Expect a warm welcome when you travel to Nova Scotia, where the locals' friendliness is as legendary as the rolling terrain. Just 6 hours flying time from London and bordering the Atlantic, Nova Scotia's coastline extends for miles and offers stunning vistas for picture-taking as well as placid waters for fishing.

Travelers often flock to the hiking trails of Nova Scotia's Cape Breton, which offer sweeping views of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park: here you can join the Cabot Trail,  one of the world’s top scenic drives, with over 185 miles of spectacular highland and coastal views.

The South Shore is one of the most visited parts of its coastline – but it is all relative. It is home to amazing lighthouses, barely believable white beaches and quaint former fishing towns that have opened their doors to visitors.

Keep your eyes on the water as the Bay of Fundy is the seasonal home to a large number of whale species.  Peggy’s Cove lighthouse is much photographed, perched on a bed of rocks with incredible light at sunrise or sunset. The road hugs the coastline until it reaches the lovely town of Lunenburg, with its rows of red-painted wooden houses over the hillside, and with charming shops and several galleries line the narrow streets.

Halifax is the provincial capital – a big, small town with plenty to keep you occupied with lively waterfront restaurants and a fascinating history where it was the epicentre of Canada's immigrant welcome.  In the Autumn, the leaves turn a magnificent rusty colour – rivaling the display just south of the border.  Nova Scotia is easy to navigate, and the journey is very much part of the holiday experience. You may only travel a short distance before you notice the landscape and culture dramatically changing, with neighbouring towns feeling like different countries.

 

 

Photo credits: Discover Halifax, Tourism Nova Scotia/Adele Beaton