Nova Scotia: South Shore 3 day Walk
The best walks of the South Shore in 3 days.
Friendly people, fishing villages, secluded anchorages, boat builders, antique shops, artists’ hamlets, and beautiful beaches all contribute to the feeling of being on vacation. This is our home, and we love showing you the secret swimming holes and little-known cafes. You can dine on lobster, swim in warm lakes or the cool ocean, feel the warm sand between your toes, and appreciate the cooling sea breeze in your hair. There is one night in the UNESCO heritage township of Lunenburg, whose uniquely crafted architecture reflects skills of numerous shipbuilders and fishermen whose lifestyle built the town. The following night, you can soak in the hot tub at White Point Beach; and can venture on foot to one of the nicest remote beaches in the province, for a long beach walk or a cool swim with the curious seals. This is a perfect introduction to Nova Scotia’s coastal charms, and will show you why many visitors return again and again.
Day 1: Hike up to 10km/6 miles (5 hours)
Your guides will pick you up in downtown Halifax at 10:00. If you have some time beforehand, we recommend you enjoy the Victorian style Public Gardens. Your first walk will be at York Redoubt. Overlooking Halifax Harbour, this site of old battlements will show you why Halifax is one of the most favoured and well-protected harbours on the Eastern Seaboard. The unrivalled view of ship traffic was a key element in the harbour’s defense. From there, you will visit Chebucto Head, to walk out along Crystal Crescent Beach, looking out at The Sambro Light, the oldest operating lighthouse in North America. Continue along this incredible granite shoreline, through a skeleton forest to Pennant Point: a driftwood-looking forest and a hidden haven for photographers and painters. There are erratic rocks as large as houses dropped by glaciers along the way - a visual reminder of how this area was carved by ice 10,000 years ago. Following an Oceanside picnic lunch, you will be transferred to Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its magnificent collection of heritage homes and churches that are clustered on its steep streets overlooking the harbour. After dinner you will be entertained with the history and tales of Lunenburg during a lamp-lit stroll, before retiring to the hospitality of a beautiful historic inn. LD
Alicion B&B, Lunenburg
Day 2: Hike up to 7km/4 miles (2 hours)
From the delightfully secluded Hirtle’s Beach, you will walk out to the headland of Gaff Point and savour the views of the nearby LaHave Islands. Gaff Point is the last undeveloped headland within 70 miles in either direction and was purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada to ensure its natural state. After your picnic lunch, you travel down the coast and settle into the luxury of the White Point Beach Resort with its trails and white sand beach. There is an option to enjoy some of this resort's spa services, 9-hole golf course, canoes, swimming, and your sleep to the sound of the surf. BLD
Summerville Beach, Port Mouton
Day 3: Hike up to 9km/6 miles (3 hours)
The hike takes you to the stunningly beautiful coast of the Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct Park, where a trail leads through coastal barrens to a seldom visited and fabulously remote white sand beach. In spring and early summer we stay below the high tide mark on the beach to avoid disturbing nesting birds near the dunes, and we sometimes offer to help Parks Canada with monitoring and protection projects. The Seaside Adjunct is home to about 10 pairs of endangered Piping Plovers who nest here in the spring. The area is well known for its unique vegetation, dramatic rock formations, secluded coves, spectacular beaches and rare plant life. The seals can also be good company here, especially if you like to swim in the surf! Transfer back to Halifax by approximately 17:00. BL
| Start: | Halifax 10:00, day one |
| Finish: | Halifax 17:00, day three |
| Guided Cost: | $995 (per person, includes 3 days, 2 nights, 2 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 2 dinners, vehicle and guide support, luggage handling, transfers from and to Halifax) |
| Single Occupancy: | $175 |
| 2012 Guided Dates: | Add your own dates (learn more) |
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice. 15% sales tax applies, but a 50% refund will be applied for non-Canadian residents.
