Yarmouth and Digby

Yarmouth and Digby are the two western-most counties of Nova Scotia. Traditional Anglo-Scottish and Acadian French culture intermingles amongst the villages, harbours, beaches and lighthouses, a remnant of the colonial past. Away from the shore, there are significant inland wilderness areas, including over 365 lakes and several major rivers.

Cities

Digby — home to a fleet of sea scallop trawlers, and to dive bars and waterfront patio restaurants serving the famous Doggy scallops
Kemptville — a popular location for sport fishing due to its many rivers and lakes
Pubnico — an excellent place to explore Acadian history and culture
Yarmouth — known for the Cape Frochu Lighthouse, and traditional Anglo-Scottish and Acadian French culture

Other destinations

Brier Island — the westernmost part of Nova Scotia and the southern end of the North Mountain ridge with Long Island lying immediately northeast, an important stopover point for migrating sea birds
Tobeatic Wilderness Area — a 120,000-ha pristine wilderness area that can be accessed from East Kemptville. A semi-barren landscape, surrounded by more productive woodlands. Expansive wetlands, long stillwaters, fast flowing river and more than 100 lakes provide diverse aquatic habitats.
Discover Acadie — explore the vibrant culture and captivating history of French-speaking Nova Scotians

Understand

Yarmouth and Digby, located at the western end of Nova Scotia, offers travellers a variety of coastal and backwoods experiences, and a chance to experience Nova Scotia Acadian culture.

As a fishing region, the seafood is excellent, especially the scallops from Digby.

Get in

By car

Highway 101 - South Shore Yarmouth to Halifax
Highway 103 - North Shore Yarmouth to Halifax
Highway 203 - South Shore Inland Scenic drive from Shelburne (Nova Scotia) through Kemptville to Carleton, near Yarmouth
Many other scenic routes including old Hwy 1 and old Hwy 3.

By bus

Cloud Nine Shuttle. Yarmouth to Halifax/Dartmouth, operating on the #101 and #103 highways and points en route. Also parcel pickups and deliveries. Service 7 days a week. 2019-07-27

By ferry

Beginning in May, 2022, Bay Ferries will operate daily from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Bar Harbor, Maine.

Bay Ferries also runs service to Digby from Saint John, New Brunswick.

By plane

The nearest major airport is Halifax International Airport.

Yarmouth International Airport (IATA: YQI) serves only private planes.

Get around

There's just no public transit here. Bring a car, or hitchhike. (Hitchhiking is not truly safe anywhere. If you hitchhike, take precautions.)

See

The Tobeatic Wilderness & Southern Nova Scotia Biosphere is the largest protected area in the Maritime provinces. It protects the headwaters of nine rivers that flow to the Atlantic and Fundy coasts. It is among the most significant and undisturbed places for wildlife, biodiversity conservation, and wilderness recreation in Nova Scotia.

The Balancing Column on Long Island is a column of basalt 6.1 m high by 1.2 m wide balancing on its end over the Bay of Fundy. It us 46 km S on Rte 217 down the Right Neck to East Ferry, take the ferry across the Petit Passage ($7/car return, every hour at :30) to Tiverton on Long Island, drive another 4 km on 217 to the Balancing Rock Trail. Then it's a 1.7-km hike on a well-maintained trail.

The Nova Scotia Historic Acadian Village in Pubnico sits on a 17-acre site that overlooks the Pubnico Harbour. You can step back in time to discover the life and culture of the Acadians in the early 1900s. (Summer only.)

Cape Forchu Lightstation is a historic lighthouse on a dramatic, bold coastline. Drive to Cape Forchu easily from downtown Yarmouth, passing the numerous fishing shanties and lobster pounds along the way.

Do

Scallop Days Festival in Digby is held on 3 days in the first week of August. There are scallop-shucking contests, a parade, and an exhibition of local artists.

If you'd rather get your seafood straight from bay, take a fishing excursion from Port Maitland.

Go to one of the region's many beaches:

Bartlett's Beach in Port Maitland
Mavilette Beach in Mavilette
Port Maitland Beach & Provincial Park in Port Maitland