Guysborough County: Coastal Trails, History and Music

Guysborough County combines activities on the water with places steeped in history and recurring music and cultural events. In Guysborough, the 3.5 km Waterfront Trail begins at the end of Main Street; at Irving Lake, you can canoe or kayak in Boylston Provincial Park. Canso, Sherbrooke and Goldenville offer different highlights: museums, historic buildings and festivals shape the options. When looking for a vacation rental, it’s worth first considering which of these experiences you want to define your stay.

Water and Trails in Different Forms

The Guysborough Waterfront Trail is 3.5 km long and offers opportunities for scenic views and birdwatching. Historic sites along the trail include Nicolas Denys’ fishing and trading post and the fortifications of a village fort. The Guysborough Nature Trail is part of the Great Trail, also known as the Trans Canada Trail.

The Radar Base Trail also gives your route a historical dimension: it’s a 9 km, one-way route along a 150-year-old road. Between Queensport and Cole Harbour, it connects coastal communities on Chedabucto Bay with those on Tor Bay. A shorter route is the wooded trail near Isaac’s Harbour: the 2 km trail leads to Country Harbour. Information panels at the trailhead explain the history and difficult living conditions of the Black Loyalists who settled in the area.

At Boylston Provincial Park, the focus is on paddling the freshwater of Irving Lake by canoe or kayak. Another way to connect the communities along the shore is the free Theodore O’Hara cable ferry, also known as the Country Harbour Ferry. It connects Port Bickerton with Country Harbour and carries 12 vehicles. In summer, it runs every 15 minutes; during the rest of the year, it departs from the Country Harbour side hourly and from the Port Bickerton side every half hour. If your plans depend on the ferry, check the schedule before setting out.

History in Museums, Buildings and Exhibits

Sherbrooke Village is the largest site in the Nova Scotia Provincial Museum system and includes more than 25 historic buildings with costumed interpreters. It also offers one- or multi-day learning camps on Hands On History, blacksmithing and songwriting. The combination of historic buildings and a range of camp themes makes this a distinct destination for culture lovers.

In Canso, the Canso Islands National Historic Site consists of a waterfront visitor centre and an interpretive trail on Grassy Island, reachable by boat in 15 minutes. The Whitman House Museum illustrates the history of Canso and eastern Guysborough County through artifacts from Canso Harbour. Guides also take visitors to the widow’s walk on the roof, offering a bird’s-eye view of Canso.

At the Goldenville Interpretive Centre, pictures and objects, along with conversations with interpreters, tell the story of the former mining community from 1861 to 1942. In Port Bickerton, the lighthouse at the western end of Barachois Head on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore marks the entrance to the harbour. Since the first lighthouse was built in 1901, it has been an important part of the local community. Local culture also includes arts and crafts: ArtWorks East is a collective of visual artists and craftspeople from Guysborough County. Their work is exhibited and sold in Guysborough and Canso.

Festival Dates and Choosing a Location

The Stan Rogers Folk Festival, also known as Stanfest, takes place every year on the last weekend of July on the outskirts of Canso. In Larry’s River, a festival celebrating Acadian culture is held every year during the second week of August. If you want to plan your trip around one of these festivals, check the specific event dates before making your plans.

Different interests can guide your choice of vacation rental: paddling at Irving Lake, trails and birdwatching, museums or a festival date each point to different areas. First decide which experience matters most for your trip, then include the relevant location in your search. This way, you can choose your accommodation based on the activities you actually want to enjoy.

Discover More Places in the County

For more ideas, you can also discover these places: Guysborough, Liscomb, Canso, Fishermans Harbour, Little Dover.

Discover more destinations: Annapolis County, Richmond County, Halifax County.

Return to the main travel overview: Nova Scotia.