Nova Scotia: Biking the South Shore
6 Days & 5 Nights 5 Read 3 reviews- Explore the iconic community of Peggy’s Cove and its famed lighthouse
- Bike from village to village on the Rum Runners Trail
- Feast on lobster suppers, pan-seared scallops and smoked haddock fresh off the boat
- Discover Oak Island, from the History Channel’s hit series “The Curse of Oak Island”
- Wander old-town Lunenburg, a UNESCO preserved colonial settlement
What To Expect
Trip Style:
Self Guided | Go at your own pace on an independent holiday.
Activity:
Inn to Inn Cycling, E-Biking | A classic point to point cycling holiday, staying in a different location each night, E-Bikes with electronic motors to assist available to hire on this holiday (subject to availability), to make things easier
This trip is suitable for:
Solo Travellers, Families, First Timers
Ideal if you have an interest in:
- Foodie Adventures
- Historical Journeys
- Coastal & Island
- National Parks & Trails
Inspiration:
- Classic
Grade & Terrain
This tour is graded easy, with four days of biking and a maximum distance of 26 miles. Daily rides average around 16-22 miles (2-4 hours) along wide multi-use gravel paths. The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.
The route follows the Rum Runners Trail for the entire itinerary except the last day’s ride when biking from Lunenburg to Blue Rocks. When biking to Blue Rocks, bicyclists should expect to ride on two-lane, paved back country roads with minimal traffic.
As a shared use trail, travelers are expected to see pedestrians, cyclists, horses and on the rare occasion, ATVs. Bicyclists should also be prepared for riding on gravel, loose rock, dirt and on rainy days, mud.
Navigation
Navigating is easy using the Macs Adventure Navigation App. Your daily rides will be mapped in the app with GPX tracks, route notes and turn-by-turn directions. All of these resources are available to download for offline use, which is recommended as cell service along the Rum Runners Trail can at times be spotty.
You will be provided with local bike shop information in addition to 24/7 telephone support for Macs Adventure should you require assistance.
Accommodation Information
We specifically hand-picked your accommodations in comfortable and charming inns and B&Bs to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay while exploring Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
All accommodations are located along the driving route and offer a warm welcome to tourists and hikers. Additionally, each offers individual character and welcoming hospitality.
Solo Travelers & Single Rooms
This trip is based on two people sharing a room. If you’d like separate rooms, a single supplement is required.
If you would like to request a twin room (same room with two separate beds), please notify us during booking so we can request this option.
Due to the number of tourists travelling the area and having access to a car, this trip is also available to solo hikers (a solo supplement is required).
Meals
Breakfast is included each morning and served buffet style or chosen from a menu. Most breakfasts include a hot dish (eggs, pancakes or waffles), coffee, tea, yogurt, granola, fruit and baked goods.
Lunches and dinners are not included in this trip, so you can choose from nearby options. For lunches, we recommend finding a market to create a picnic or packed lunch to take with you on hikes. Or you can choose to dine at local cafes located in towns and along the driving route. For dinner, you can dine at local restaurants all within a short walking distance from your night’s stay.
- 5 Nights in hand-selected B&B's
- 5 Breakfasts
- Private narrated tour of Halifax & Peggy’s Cove
- Bike hire, fitting and orientation
- Baggage transfers
- Transfer to Halifax Stanfield International Airport (day 6)
- Information pack
- Access to route notes, detailed maps, and GPS tracks in the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office
- Travel to Halifax
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance (required)
- Additional nights along the route
- Room upgrades (if possible)
When To Go
This trip is available to start on any day of the week from May to October. However, we recommend avoiding a Sunday or Monday trip start, as some recommended restaurants and vendors are closed early in the week.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalized to ensure availability for specific dates.
The best time to visit Nova Scotia’s South Shore is May through October. Summer and fall provide perfect weather for outdoor and seafaring activities.
If you are looking to avoid the crowds, we recommend visiting in September and October. March and April are also less crowded, yet the early springtime can often bring in rain showers and misty weather.
Getting to the Start
By Air
Halifax Stanfield International Airport has flights from international and national destinations.
Rental Car
Upon arrival to the airport, follow signs pointing you in the direction of the rental car agency to pick-up your rental car. Budget, Enterprise and Hertz are some of the many agencies available should you need to rent a car from Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Driving to downtown Halifax takes about thirty minutes from the airport.
Getting from the End
You can return your car and fly from the JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport, located on Cape Breton (approx. 2 hours).
Alternatively, you may want to drive back to Halifax or continue on to additional Nova Scotia destinations. Rental cars can be returned at Halifax Stanfield International Airport or in the centre of downtown Halifax itself. We suggest arranging your preferred drop-off location during pick-up.
Baggage Transfer
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight stay. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
Equipment
Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advice and a packing list on what to bring. This includes warm and cold weather gear, biking gear, rain gear and lots of other specifics.
Please be prepared by packing all the necessary items for a comfortable trip. If you have any questions about what to take, we'd be happy to share our own top tips and advice.
Bike Rental
Bike rental is included in the cost of this trip. Bike rental includes a Premium Hybrid Bike (Orpheo), outfitted with a helmet, lock and repair kit. If desired, a touring cycle cross bike, electric bike or even a kids tag-a-long bike can be available at an additional charge. We recommend using the flat pedals included with the premium hybrid rental or bringing your own, but avoiding clipless pedals most commonly used for road bikes and paved surfaces.
Please supply us with your height and frame size you currently ride during booking.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance helps protect your travel investment, your belongings and most importantly you, from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Halifax Day 2 Discover Peggy’s Cove & Bike to Hubbards 15 miles / 24.5 km Day 3 Bike to Chester & Afternoon Adventure 17.5 miles / 28.5 km Day 4 Bike to Lunenburg & Discover Oak Island 26.5 miles / 43 km Day 5 Bike to Blue Rocks & Explore Lunenburg 9 miles / 14.5 km Day 6 Onward TravelThe Macs Adventure Way
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