part of condominium corporations.
Manordale was established in the late 1950s and early 1960s and is known mainly for bungalows. It was the first neighbourhood developed in the Knoxdale area.
Merivale High School (OCDSB) and St. Pius X High School (OCSB) have served Tanglewood, with French-language options at Omer-Deslauriers and Franco-Ouest. Confirm the catchment for a specific address.
Yes. Merivale Road, Nepean’s main retail strip, runs along the eastern edge, and the neighbourhood has its own small businesses, including a pharmacy and restaurants.
