Canada, Nova Scotia: South Shore & Fundy Hiking Tour
Five nights; six days of easy to moderate walking and hiking on the Lighthouse and Fundy shores.
“The picnics, the lodgings, the music, the laughs and the roar of the ocean will be treasured by me for a long time.” – Joyce L.
WHY THIS TRIP?
- Maritime culture!
- Fabulous coastal views at Peggy’s Cove, Cape Split, Gaff Point, & Mahone Bay to Lunenburg.
- A mix of easy walking and rocky coastal hikes.
- World’s highest tides on the north coast, with approachable beaches on the south.
- Stay in Lunenburg – a UNESCO World Heritage Site with nice harbour and amazing architecture, shipbuilding and fishing heritage
- Stay in Wolfville – a university town with bistros, breweries, and small town charm.
- Annapolis Valley wineries and orchards.
- Lighthouse Route – myriad empty white sand beaches, hidden coves, boat-builders, small villages, art & antique shops.
- Great seafood.
- This is our home, and we love showing it off!
ROUTE EXPECTATIONS:
Expect a mix of easy but long walks and coastal hikes with some tricky, rock-hopping footing. There are one to two hour comfy van transfers between some inns and trailheads. The hiking is on a mix of easy wilderness trails, quiet paved roads, and more challenging footpaths, parts of which can get soft when wet. Bring appropriate footwear.
Daily Distance:
- DAY 1: Rendezvous & ~9km
- DAY 2: Up to 11km
- DAY 3: ~14km
- DAY 4: ~14km
- DAY 5: ~14km
- DAY 6: ~7km
Nova Scotia: South Shore & Fundy Hiking Tour – Elevation Profile
(Click image to enlarge)
Nova Scotia: South Shore & Fundy Hiking Tour
Activity Levels
The easiest routes we offer, these are generally flat and cover relatively relaxed distances. You will be comfortable riding a hybrid bike, walking in sneakers, or paddling a light kayak, and will normally have time to take many photos and enjoy extended lunches.
This is primarily an easy route, but some days may fall into the moderate category. You can expect time to stop and smell the roses, but some of the rides may be on more hilly terrain.
Requiring moderate fitness levels, these cover terrain with hills and valleys, and tend to include distances of 50-80km (30-50mi.)/day cycling, or 3-6 hours of walking per day. Most Freewheeling Adventures fall into this category, and are suitable for most ability levels.
This is primarily a moderate route, suitable for most ability levels, but some days may be a little more challenging. You can expect some long distances, and/or some big climbs/descents.
The most challenging trips, these include longer distances, bigger hills, long hikes, exposed paddling, and full days of activity. We recommend a higher degree of fitness and training to make the most of the experience.
There is also a rare double black diamond, reserved for only the most difficult adventures.
Start: Halifax, The Lord Nelson Hotel, 10:00, day one.
Finish: Halifax, The Lord Nelson Hotel, 16:00, day six.
Please contact us to arrange alternate plans, if necessary. For those going to the airport: Halifax Transit operates its MetroX service from downtown to Halifax Stanfield International Airport. The #320 bus operates every 30 minutes during peak morning (6 am to 9 am) and afternoon (3 pm to 6 pm) times. The regular schedule departs every 60 minutes. Fares are $4.25 for adults/students and $3.00 for children/seniors. Exact fare is required.
Rendezvous in Halifax at 10:00. 30 minute transfer; hike 11km; one hour transfer.
Meet in Halifax for a half-hour transfer to Sambro. As you drive along the Halifax Harbour shore you will glimpse the appeal of settlement on the second deepest natural harbour in the world. Sambro Island lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse in the Americas, built in 1758. The trail to Pennant Point begins with boardwalks along three white sand beaches (the 3rd being locally-known as the nude beach). This trail along the point provides spectacular shorescapes where waves crash against the white granite rocks of Nova Scotia coast. Finish with a short transfer to your charming B&B. LD (meal inclusions shown for guided trips; self-guided include only breakfasts).
Oceanstone Inn, Peggys Cove; or Anchorage House Inn, Hubbards
Peggy’s Cove and area – coastal walking, up to 10km
Begin today’s coastal walk at the Flight 111 memorial in an astoundingly beautiful setting near Peggy’s Cove, whose picturesque lighthouse will enhance your morning walk as you approach it in its iconic location. After lunch in Peggy’s Cove itself, you can enjoy a relaxing coastal walk with stops on grassy outcrops overlooking the rocks and reefs of the open Atlantic coast. BL
Same Lodging
Quiet roadway walking, 14km; transfer 10 minutes, afternoon exploration of Lunenburg on foot.
From Mahone Bay to Lunenburg, the coastal roads are so quiet that we use them as our waterside walking route, with sheltered inlets, beaches, and idyllic ruralscapes as your company. You can linger over them all, enjoy a picnic on Second Peninsula, then hasten to Lunenburg in time to explore the wonders that make this tiny but bustling town a UNESCO World Heritage Site. BLD
Bluenose Lodge, or The Lunenburg Inn, or Smugglers Cove Inn; Lunenburg
Transfer 25 minutes; hike Gaff point 7km; transfer 75 minutes, walk Grand Pré to Wolfville, 7km.
Begin with a short transfer to a beach and headland hike on Gaff Point, consisting of impressive shale cliffs, conifer forest and juniper heaths; and where you will see evidence of the recent ice age, in the form of glacial erratics and drumlins. Through collaborations with the Nature Conservancy and a community group – the Kingsburg Coastal Conservancy, it is possible to conserve species, sites and habitats forever, and minimize damage caused by human disturbance while still allowing the public to access this beautiful point hike. Afterwards, transfer across the province on rural roads, to the site of the Acadian Expulsion in 1755. Visit the site, then walk the Harvest Moon Trailway to your inn in the beautifully quaint university town of Wolfville. BLD
Blomidon Inn, or Tattingstone Inn; Wolfville
Hike Cape Split. Transfer 25 minutes; hike 14km; transfer 25 minutes.
Today’s treat is a five-hour hike along the perimeter of Cape Split, where you can wander along the precipices hundreds of feet above the Bay of Fundy, seeing waters transformed by strong tides into a tapestry of eddies, whirlpools, and white-water currents. Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch overlooking the expansive views of sea and sky before savouring the hike back to civilization. BL
Same lodging
Walk the Dyke Trail, 7km.
From your inn, the hike along the Acadian-built dykes to Port Williams. The dykes were started by Acadian farmers in the 1700s, as they reclaimed fertile marshlands from the ravages of the Fundy tides. After the expulsion, the Planters recognized the value of the Acadians’ work, and perpetuated their preservation through legislation. You will learn more about this amazing history as you complete this hike. After lunch, there may be time for a swim before transferring back to Halifax.
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
SCHEDULED DATES
2023 Guided:
- Jun 25-30
- Jul 16-21
- Aug 6-11
- Sep 10-15
- Oct 8-13
2023 Guided:
- Jun 23-28
- Jul 7-12
- Aug 4-9
- Sep 1-6
- Sep 29-Oct 4
Self-Guided available any dates, except for those listed above. New dates are also welcomed for guided or private departures.
PRICING
Guided: C 2995 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 6 days, 5 nights, 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners, luggage handling, guide support, ground transportation, maps, trail notes, 15% sales tax
Small groups or private tours, fully supported with drivers/guides and vehicles, all lodging and most meals included. Choose from existing dates or request new departures. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Self-Guided: C 2475 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 6 days, 5 nights, 5 breakfasts, luggage transfers, maps and trail notes, welcome briefing, personal daily ground transportation, 15% sales tax
Semi-supported, independent tours including welcome briefing, lodging, luggage transfers and necessary vehicle transfers. Choose from existing dates or request new departures. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Single Occupancy: 695
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice. 15% sales tax included.
Please see above for accurate pricing and inclusions, unless we have proposed a customized trip for you and those details are provided in your custom proposal.
1. Choose an advertised date to join a small group, or see our Join a Group page to see where groups are already forming.
2. Pick your own dates. We will confirm quickly, and are happy to talk with you as you make your choice. If you would like a private guided date, this usually comes at a surcharge depending on the details, please get in touch for more information. If you prefer self-guided, we usually only require two participants to initiate a new date at the advertised price, and can sometimes reduce prices for you if you have four or more.
| Difficulty | This route is rated easy (green circle). |
| Daily Distances | 30-100km/day |
| Optional Extras | Fishing, Swimming, Golfing |
| Best Months | June-October |
BEST TIMES:
The best time to enjoy this tour is mid-June to mid-October.
BEFORE & AFTER THE TOUR
Getting There:
If you fly: The best option is to fly to Halifax (YHZ). We meet you at your inn in Halifax, for a transfer (four hours) to Cape Breton Island with the Freewheeling shuttle. We depart Halifax 1pm, day 1. Halifax’s downtown core is located about half an hour from its airport. Taxis are readily available; Maritime Bus offers an airport express shuttle ($40 roundtrip or $22 one way); and Halifax Transit provides hourly departures on its MetroX bus service ($4.25 fare). Second option: Fly to Sydney (YQY). Arrange your own transport (taxi or rental car; one hour) to first inn.
If you drive: Meet at your first inn, 5pm day one. It is 400km from Halifax, 1500km from New York, and 2000km from Toronto. You can park at the inn for the week.
To Do:
If you have one day:
Rent a car and go tidal bore rafting, visit Peggy’s Cove, or explore the waterfront city of Halifax. The Citadel is a good place for a scenic overview, and to learn about its history.
If you have several days:
Extend your trip by joining one of our other rides in Nova Scotia, or the adjacent provinces, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland.
We recommend the following accommodations in Halifax for before or after your tour; please let us know if we can assist with reservations:
• The Lord Nelson, 1515 South Park Street Ph: 902-423-6331 or 800-565-2020
• Prince George Hotel, 1725 Market Street Ph: 902-425-1986 or 800-565-1567
• Halifax’s Waverley Inn, 1266 Barrington Street Ph: 902-423-9346 or 800-565-9346
• The Halliburton Inn, 5184 Morris Street Ph: 902-420-0658 or 888-512-3344
More Reading:
The best experiences on Nova Scotia’s shores include meeting unusually friendly people, passing through fishing villages, and seeing secluded anchorages, boat builders, antique shops, artists’ hamlets, and beautiful beaches. This is our home, and we love showing you the secret swimming holes, little-known cafés, and the best trails to hidden coves and beaches, while delivering trailside picnics to keep you outdoors as much as possible through the days. 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. You’ll spend a night in the UNESCO heritage township of Lunenburg, whose uniquely crafted architecture reflects skills of numerous shipbuilders and fishermen whose lifestyle built the town. Visit the university town of Wolfville, and venture on foot to one of the most spectacular headlands in the province. This is a perfect introduction to Nova Scotia’s coastal charms, and will show you why many visitors return again and again.
