Haycock referred to paintings done within driving distance of his Ottawa home as "local" sketches. This included eastern Ontario and western Quebec. In latter years he stayed at the Eganville area home of his daughter, painter and weaver Kathy M. Haycock for regular spring and fall sketching trips.

In addition, a much loved spring painting location was the "North Shore" of the St. Lawrence in March or early April, where Haycock first painted with A.Y. Jackson in 1944. In fact, the spring thaw with softly mounded snow, warm highlights and blue shadows was Haycock's favourite season to paint.