Western Shore brings together guided boat tours around Oak Island and waterfront destinations on Mahone Bay. At Wild Rose Park, enjoy a walk and a picnic; the Chester Connection of the Rum Runners Trail also leads in the direction of the community.
Boat Tours Around Oak Island
Salty Dog Tours offers daily guided boat tours around Oak Island from Oak Island Resort in Western Shore. On these narrated cruises, key Oak Island sites can be seen from the water. The experience focuses on a guided cruise and the island’s sights. If you include this activity in your travel plans, you can locate the departure point at Oak Island Resort.
Waterfront Destinations and Getting Your Bearings
Wild Rose Park is in Western Shore, on the water of Mahone Bay. It is suitable for a picnic and a walk and has a small boat slipway. Another point of reference is Western Shore Wharf at 6411 Highway 3: the private wharf is fully accessible to the public. The park and wharf offer different points of reference on the water; the address and public access information refer to the wharf.
The Chester Connection of the Rum Runners Trail leads in the direction of Western Shore. Along the way, the section crosses the Gold River via a large trestle bridge. Several roads that cross the trail section lead to Highway 3, the main road through Western Shore. For navigation, the trail and the main road are two distinct points of reference: the trail leads toward the community, while Highway 3 runs through it. Check the current route status locally before travelling.
More Perspectives in Lunenburg County
The wider destination of Lunenburg County adds distinct landscape experiences. Holden Lake Wilderness Area protects about 1,700 hectares of mature mixed forest in the Gold River watershed and around much of Holden Lake. The area includes about 10 km of shoreline along Holden Lake and around 4 km along the Gold River. Forest, lakeshore, and river offer a different nature experience from Wild Rose Park on the water of Mahone Bay.
Rissers Beach Provincial Park in Lunenburg County offers camping and swimming at a sandy beach. Interpretive panels and a boardwalk through a salt marsh are also among its features. Operating conditions and facilities may change; check current conditions before your visit.
For a cultural and historical focus, look to Lunenburg. The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic is housed in red buildings on the historic waterfront that once accommodated a fish-processing plant. Its exhibits provide a comprehensive overview of Nova Scotia’s fishing industry, particularly its connection to Lunenburg County; exhibits may change. The buildings’ former use and the overview of the fishing industry connect the location with the region’s history.
A different focus is offered at Rosebank Cottage at Ross Farm Museum in Lunenburg County: visitors can see how food is prepared over an open fire. Demonstrations may vary depending on the program.
Discover more destinations: Lunenburg, Chester, Bridgewater, Barss Corner, Hubbards, Mahone Bay
Back to the broader travel guide: Lunenburg County.
