Treasures & Lighthouses of Nova Scotia Self Drive

Arrive in Halifax, the provincial capital of Nova Scotia and make your way to your hotel. Halifax is an attractive city bustling with galleries, shops, museums, restaurants, pavement cafes and vibrant nightlife. You'll spend two nights here and on your second morning we've included a city tour which takes in many of the historic buildings, a visit to the Alexander Keith Brewery and the superb Maritime Museum is also recommended. At Pier 21 you'll find the Canadian Museum of Immigration, now an National Historic Site which was the gateway for over one million migrants between 1928 and 1971.

Collect your rental car and start the drive south along the Lighthouse Route, a visit to Peggy's Cove is a must, this picture-perfect fishing village is home to Nova Scotia's most visited lighthouse. Continue via Mahones Bay, an equally pretty seaside town to Lunenburg, the regions only UNESCO World Heritage Site and widely regarded as one Canada's most beautiful towns. Set between the harbour and soaring hills Lunenburg is a town of charming painted houses constructed during the 18th and 19th centuries and characterised by the 'Lunenburg Bump' a distinctive 5-sided dormer window above the front door. You'll spend two nights here so there's plenty of time to explore. The town was originally established in 1753 and much of the planned settlement is preserved today - the Mi'kmaq and Arcadians were the earliest settlers.

Make an early start from Lunenburg and continue your journey along the Lighthouse Route to Liverpool. Known as the Port of Privateers, Liverpool sits on the mouth of the beautiful Mersey River and has a rich and colourful history, there are over 31 historic sites to be seen and all can be reached on foot. From Liverpool you'll continue on this scenic route revealing beautiful bays and charming fishing villages to Shelburne. From here it's onwards to Yarmouth, once the second largest seaport in Canada, Yarmouth dates back to the Viking era and is home to the Yarmouth Lighthouse at Cape Forchu. 

Stay: Churchill Mansion (Superior)

From Yarmouth follow the Evangeline Trail entering the world of the 17th Century French pioneers. This coastal route takes you along the shoreline of the magnificent Bay of Fundy and a landscape teaming with wildlife, birds and wild flowers. From here continue to Digby, gateway to the Bay of Fundy and New Brunswick. Here in the Annapolis Valley you are in the heart of wine country and the local vineyards are well worth a visit. You have two nights in Digby and on your second day we've included a whale watching experience from Digby Neck, which is one of the best places in the world for whale watching. Afterwards we highly recommend a visit to the Kejimkujik National Park, a spectacular inland park with over 100km of trails and an excellent visitor's centre before heading back to Digby. Alternatively you could continue on to Annapolis Royal and spend the night there. 

Stay: Digby Pines Resort (Superior)

This charming university town in the verdant Annapolis Valley lies in the heartland of Acadia and is home to some wonderful shops, boutiques and fine dining. A tour of the Grand Pre Winery is recommended where you can taste the wine, learn about the grapes and visit the wine shop where you will find plenty of local art and crafts and learn how this superb winery uses only 100% Nova Scotia grown apples and grapes. 

Stay: Victoria's Historic Inn (Superior)

From Wolfville follow the Glooscap Trail to Truro, in the heart of the province. Truro's location at the tip of the Bay of Fundy makes it an excellent viewing area for the 'Tidal Bore'. Continue along the Sunrise Trail to Tatamagouche. 

Stay: Train Station Inn (Standard)

From Tatamagouche carry along the Sunrise Trail to Pictou, known as the birthplace of New Scotland it was here that the first Scottish Highlanders landed in 1773. Leaving Pictou behind travel to Cape Breton via the Canso Causeway and onwards to Baddeck, a scenic village overlooking the beautiful Bras d'Or Lakes. You'll have two nights based in Baddeck enabling you to follow the famous Cabot Trail in a clockwise direction. This is regarded as one of the most spectacular drives in Canada and will take you through the French Acadian community of Cheticamp, the rocky splendour of Cape Breton's Northern shore and up in to the Cape Breton Highlands National Park which offers a range of walking trails to explore through stunning mountain and coastal landscapes before returning to Baddeck. 

Stay: Lynwood Inn (Superior)

Explore Cape Breton Island and then continue on to Sydney and Glace Bay, the Miner Museum and the Marconi National Historic Site are worth a visit before following the Marconi Trail to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site.

Stay: Louisbourg Harbour Inn (Superior)

Explore the rugged Eastern Shore coastline which is filled with tranquil bays and beaches, unspoilt forests and crystal clear lakes. Your home for the night is Charlos Cove, a community first settled in 1760 and named after one of the very first Acadian settlers - Charles Richard. 

Stay: Seawind Landing Country Inn (Standard)

Follow the coastal route to Liscombe where you can choose from an abundance of outdoor activities such as kayaking, harbour tours and canoeing, or if you prefer, make the short drive to Sherbrook Village, a typical Nova Scotian village from the 1860's where interpreters dress in period costume. 

Stay: Liscombe Lodge (Standard)

Make the leisurely drive back to Halifax, via the Musquodoboit Harbour & Valley, a haven for nature lovers.

There is time to explore Halifax before returning your car to the airport and boarding your overnight flight back to the UK arriving on day 17. 

On arrival in the UK continue with your onward journey.