In Wallace, beaches, trails and local history appeal to different kinds of travelers. Fox Harbour is a sandy beach on the shore of Fox Harbour, where the water is warm. Two trails are also worth considering when planning a visit: the 120 km multi-use Short Line Trail and the 3.4 km Quarry Branch Trail, which connects Wallace. A memorial stone and a museum offer tangible points of connection to local history.
Coast and Trails in Wallace
Fox Harbour is 4 km north of Highway 6. The Short Line Trail has an access point at the Wallace Ballfield in Wallace, 700 m south of Highway 6 on Highway 307. These details refer to two different reference points: the first describes Wallace’s location relative to Highway 6, while the second describes access to the trail. This makes it possible to distinguish the location of Wallace from the location of the trail access point.
The Short Line Trail connects Wallace with Pictou, Scotsburn, River John, Tatamagouche, Pugwash and Oxford. At 120 km long, it extends beyond Wallace to connect multiple communities. The Quarry Branch Trail is much shorter, at 3.4 km, and connects the coastal community of Wallace. The stated lengths and connections show two different scales: a route linking several communities and a shorter trail associated with Wallace.
Remembrance and Local History
A memorial stone erected in 2012 in Newcomb-Boyle Park honours Willard S. Boyle, who was from Wallace and lived from 1924 to 2011. Boyle received the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics. The memorial stone connects the memory of a person from Wallace with his recognition in the field of physics.
The Wallace Area Museum is 2 km west of Wallace. It is housed in the restored home of local shipbuilder James Davison, dating from around 1839. The museum has more than 3,000 artifacts, and its exhibitions change annually. The historic house, rotating exhibitions and extensive collection are all central to the museum. If you are interested in a particular exhibition topic, you can take the annual rotation into account when planning your visit.
The Wider Destination of Cumberland County
Those looking beyond Wallace to the wider destination of Cumberland County will find other distinct attractions. Cumberland County includes coastlines along the Northumberland Shore and the Bay of Fundy. In Pugwash, Thinkers Lodge is a National Historic Site of Canada. Guided tours offer insight into the history and significance of this historic site.
Cape d’Or Coastal Park offers panoramic views of the Minas Channel and Minas Basin. The park also has hiking trails, Cape d’Or Lighthouse and the former lighthouse keeper’s residence. In Parrsboro, the Fundy Geological Museum features 200-million-year-old dinosaur skeletons, local gemstones and minerals, and an interactive Pangaea Time Machine. The museum’s trail is maintained year-round.
Cumberland County also offers history, performing arts and wine. The Cumberland County Museum and Archives in Amherst explores the county’s natural and human history. The Ship’s Company Theatre presents live theatre productions, Picnic Plays and concert series; its program is seasonal and may change. In Malagash, Jost Vineyards offers daily wine tastings, as well as seasonal vineyard tours and trails through the vineyards. Tasting arrangements may change, so it is worth checking before your visit.
When choosing a destination, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: Wallace, with Fox Harbour, its trails and local memorial sites, or the wider Cumberland County, with its museums, historic sites, landscapes and seasonal offerings.
Discover more destinations: Springhill, Parrsboro, Amherst, Folly Lake, Wentworth.
Return to the main travel overview: Cumberland County.
