The southern shore of Nova Scotia has a rich seafaring heritage and the harsh waters which both challenged and beguiled sea captains and pirates alike have created a rugged and diverse coastal landscape. The stretch of road which runs south-west of Halifax all the way around to Yarmouth is known as the Lighthouse Route – characterised by, as the name suggests, lighthouses perched overlooking the blustering Atlantic Ocean, quaint fishing villages, and sandy beaches.
Several towns along this stretch tell the story of the settlers to part of Nova Scotia. Lunenburg was the first British settlement outside of Halifax and boasts some unique architecture and civic design, so much so that it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. These days the town is home to strikingly colourful waterfront buildings and plethora of well-worn fishing boats. Shelburne boasts a historic waterfront with a number of pre-1800 homes (very old by Canadian standards!) whilst Yarmouth, at the eastern tip, is home to the biggest fishing fleets in Atlantic Canada and hundreds of sea captains’ homes are testament to the wealth which abounded when the fishing industry was in its prime in the latter half of the 19th century.
In between the towns enjoy the many walking trails and coastal viewpoints whilst soaking up the colourful energy of the area through the people you will meet along the way. This is a popular driving route and so can get quite busy in summer, however, this is not necessarily a hardship as this is certainly a route that needs to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace.
Inland, Kejimkujik is a large wilderness area that offers visitors a lake-studded landscape surrounded by forest and riddled with walking trails, an outdoor lover’s paradise and great place to enjoy a picnic and short walk if you are passing through.
