Northumberland Strait

Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou and Antigonish Counties

With the warmest waters in Nova Scotia (and, in fact, the warmest waters north of the Carolinas), the coast along the Northumberland Strait offers much for the resident and holiday-maker. Beautiful beaches, tidal salt marshes, red coastal bluffs and gently rolling farmland make for a colourful and friendly region of the province.

Also known as the “Sunrise Trail”, this is a great area to enjoy nature’s bounty, with pick-your-own farm centres, wild blueberries and maple sugar camps. In the many harbours you can watch the lobster fishermen return to shore with the catch of the day.

For the second home-buyer, the region offers year-round activities, from skiing and snowboarding at Wentworth in the winter to the more than 20 sandy beaches in the summer.

The charming harbour town of Pictou has historic architecture and was the landing site of Nova Scotia’s first settlers from the Scottish Highlands in 1773. New Glasgow is the largest town in the region (with almost 10,000 residents) and has shops, galleries and restaurants among its attractions and facilities.

Other interesting centres include the popular tourist town of Tatamagouche, with its craft shops, marina and museums, which is surrounded by unspoilt countryside. The village of Pugwash has a strong Scottish heritage, fantastic beaches and top-ranked golf courses.

Approximate distances:
Halifax to Pictou – 105 miles / 169 km
Halifax to Amherst – 129 miles / 207 km
Halifax to Antigonish – 136 miles / 218 km

Regional attractions and highlights:

• The province’s Scottish heritage is to the fore in the area, with the Hector Heritage Quay in Pictou, an annual “Gathering of the Clans” in Pugwash, and Antigonish’s famous Highland Games. Learn more at the following websites:
• www.townofpictou.com/hhq/
• www.multiculturaltrails.ca/level_3/number220.html
• www.antigonishhighlandgames.com/
• Wine, blueberries and maple syrup! Malagash is home to Jöst, Nova Scotia’s biggest vineyard and winery (www.jostwine.com), as well as the Sugar Moon Farm, with maple products and sugar camp tours (www.sugarmoon.ca). Also worth visiting is the Wild Blueberry and Maple Centre in Oxford (www.town.oxford.ns.ca).
• Birdwatching in the Northumberland Strait region is some of the best in the province, with the Wallace Bay Nature/Wildlife Trail and Munroe’s Island Nature Reserve.

More interesting websites about the region:

• General tourism guide at www.tourismpictoucounty.com
• Guide to Pugwash: www.pugwashvillage.com/
• Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre is one of the top professional theatres in the province: www.festivalantigonish.com
• Magic Valley Fun Park, near New Glasgow is the Nova Scotia’s largest privately owned family amusement park: www.magicvalley.ca
• Learn more about the small community of River John at www.riverjohn.com