Biking Nova Scotia: This bike tour will appeal to travelers who want to get in few more miles during the week, and see more of the province while they’re at it. Our Self-Guided Best of Both Coast Tour will have you cycling both the Lighthouse Route along Nova Scotia’s South Shore, and the Evangeline Trail which runs parallel to the incomparable Bay of Fundy.
You’ll start in the village of Hubbards and wind your way through several lovely towns, including Chester, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll never be far from the Atlantic Ocean, still plied by fisherman in brightly-painted wooden dories, working the nets just as their forebears have for generations. The Lighthouse Route is aptly named, for more than 20 lighthouses can be found along the roads that follow our rugged coastline.
The tour then makes it's way over to the Evangeline Trail and Annapolis Royal, the town that marks France’s formal colonization of Canada. Amazingly, Samuel de Champlain and Sieur de Monts would find the area little changed from the lovely coastline that they explored, and settled more than 400 years ago. It’s still beautiful and tranquil. No doubt that was a huge factor in Annapolis Royal being named the World’s Most Livable Small Town in the World in 2004. But this area is also an area of unwanted history, for it was here — in the land of Evangeline — that the British military expelled French Acadians who would not take an oath of allegiance. Now called Le Grand Dérangement of 1755, it changed the history of New France and Louisiana. The countryside remembers. As you cycle through the Annapolis Valley towards Wolfville, you’ll see the incomparable surge of nature in the Bay of Fundy. The tides here are the world’s highest, rising more than 54 feet in the Minas Basin.
Of course, no Pedal and Sea tour would be complete without incredible attention to detail. As you would imagine in a small province that nonetheless boasts more than 5,000 miles of coastline, seafood is our special bounty, and you’ll have the opportunity to taste the freshest seafood prepared both classically and inventively. Luckily, the mileage on this tour is high, so you’ll be able to eat well, without any guilt whatsoever!
Day one: (57 km; 1 km equals 0.62 mi)
After an early shuttle from Halifax to Hubbards, you will set off on a
bike ride around the Aspotogan Peninsula, a very pretty jaunt by all
accounts. See if you can spot the castle. You’ll pass through many
quaint villages and cycle by a handful of secluded, sandy beaches. After
a tasty seaside picnic, or a bowl of tasty chowder at The Deck Restaurant,
you’ll continue around the peninsula to Chester, a comely village
with historic homes, including the inn where you will hang your helmets
for the evening. Lodging: The
Mecklenburgh Inn
Day two: (54-70 km)
You’ll leave Chester for a trip off the beaten path, and cycle the
quiet country roads through Indian Point and Mahone Bay. Your destination
is Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll rest for
the evening. First settled in 1753, the town’s many historic buildings
and homes will delight anyone with an eye for architecture or a sense of
history. you'll stay at either The
Bluenose Lodge or The
Mariner King.
Day three: (90-100 km)
White Point beckons. You’ll take a scenic ride on an old cable ferry
to Lahave, and stop at the Lahave Bakery — justifiably treasured
by locals — for a delicious lunch. You’ll continue on to Crescent
Beach, Mill Village, and Liverpool before settling in to your lodge for
the night. Time permitting, stroll the beach or have a quick dip in the
brisk Atlantic before a sumptuous dinner. Tonight you stay at either Quarterdeck
Beachside Villas or White
Point Beach Resort.
Day four: (120-130 km)
Obviously, we have a busy day planned for you today. You’re heading
across the province towards the gorgeous town of Annapolis Royal. Tonight,
after yet another feast, you’ll hazard a candlelit graveyard tour
with a natural storyteller. Monsieur Melanson will try to frighten the
bejeesus out of you, and you may feel the presence of a Bluenose Ghost
or two. You’ll even learn more about The
Hillsdale House, your home
for the evening — a mansion built in 1849 for the princely sum of
$13,000.
Day five: (72 km)
You will be riding along the shores of the Bay of Fundy, home of the world's
highest tides. You will ride through Young's Cove, Phinneys Cove, and
Port Lorne as you make your way to Nictaux, your home for the night.
Numerous farm stands line today’s route, so be sure to stop and
sample fresh fruit probably picked that morning from a surrounding orchard.
A wonderful salmon pool near the inn will make for a refreshing dip before
dinner. Tonight you'll lay your heads at the lovely Falcourt
Inn.
Day six: (102 km)
You’ll be touring through the Annapolis Valley to Hall’s Harbour,
poised directly on the Bay of Fundy, which is home to the world’s
highest tides and the lobsters that you’ll enjoy over lunch. Your
ultimate destination is Wolfville, a gorgeous university town with lots
to do. You'll stay at either Victoria's
Historic Inn or The
Tattingstone Inn
Day seven: (20 km)
A short ride will find you on top the dykes, built by the Acadians so many
years ago to tame the Bay of Fundy's tides. En route, you'll visit Grand
Pré, the village immortalized in Longfellow’s epic poem
Evangeline. In 1755, the English expelled most Acadians (Le Grande Dérangement)
for refusing to sign an oath of loyalty, and many Acadians being resettled
in Louisiana, and becoming that region's Cajuns. Your tour ends with
a transfer back to Halifax, sad that your adventure is ending, but happy
for the memories and friendships you've made.
Our guided Nova Scotia Coastal Tour
Self-Guided Nova Scotia Coastal Tour
2010 Season
Every week, starting May 16 (Sunday to Saturday)
Custom
Groups anytime!
Prices
$1499 Cdn (We've kept prices steady for two years!)
The US rate is dependent upon exchange rates
20% single supplement
Hybrid bike rental: $149 Cdn or
Road bike rental: $ $189 Cdn
13% tax (HST) will be added to the price; 6.5% for US residents
Inclusions:
• 6 nights' accommodation
• 5 breakfasts
• needed transfers to and from Halifax
• luggage transfers at each change of inn
• detailed road book and maps
• Toll-free number in the event of emergency
