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Lighthouse Route Wedgeport Tuna Wharf Yarmouth Liverpool Annapolis Loop Pubnico Richmond Road Ellenwood Loop Chebogue Trail Tusket - Surette' Island |
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Return to Tours Index |
Lighthouse Route Wedgeport Tuna Wharf Yarmouth Liverpool Annapolis Loop Pubnico Richmond Road Ellenwood Loop Chebogue Trail Tusket - Surette' Island |
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Leave Yarmouth following Route 1 (Main Street), and go north along Vancouver Street. Just past the hospital complex take a left down Grove Road for Overton, Pembroke and Yarmouth Light. The famous Runic Stone, bearing an inscription in ancient Icelandic and believed to have been the work of Lief Ericson's men, was found near Faith Memorial United Baptist Church. The stone itself is now in the Yarmouth County Historical Museum on Collins Street. Bearing left past the church is a fabulous panoramic view of Yarmouth town and harbour. Overton is also the site of the Bay View Lodge a very popular summer resort and social centre operated in the 1890's and early 1900's. It was destroyed by fire and in 1912, so was the subsequent Bay View Motel which had been built on the same spot.
Return to the main road and proceed to Fish Point and the stone cairn. Cape Forchu Island, after the Yarmouth Bar was the site of a turn of the century resort called The Markland Hotel. Continue past Inner False Harbour on the left and Outer False Harbour on the right. The first gravel road on the left leads to a point of land known as the "Ships Stern" and a lobster pound. Returning, you capture a sight of East Cape where the Bay of Fundy joins the Atlantic Ocean.
On the road again, just ahead is the historic Yarmouth Light, the highlight of the trip. The light was first lit at Cape Forchu in 1840. Today, the Cape Forchu lightstation still guides fishermen, the New England passenger ferries, and other trading and recreational vessels safely in to Yarmouth Harbour. Beyond the parking lot is a path that leads to Lief Ericson Picnic Park which overlooks the great sea-washed rocks.
The rocks on Cape Forchu provide excellent evidence of ancient volcanic activity in Nova Scotia. Within easy reach from the lighthouse are examples of volcanic ash layers, volcanic bombs, lava flows, and feeder dykes. At the time of the formation of the Cape Forchu rocks, Nova Scotia was an interior portion of a supercontinent that encompassed much of North America, Africa and Europe. By studying a stretch of coast from Chebogue Point to Cape St. Mary, you will find rock formations representing all the ages.
Rum running was carried on in the days of prohibition, and so many ships came past Cape Forchu to land at various places in the town, especially in the south end.
Return to Yarmouth the way you came.
WEDGEPORT TUNA WHARF:
DISTANCE: 47 km ( mi) DURATION:
3-4 HOURS TERRAIN: a few steep
hills
Exit Yarmouth via Starr`s Road on Route 3.
When you reach Arcadia take Route 334 and ride alongside
the Tusket River estuary.
Wedgeport was settled by returning Acadians in the late 1760's. Be on the watch to your right for St. Michael's Church with its War Monument in front. Just after the church look for signs for Buttes-de-la Croix. Turn left and follow the road to its end. This is the site of the first landing and masses said in 1769. You will find a cross commemorating this happening as well as a replica of the boat used by the Acadians.
Just past the Doucet`s Wharf Road, turn right to the Wedgeport Tuna Wharf. This was the home of the International Tuna Cup Matches, held from 1936 to the late 1960's when many well known people visited Wedgeport. This is also the site of the Retired Fishermen's Club and is an excellent area to take pictures of boats and the wharf.
Start your journey home and cross Route 334 as you begin your loop along the Jacquard Road. Take a right and go on to Melbourne. Turn right at the first stop sign. Enjoy the scenery as you head for Route 334, leading you to Route 3 and Yarmouth.
YARMOUTH, LIVERPOOL, ANNAPOLIS
LOOP:
You can follow the Lighthouse Route from Yarmouth to Liverpool and enjoy the scenery, or take the fast route via Highway 103. In any event stop at Shelburne, a delightful old town established by United Empire Loyalists. At Liverpool, home of the privateers, you take Highway 8 and head inland for Kejimkujik National Park (swimming, canoeing, camping) and 50 km later you are in Annapolis Royal.
Be sure to visit Fort Anne, and the Habitation at Port Royal. Also take time to check out the Fundy Tidal Power Project and the Lequille Hydro-electric Plant, the latter based on drawings published in France in 1763.
Back on Highway 1, turn left heading toward Upper Clements Theme Park. A full day of wonders awaits you. Continue on to Digby, a quaint town and home to the world famous Digby scallop fleet.
At Weymouth, you are on the longest main street
in Canada. At Church Point is the largest wooden church in Canada
and next to it, Université Sainte-Anne. This is the heart
of Acadian country. The lovely road winds through fishing villages until
it finally takes you back to Yarmouth.
Exit Yarmouth via Route 3. You travel through Arcadia, Pleasant Lake, Tusket and Ste-Anne-du-Ruisseau (Eel Brook), to Glenwood. Enjoy a swim in Rickers Lake in the provincial day park. Continue on Route 3 (connecting with Highway 103 for approximately 1 km) to Exit 32. Continue along Glenwood the the Argyles and turn right on the Argyle Sound Road. At the end of this road turn right for West Pubnico.
It can be said that Pubnico is the oldest region still Acadian. The Acadian Museum is an interesting stop. Bilingual guides are available during the summer months. Continue along the main road to d'Entremont Road which leads to the Denis Point public wharf, a scenic viewpoint for many artists.
Return to Route 335 and turn right. Your next stop is Le vieux cimetière (The old cemetery). It is located to your left off the Old Church Road.
Return to the Argyle Sound Road and follow directions to Highway 103 to return to Yarmouth. Highway 103 has a bicycle path for safety.
Exit Yarmouth via Route 1. In Dayton, take a left at the Cheggogin Road and ride on past the Session Hill Farm. Turn right at the first yield sign and ride past Sweeney's Dairy Farm.
In Sandford turn left on Ross Durkee Road to see the smallest drawbridge in North America. This area was earlier known to the Micmac as Sconecaty, place of cranberries. The first written records of church, school wills and deeds designate it as Cranberry Head. The first method for catching lobster in this area was with a piece of net tied to a hoop and baited. Lobsters were so plentiful that they could be caught along the beach.
At the top of the hill, turn left to Short Beach. It was part of the land the Micmac called Kespoagwit, which extended from what is now Short Beach to Green Grove (Port Maitland). As a result of it being on area occupied by the Micmac, part of Short Beach was a burial ground.
Here you take a sharp right until you reach Route 1, where you go left. Watch for Churchill Mansion (said to be haunted) and Windmill Farm just behind it. After that, proceed to the Richmond Road sign just before The Yarmouth Candy Company, which is on the right on the corner of the Richmond Road. The Candy Company makes their candy on the premises and welcomes visitors passing by.
Continue on down the Richmond Road to South Ohio and bear right to Hebron. Take a left on Route 1 and you're heading for home.
Follow Route 1 out of Yarmouth, passing the famous Milton Horse Statue. The fountains were financed by private citizens and provided water for the animals. The height of the bowls on the side determined which animal horse, dog or cat drank at which level.
Continue past Lake Milo, Middle Lake and Doctor Lake in Hebron. The Hebron Recreation Centre is located here. The facility includes four tennis courts, three ball fields and a horseshoe pavillon. Please chech with the Yarmouth County Recreation Department for hours that the complex is available to the general public.
Bear right at Route 340 heading for South Ohio. Upon reaching South Ohio, veer right at the Esso staion on Route 340 North to Deerfield. Take a right turn onto Saunders Road which will take you on your way to Ellenwood Park. There you will find a picnic area, campground, and the chance for a cooling swim in Lake Ellenwood.
Returning, go right at the Park sign and you're heading for Raynardton. In about 1890 the Free Baptists of Raynardton undertook to build a church. Captain John Blauvelt of Tusket was a strong supporter. What makes it unique is the English brick foundation of the church was material that had been ballast on an abandoned ship salvaged by Captain Blauvelt. Follow the road alongside Lake Vaughan to the Tusket Dam. Riding downstream you reach the Tusket Hydropoweer Station and a dirt road which takes you back to the highway. Cross over Highway 103, passing the Hydroponic Tomato Plantation and see how it's done.
Turn right at Route 3, proceeding to Pleasant Lake, Arcadia, past the airport and finally to Starr's Road. Turn left at the third set of lights and you'll be back at your starting point.
Leave Yarmouth via Starr's Road (Route 3). Just past the airport, a road branches off to the right and takes you to Central Chebogue. Central Chebogue provides a beautiful view of the Chebogue River and the islands.
Continue until you reach a sign for the Town Point, and take the road on your left to Town Point Cemetery. At town point cemetery a number of early settlers are buried. It has been operation since its was establishment in 1779, and a plaque commemorates the landing of the first English-speaking settlers to the area. Leave the cemetery and continue down the road to the fishing wharf.
Retrace your route back to the Chebogue Road. A jaunt down to Chebogue Point will let you discover the site where originally the Town of Yarmouth was supposed to have been situated. A copy of the original plans can be viewed at the Yarmouth County Historical Museum. The Samson the mystery ship of the Titanic tragedy was lost off of Chebogue Point. Return to the main route and head for Rockville, where there is a commanding viewpoint near the Baptist Church. Just a short way down the hill is Kelley`s Cove and the red-and-white Coast Guard communications tower. This was rum running country in the old days.
Ride on to Sand Beach and Bunker Island (site of a former marine hospital and defensive position of the war of 1812). Return back to the highway, past the golf club and home to Yarmouth.
TOUR: Tusket - Surette' Island:
Leave Yarmouth via Starr's Road on Route 3 heading for Arcadia and Pleasant Lake. Cross the one lane bridge into Tusket.
The village of Tusket was settled in 1784 by United Empire Loyalists who fought on the side of the British in the Revolutionary War. At least three homes which date from the 1790's still remain in the village. The beautifully maintained New England Colonial style house (to the left on a hill) is circa 1790. The first recorded owner of this house was Abigail Price. She and her husband were among the blacks who had original land grants in the area.
Continue on through Hubbard's Point and Amirault's Hill and cross the causeway over the salt marshes. The next village is Sluice Point, follow the main paved road to the Great Sluice Bridge which connects Sluice Point to Surette's Island.
This bridge is an engineering masterpiece. The center span was built upstream and floated into position as the tide rushed out to sea. The tremendous undertow and turbulent tidal current has caused numerous deaths. In the churchyard on Surette's Island you can find the tombstone of Marie Babin Surette. The tombstone says that she died on December 30, 1862 at the age of 110.
You return to Yarmouth by simply going back the way you came, rewarded by catching some of the beautiful sights you have missed along the way down.