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Nova Scotia Escape

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Nova Scotia Escape

Beaches, moose spotting & laid-back local culture across Nova Scotia

from £3,595 pp

14 days

Canada

Wildlife & Nature, Culture & History, Self-drive

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What Makes it Special?

Drive the Cabot Trail, one of Canada’s most scenic coastal routes.
Wander the colourful waterfront of UNESCO-listed Lunenburg.
Spot moose and bald eagles in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Indulge in wine tasting in the rolling vineyards around Wolfville.
Hike through Kejimkujik National Park, a dark-sky preserve full of Indigenous history.
Follow the Lighthouse Route, discovering quaint fishing villages along the way.

Your tailor-made holiday will be as unique as you are. These itineraries are just a starting point, a bit of inspiration to show what’s possible. Your own trip all starts with a conversation with one of our Canada experts, who’ll take the time to understand what matters most to you and design the perfect holiday to match.

If you're looking for a holiday with a combination of beautiful scenery, fantastic food and wine, interesting wildlife, a bit of cultural history, and friendly locals, then Nova Scotia is a great option. The province has lighthouse-littered seascapes, rolling inland hills, frolicking whales, fantastic seafood, and a burgeoning wine industry. It's also a relatively small region, so you don’t have to drive for too long before discovering the next fantastic spot.

7 hours from London

When to go

June to late September

Average temperature

10-24°C

Average rainfall

105mm/month

Itinerary at a Glance

Halifax

2 Nights

Charlos Cove

1 Night

Louisbourg

2 Nights

Ingonish (Cape Breton)

2 Nights

Cheticamp

1 Night

Pictou

1 Night

Wolfville

2 Nights

Annapolis Royal

1 Night

Lunenburg

1 Night

Day by Day

Here's a summary of what you might get up to day-to-day on this Canada holiday. As always, this is just an idea. Every single day of your trip will be tailored to suit you.

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Fly from the UK to Halifax today. The boardwalk along the waterfront is the ideal place to start your time here, with a selection of shops, food huts, and lovely views of the harbour.

You have a full day to enjoy the sights of Halifax. We highly recommend a visit to the Museum of Immigration, which tells the story of the European settlers to the province. Later on, have a wander around the lovely botanical gardens or visit the historic Citadel.

Collect a hire car from the downtown depot and wind your way along the southern coastline to Charlos Cove. Scenic Highway 7 takes you through a number of remote settlements and past some beautiful sweeping beaches. It’s a long day, but take your time and enjoy off-the-beaten-track Nova Scotia.

Continue your journey east onto Cape Breton Island, crossing the Canso Causeway and making your way along the southern side of Bras d’Or Lake. Skirt the town of Sydney and make your way to the historic town of Louisbourg, tucked in the southeastern corner of the island.

You have the day free around Louisbourg. The fortress is well worth a visit to learn about the history of the warring English and French settlers, and at the other end of town, there is a lovely walk from the famous lighthouse along the coastal trail.

Backtrack through Sydney and pick up the famous Cabot Trail, which takes you along the eastern side of the Cape Breton peninsula. Wiggle your way as far as Ingonish today, where you will see the rolling hills and impressive headlands of the national park reaching out before you.

Spend the day exploring the Cabot Trail and Cape Breton National Park as you wind your way around Cheticamp on the western side. You will pass a few little settlements where you will find interesting galleries and cafés, and have the opportunity to explore a number of fantastic walking trails as you go.

A final day to either explore the western side of Cape Breton or simply relax around Cheticamp.

Continue your drive today to Pictou on the Northumberland Shore. Take the leisurely road via Inverness Beach and Port Hood before returning across the Canso Causeway, then head through Antigonish and New Glasgow to Pictou. This afternoon, visit the historic migrant ship Hector.

From Pictou, make your way to the impressive Bay of Fundy. Once you have passed Truro, we recommend taking a small detour via Burntcoat Head, which has one of the highest tides in the world. At low tide, you can walk on the ochre-coloured sands of the ocean floor and look for the myriad tiny marine life in the rock pools. From here, continue on to Wolfville.

You have a free day in Wolfville. Visit Grand Pre National Historic Site, the site of the first Acadian settlers to the province and a very tranquil spot. There are also a number of vineyards in the area, so you could enjoy a tasting at one of these.

Meander along the coast to Annapolis Royal. Spend the afternoon exploring some of the charming buildings and historic sites there.

Take a drive through Kejimkujik National Park today to Liverpool on the south coast. Take a short detour into the park and enjoy a walk or picnic lunch on Kejimkujik Lake. Once in Liverpool, you turn east and wind your way along the coast to Lunenburg. Take an informative walking tour this afternoon.

Continue along the coast today and stop at Peggy’s Cove to take a short sightseeing boat trip around the harbour and take photos at this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards, head to Halifax for your evening flight home.

Where You'll Stay

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Blomidon Inn

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Keltic Lodge

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Lunenburg Arms Hotel and Spa

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Harbour View Inn

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The Hollis

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Louisbourg Harbour Inn

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Castlerock Country Inn

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Seawind Landing

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L'Auberge Doucet

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Queen Ann Inn

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Parrsboro Mansion Inn

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What You'll Do

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Excursion

Nova Scotia Eastern Shore - ideas for free time

The key to enjoying the Eastern Shores is to take a few detours, stretch your legs, explore a little, and just enjoy the journey. From Canso at the eastern end of Marine Drive, all the way to Halifax, discover the story of Nova Scotia’s settlers and their sometimes troubled relationship with the sea, through historic sites and museums such as the Fisherman’s Life Museum, in Jedore Oyster Pond, the Acadian House Museum at West Chezzetcook, or the Living History Village in Sherbrooke; hike one of the many coastal trails, for example at the often overlooked Taylor Head Provincial Park; or go beachcombing on one of the beautiful sandy stretches, such as at Martinique Beach Provincial Park. At the far eastern end, the small settlement of Canso overlooks Chedabucto Bay and has historic importance in Nova Scotia as one of only two British settlements prior to establishment of Halifax and you can learn a little about its past at the National Historic Site. Along with Guysborough and Charlos Cove/Larry's River, the town creates a nice triangular driving route around the Canso Peninsula, which is a lovely way to spend the day.

Excursion

Northumberland Shore - ideas for free time

The main street of Pictou is lined with handsome old stone buildings and interesting boutique shops. A replica of the ship – Hector - that carried the first Scots to Nova Scotia is moored in the harbour and houses a collection of artefacts and displays which give an insight the experience of those settlers. Nearby Tatamagouche is home to the historic waterfront development of Creamery Square, which now houses a slightly twee, but award-winning heritage centre that combines several community museums to depict the history of the area, from the early Mi’kmaq settlements to the heyday of 20th century ship-building. The town is also home to the famous Train Station Inn where you can enjoy a meal, or even stay overnight in an old railway carriage. There are many walking trails to be explored along the shores, leading to scenic lookouts or long stretches of white sand, such as at Caribou Provincial Park or Waterside Beach Provincial Park. Any of these spots are a great place to while away an afternoon; information and maps can be found in one of the various local visitor information centres.

Excursion

Western Bay of Fundy - ideas for free time

Digby is a bustling little town in summer, with most visitors heading off during the day to undertake some wildlife watching. The town itself has a quirky little museum - Admiral Digby Museum - a converted Georgian home which contains exhibits about the town's maritime history, however the best way to get a feel for the area's inextricable relationship with the sea is to get out and explore. Just north of the town Annapolis Basin Look Off Provincial Park provides panoramic views over the huge body of water which stretches east to Annapolis Royal, whilst just a short distance further you come out at Prim Point, where a little lighthouse looks out over the much more rugged Fundy coastline. If you are making the drive along Digby Neck for a marine excursion then make a day of it. Whilst the Neck is narrow with one primary road down the middle, there are a few little detours to tiny waterfront villages, sandy coves and rocky bays where you can certainly while away some time beachcombing or enjoying your lunch - we recommend taking a picnic! The rich and sometimes turbulent history of Annapolis Royal can be assimilated in various ways. The Fort Anne National Historic Site in the town centre is where you can find the remains of the 1635 French fort, along with a small museum depicting the history of the battles through various exhibits and, most impressively, in the form of an enormous, four-panel, hand crafted tapestry. The Port Royal National Historic Site is about 14 kilometres northwest of Annapolis Royal. It is believed to be the site of the first permanent European settlement and it includes a recreation of French explorer Samuel de Champlain's fur-trading habitation. (Please note that from the beginning of September until the end of June the museums at both these sites are closed on a Sunday and Monday; the grounds are open at all times, entry prices vary). Finally, the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens is one of the town's prize attractions, creatively showcase gardening methods, designs and materials of the last 400 years. Though not huge, the gardens include a wide array of plants and thousands of blossoms which make it a delightful place to escape to for a couple of hours.

Excursion

Grand Pre Wine Tour

Grand Pre Winery is an award-winning, Swiss owned winery in the heart of the Annapolis Valley. On this 45-minute tour you will first stroll leisurely across beautifully landscaped grounds, past row upon row of grapevines, then back at the winery learn the secrets of wine-making and visit the wine boutique to view fine Nova Scotian artwork. There is a boutique store here if you wish to purchase the wines you have sampled to be enjoyed back at your accommodation.

Excursion

Essential Lunenburg Walking Tour

For those interested in the history of Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then this hour long walking tour is a great place to start. Your guide is a local and will stop at many points of historical and architectural interest along the way whilst sharing interesting facts, folklore and personal stories. Starting at the Luneburg Academy grounds you will follow a gentle downhill route to end on the waterfront near the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, by which point you will be well prepared to go off and explore further by yourself.

Excursion

Cape Breton – Ideas for Free Time

The Cabot Trail is the main attraction on Cape Breton, and it’s a journey full of picture-perfect vistas, friendly locals, and one that should certainly be taken at a leisurely pace. The section around the Highlands National Park is particularly scenic and can be explored further by venturing onto the many walking trails here. The Skyline Trail is a particularly popular walk, offering beautiful views along the rugged coastline. Access is from the western side of the Cabot Trail, halfway between Chéticamp and Pleasant Bay, and the return walk is approximately 7.5 kilometres in length. Aside from the obvious natural beauty, there are several cultural attractions on Cape Breton as well. The Highland Village Museum, which sits on the shores of Bras d'Or Lake, is a living history museum offering insight into the roots of Gaelic Nova Scotia, how the first Scottish settlers lived, and how the culture remains vibrant today. With costumed interpreters greeting you in Gaelic and a number of restored historic buildings, this attraction truly brings to life the culture, heritage, and hospitality of the area. Louisbourg Fortress is a reconstruction of part of a huge French fortress as it was in 1744. The site, once the focus of several struggles between the English and French, served as both a defensive structure and a centre of administration for the province. Although the original fortress was burned to the ground, today you can enjoy guided tours led by workers in period dress, several interpretive walks around the site, and buildings that recreate typical life for the fort's inhabitants.

Excursion

Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruise

Take a journey onto the ocean with an expert naturalist guide to an area teeming with marine wildlife: the waters off Brier Island, located at the far western end of Digby Neck. These nutrient-rich waters are home to a variety of species, including humpback, fin, and minke whales, along with harbour porpoises and, at certain times of the year, dolphin species. The endangered North Atlantic right whale is most commonly spotted in late summer and autumn, but a host of seabirds can be seen year-round, making this a paradise for bird enthusiasts. You have a choice of vessels for this adventure: a comfortable, covered boat or, for the more adventurous, a faster Zodiac. Whichever option you choose, you’re guaranteed a thrilling wildlife experience. The entire trip lasts approximately two to two-and-a-half hours. This excursion departs from Westport on Brier Island, about 90 minutes west of Digby. The journey includes two short connecting ferry rides, which depart regularly but cannot be pre-booked.

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Paul Turner

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Paul’s love for Canada began on a snowboard in Whistler and hasn’t stopped since. From scenic rail journeys to Rocky Mountain adventures, he’s full of ideas for seeing both the wild and city sides of Canada.

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Nova Scotia Escape

What Makes it Special?

Itinerary at a Glance

Day by Day

Day 1 Welcome to Halifax

Day 2 Halifax’s history & gardens

Day 3 Scenic drive to Charlos Cove

Day 4 Travel to Cape Breton Island & Louisbourg

Day 5 Fortress & coastal trails of Louisbourg

Day 6 Drive the Cabot Trail to Ingonish

Day 7 Cape Breton National Park & Cheticamp

Day 8 At leisure in Cape Breton

Day 9 Journey to Pictou

Day 10 Bay of Fundy & Burntcoat Head

Day 11 Wine tasting in Wolfville

Day 12 Coastal drive to Annapolis Royal

Day 13 Kejimkujik National Park to Lunenburg

Day 14 Visit Peggy’s Cove & time to fly home

Where You'll Stay

Bayview Pines Country Inn

Hampton Inn Halifax Downtown

Blomidon Inn

Keltic Lodge

Lunenburg Arms Hotel and Spa

Ready to
pack your bags?