The De-light-ful Lighthouses of Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of Canada’s Maritime Provinces, a peninsula located on the East coast of this beautiful country. Nova Scotia has a deep connection with the sea – its capital Halifax is the place where many immigrants arrived by ship to start new lives, and the area has a thriving and delicious seafood industry. The sea is as much a part of the fabric of the peninsula as its beautiful landscapes. And dotted around the coastline are the charming lighthouses of Nova Scotia. Here is our guide to some of the best.

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Most tourist information centres throughout Nova Scotia will offer a copy of the lighthouse map. It’s a detailed map showing the location of the major lighthouses and is very useful. You can use it within your itinerary to stop off at particular location along your route. As you can see, the whole coastline is dotted with lighthouses. The province used to have the greatest number of lighthouses in Canada.

Most of the lighthouses are accessible by car but some may require a walk to reach them. Visiting them makes a great excuse to explore some of the wonderful coastline in the area. Many have hiking routes nearby. We took a road trip in an approximate figure eight around as much of Nova Scotia as we could manage in a fortnight. Travelling from Halifax along the east coast to the south, and then northwards up the west coast to Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail, we managed to see many lighthouses along the way. The numbers of the lighthouses we describe match the numbers on this map.

The Famous And The Fabulous

Peggy’s Cove

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way. Peggy’s Cove lighthouse (45) is undeniably pretty and is a convenient 45-minute drive from Nova Scotia’s capital Halifax. But because it is undeniably pretty and a convenient 45-minute drive from Halifax it is the most popular lighthouse and can get overrun with tourists. If you plan to visit, arrive early because by mid-morning coachload after coachload of visitors will start flooding in. Add a piper standing on the rocks playing the bagpipes for no readily apparent reason, and the experience turns into a bit of a crowded caterwaul.

You can’t visit the interior of the lighthouse but you can clamber precariously over the surrounding rocks. You need to be very careful, serious accidents do happen here. And there are a number of shops and restaurants in the area to cater for the plethora of people.

The area surrounding the lighthouse is lovely and the charming town of Lunenberg isn’t far away.

There are plenty of other picturesque lighthouses in Nova Scotia but, if you are short on time, Peggy’s Cove is an easy day trip from Halifax and a good opportunity to view a very pretty lighthouse.

Further south, a couple of hours’ drive away, there are a two lighthouses at Liverpool (48, 49). The Fort Point Lighthouse Park has one of the province’s oldest lighthouses, built in 1855. It is possible to enter the lighthouse for free.

Abbotts Harbour Lighthouse

This cute lighthouse (54), built in the early 1900s, isn’t the most remarkable but it’s worth paying a visit because it’s located within L’Acadie, the Historic Acadian Village of Nova Scotia.

This museum in Lower West Pubnico is a must-visit if you are in the area. It is a wonderful place to learn about Acadian heritage and culture. A highly interactive museum, you can see demonstrations of blacksmiths and boat-builders at work, explore the traditional buildings and learn about the area’s maritime history.

Foodies will want to stop by the café to enjoy some traditional Acadian food. Rappie pie is a dish made from grated potatoes and chicken, and is served with lashings of rich butter and sticky sweet molasses.

There is an entrance fee of a very reasonable $11 to visit the village and we recommend setting aside a few hours to explore it.

Cape Forchu Lighthouse

This is a very tall, stripey lighthouse and it’s located on Cape Forchu (1), just south of Yarmouth.

Take road 304 off Route 1 (southernmost point of the Evangeline Trail) and follow the coastal road to the very end. It’s a lovely area with some nature trails and rock pools to explore. The lighthouse itself has a museum, converted from the keeper’s residence, and tea room. For a fee of $15 you can climb the stairs to the light and get a magnificent view of the surrounding area.

Gilbert’s Cove Lighthouse

Travelling north up the Evangeline Trail (make sure you use the old road, no 1, and not the 101 highway which misses the pretty coastline), Gilbert’s Cove lighthouse (4) is located by a very pretty bay between Weymouth and Digby. It first lit up in 1904. This delightful little lighthouse has a small museum attached.

The museum is interesting and interactive – you can even have a go at sounding the old manual foghorn! There is a lot of information about the area’s history as well as some of the people who worked at the lighthouse.

You can also climb up the ladder to see the light itself, but the space up there is minimal. It’s incredibly compact. Gilbert’s Cove is free to visit.

St Paul Museum and Lighthouse

Located just off the northern part of the Cabot Trail, on the Dingwall road, this lighthouse (27) is no longer in its original location of St Paul, a tiny island located around 24km north-east of Cape North on Cape Breton.

However, you’ll receive a friendly welcome at the adjacent museum which includes a free tour. There is a lot of information about the maritime history of the area. It was particularly interesting to learn about the number of shipwrecks around St Paul and why the lighthouse was so important for shipping.

Other Picturesque Lighthouses of Nova Scotia

It is not possible to go inside many of the lighthouses, but a good number of them are worth a visit for their quirky charms and picturesque setting. Some have walking routes in the area.

Cape Saint Mary

St Mary’s Bay, located along the Evangeline Trail in Digby County, has a lovely beach to walk on.

The Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park (3) is located up the hill on the cliffs that rise above the northern end of the bay. There are some lovely views across the bay and a number of infographics showing the history of the lighthouse.

There is also a granite monument which commemorates those from the area who were lost at sea. The area has parking, picnic benches and restrooms (open in the summer).

Digby

The Point Prim Lighthouse (9) is located around 9km from Digby, on the Digby Gut, which connects the Annapolis Basin with the Bay of Fundy.

You can only view the outside of the lighthouse but there are a number of trails around, so you can walk along the clifftops and admire the dramatic scenery looking across the bay.

The town of Digby itself has a cute lighthouse (10) on the main street.

While you’re in the area: Make sure you enjoy some plump and juicy scallops! Digby claims to be the scallop capital of the world and we can confirm that they are absolutely scrummy.

Annapolis Royal

The Annapolis Royal lighthouse was built in 1889 and is a river lighthouse. There are a fair few pretty river lighthouses in the area, so do look out for them.

The town of Annapolis Royal is one of the oldest in the Americas and was the former capital of Acadia and then Nova Scotia. It was originally known as Nme’juaqnek meaning ‘the place of many fish’ by the indigenous Mi’kmaq. The French settled here in 1605 and the town was the site of many conflicts between the English and the French over the centuries.

While you’re in the area: Visit the Fort Anne fortress. Dating from the 17^th century, this is Canada’s oldest historic site. Annapolis Royal also has some interesting botanical gardens.

Baddeck on Cape Breton

Travelling to the north of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton island also has some interesting lighthouses. The Kidston Island Lighthouse (29) is located on the little Island in the Bras d’Or lake. The original lighthouse was constructed in 1875 but was eventually replaced by this one, built in 1912.

While you’re in the area: Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of many things but notably the telephone, was originally from Scotland but settled in Nova Scotia. There is a museum dedicated to him – it’s on the mainland directly opposite the lighthouse. Don’t forget to enjoy a lobster dinner in Baddeck.

Cheticamp on Cape Breton

Located right in the centre of town, this lighthouse wears its Acadian heritage with pride.

There is a traditional lighthouse (26) on the nearby peninsula. It’s around a 20 minute drive away.

While you’re in the area: Cheticamp is on the Cabot Trail, one of the prettiest coastal roads in the world. There are some fantastic walks in the area, including some river walks and waterfalls, as well as hikes that take in the history of some of the Acadian settlers.

Louisbourg on Cape Breton

The Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site also has a lighthouse (32). It is located on the site of the oldest lighthouse. The first lighthouse began construction in 1730 in order to facilitate navigation to a fortress. However, the building was damaged and rebuilt over the years – the lighthouse  that remains is a much later construction, an octagonal structure that dates from 1923.

While you’re in the area: The Louisberg fortress is a reconstruction but one of the largest in the Americas. It offers a flavour of fortress life in the 18^th century.