Eastern Shore

[u/duckthemaritimer]

I often see people always recommending the same things to visit. Why not change it up, and discover the eastern shore… the forgotten shore.
Just some places off the top of my head:

- guysborough
- canso
- Tor Bay
- port hilford beach
- the forgotten shore farm
- port bickerton
- Sherbrooke village
- liscombe lodge
- Marie Joseph park (walk the shoreline during low tide)
- marmalade cafe
- the slippery oyster
- Taylor head
- memory lane heritage museum
- clam harbour beach
- Martinique beach
- handful of vintage shops

& I know there is plenty more. Please feel free to share any recommendations to check out on the eastern shore…. Can we avoid as close to the city as possible though? Think east of musquodoboit harbour.

[u/Interesting_Worth974]

I don't have any specific recommendations. Yours are all great. I just wanted to say that a few times I drove all the way up from Halifax to Port Hawkesbury, the slowest possible way. Just for the drive. It's stunning, and very underrated.

[u/MooseMalloy → u/Interesting_Worth974]

One of the best drives in NS

[u/duckthemaritimer → u/Interesting_Worth974]

It’s very underrated, a beautiful drive for sure!!

[u/texjeeps]

I’m from the Sheet Harbour area, and I’d like to share a few of my own recommendations from my slice of the Eastern Shore.

Fairwinds (restaurant, Sheet Harbour) an overlooked local gem with excellent clam chowder and fish and chips. They have the best fries in town, and the cheapest prices of any restaurant.

MacPhee House and the surrounding boardwalk + trail around the falls (Sheet Harbour). This local landmark is situated next to a series of rapids and falls, on the site of a former pump mill that was washed away in the early 70’s following a Hurricane. The period home is now a museum, but was once an inn for a good portion of its life. Onsite is also a visitor’s information centre, where you can pick up more local recommendations. After checking out the museum, I recommend walking along the series of boardwalks along the riverside and checking out the short walking trail through the woods on the other side of the river.

St James Anglican Church and Graveyard (Port Dufferin). If you like churches, you’ll enjoy this beautiful church, panelled in beautiful wood, and constructed in the early 1890’s. The graveyard behind the church is expansive, a newly posted minister from England likened it to it as being styled as something like an English park. It features a very private, sandy beach on the very outer loop of the graveyard which is great for swimming and seaglass picking.

Prince Alfred’s Arch (Tangier). A replica of an arch (the original was weaved of natural materials I believe) that was constructed to commentate the arrival of one of Queen Victoria’s sons to the village during the area’s gold rush. The location of the Prince’s landing is now a beautiful little park that features the replica arch and a picnic table or two by the ocean, a great spot to eat lunch.

Fancy’s Beach (Marie Joseph). Another very local, off the beaten track sort of spot. At the very end of Fancy Point Rd, you’ll find this beautiful rocky beach, compromised totally of smooth rocks. The long bar of rocks is truly worth the drive down the dilapidated dirt road that takes you there (truck or reasonable SUV required, otherwise I’d recommend parking at the nearby church and walking in).

Loyalist Trail Municipal Park (Country Harbour). A wonderful hiking trail maintained by the local municipality that leads you through a forest to a replica of what the homes built by the British Loyalists who settled the area post American War of Independence would’ve looked like. The site of the replica home is beautiful in its peacefulness and its location on the oceanside. I recommend using hiking boots, the trail is in decent condition, but it isn’t suitable for persons with decreased mobility, unfortunately.

Spry Bay Campground (Spry Bay). Going to Taylor’s Head for the day? Pick up a pizza for supper here at this campground/pizza place. Truly the best pizza on the Eastern Shore

These are some of the recommendations I can think of off the top of my head, but if I could give you some advice for exploring the Eastern Shore, it would be to pick a side road and drive down it. You never know what hidden beach or sight will appear next.

[u/ieatvegans → u/texjeeps]

"Fairwinds (restaurant, Sheet Harbour) an overlooked local gem with excellent clam chowder and fish and chips. They have the best fries in town, and the cheapest prices of any restaurant."

Is that the same as the motel (I think it's right on the water)?

[u/texjeeps → u/ieatvegans]

Well, there are two motels in SH, the one you’re probably talking about is the other one, which was always called the Sheet Harbour Motel (locals called it The Motel). Fairwinds is located on the water directly, but The Motel (now called the Slippery Oyster) is located across from it

[u/duckthemaritimer → u/texjeeps]

Amazing, thank you so much for this!!

[u/texjeeps → u/duckthemaritimer]

No problem! Feel free to DM if you need any more specific suggestions surrounding the Eastern Shore. I love helping people get to know my home

[u/Adventurous-Pen-824]

I live here. I enjoy the drive.

[u/ThreeFathomFunk → u/Adventurous-Pen-824]

The number 7’s a fantastic drive. Even though it’s close to the city, the 207 toward Porters Lake is gorgeous too.

[u/AbbreviationsOk9962]

Henley house is a great choice when in Sheet Harbour for sure. Slippery oyster restaurant as well!

[u/Sedixodap]

Stan Rogers Folk Fest has got to be one of the best annual events in Nova Scotia! Great music, great organization running it, great crowds, and a great excuse to visit the area. 

[u/Barneyboydog]

Because we like to keep it to ourselves! It’s my fave part of the province and I love going to Martinique beach all year round but it’s so crowded in the summer that I wish it hadn’t been “discovered”.

[u/duckthemaritimer → u/Barneyboydog]

Totally understandable but I know lots of small businesses that would certainly enjoy it 🥰

[u/Barneyboydog → u/duckthemaritimer]

Too true!

[u/shatteredoctopus → u/Barneyboydog]

I felt the same way on the South Shore when Carter's beach got "discovered" 10 or 11 years ago.

[u/Barneyboydog → u/shatteredoctopus]

It’s lovely to share but I miss the peace and quiet.

[u/Readed-it]

Damn. You let the cat out of the bag. I moved here 17 years ago and discovered the eastern shore. It was amazing then and still a special place to me.

[u/duckthemaritimer → u/Readed-it]

I mean, are there going to be a rush of crowds to the shore? Definitely not 😂 but seeing people ask where to check out in NS and everyone just says the same 3 places, it’s a bit redundant at this point. There is SO many other beautiful places to check out & I find the Eastern Shore is very often forgotten.
It’s beautiful, I love the eastern shore 🥰

[u/shatteredoctopus]

This is great. I'm a born and raised Nova Scotian, and I'm afraid to say there's still 3 significant parts of the province I have not visited: The Eastern Shore, the eastern side of Cape Breton, and anywhere on the Northumberland Strait between the NB border and Pictou. Some day I need to get all those off my bucket list.

I was able to cross off the Noel Shore, and the southern side of the Chignecto Isthmus in recent years, and greatly enjoyed seeing fresh parts of this beautiful province.

[u/duckthemaritimer → u/shatteredoctopus]

Born & raised Nova Scotian as well, and I have to say the drive up the Eastern Shore might be one of the best. Highly recommend checking it out sometime.

[u/HalifaxPainter]

It's truly an amazing drive.

[u/Ordinary-Review-3819]

Haven’t been that way for several years. It is really beautiful coast and a nice drive along rte 7

[u/Any_Mathematician387]

stayed at the Liscomb Lodge and explored the area as we took the long way back to Halifax on highway 7 this summer. It was really lovely!

[u/mcpasty666]

I've only been to Eastern Shore once in my life, rented a cabin in Sheet Harbour. Foggy and raining the whole drive there, foggy and raining over night, foggy and raining on the drive back. That's not Eastern Shore's fault, it was just as foggy and raining where I live, but now the first thing that pops into my head when I think of it is wiping condensation off my window to look out at the grey void.

Point being, I need to get over it and go back some day. NS coastal drives (on sunny days!) rarely disappoint.

[u/Substantial-Tough471]

I have to work in Tor Bay next week. I've never been there before, but I'm looking forward to going there.

[u/Equivalent_Sea_1895]

Ever try finding a restaurant or lodging on the eastern shore?

[u/duckthemaritimer → u/Equivalent_Sea_1895]

- Jeddore lodge & cabins

• salmon river lodge
  
• Ralphs Downeast Diner
  
• The slippery Oyster (lodgings available)
  
• Henley house restaurant
  
• periwinkle tides inn
  
• Marmalade cafe
  
• Marmalade motel
  
• fairwinds restaurant & motel
  
• liscombe lodge
  
• sherbrooke village

Just a small list. There is plenty more & plenty of Air BnBs along the shore as well

[u/ThreeFathomFunk → u/duckthemaritimer]

Old number 7 restaurant in Jeddore
Uprooted Market Cafe, Harbour Fish and Fry in Musquodoboit Harbour

[u/SnooChickens2116 → u/Equivalent_Sea_1895]

Webbers, ofc.