Nova Scotia is Canada's Atlantic province with a long history of seafaring and fishing. Its coastline is often rocky and treacherous for all boats that venture too close, or are lost in the fog banks. Lighthouses were built over the years and the Lighthouse Route is a tour from Yarmouth to Halifax along Nova Scotia's South Shore. There are over twenty lighthouses on the Lighthouse Route following Hwy 3 for over 570 kms.

The Lighthouse Route begins, appropriately, at one of Nova Scotia's most dramatic and historically significant lighthouses. The Yarmouth Light stands on the rocky point of Cape Forchu, named by Samuel de Champlain in 1604. The original lighthouse, built in 1839, was replaced by the current structure in the 1960s. Rising 23 meters above the ground, the lighthouse's two-million-candlepower beam can be seen over 30 nautical miles out at sea. The town of Yarmouth is an historic seaport whose proximity to New England and rich offshore fishing grounds contributed to the town's development and prosperity.

The Lighthouse Route leaves Yarmouth on Route 3 and after passing Roberts Island and Glenwood Provincial Park, the side road on Route 335 leads to the French-speaking communities of West Pubnico, Middle West Pubnico and Lower West Pubnico. Settled in 1653 by Acadians, these villages make up the oldest Acadian settlement in the province. In Middle West Pubnico, a monument displays millstones used here in 1699. Also in West Pubnico, the Abbott's Harbour Lighthouse offers a pleasant place for a picnic. The many islands in the area can be explored by sea kayak.

Many of the small towns and villages along this coastline, like Wedgeport, West Pubnico and Woods Harbour, depend on the sea for their livelihood. Colourful fleets of longliners, trawlers and scallop draggers work the offshore fishing grounds, while smaller craft like lobster boats harvest the inshore areas. At Woods Harbour the lighthouse, built in 1900, sits on a rock ledge in the harbour.

In Shag Harbour you can climb the tower in the Chapel Hill Museum for a panoramic view of the sea and outlying islands. At night the lights of several lighthouses- at Cape Sable, Bon Portage Island, Seal Island and Woods Harbour-are visible from this point. The rocks around Seal Island, called the Sea Wolves by Champlain, wrecked hundreds of ships before the building of the first lighthouse in 1830.

The Lighthouse Route continues to the busy service centre of Barrington Passage, where it turns right on Route 330 to Cape Sable Island, a noted birding destination. Cape Sable Island offers an excellent view of the stately Cape Sable Light, the tallest in Nova Scotia. Just beyond Barrington Passage is Barrington, an attractive village with several historic attractions. The replica of the Seal Island Light was built in 1979 as a lighthouse museum. Enjoy the panoramic view of Barrington Bay from the top. The massive Fresnel lens is the one that warned vessels away from the Seal Island shore.

At Port La Tour, a right turn off the Lighthouse Route leads to Smithville and Baccaro, where the Baccaro Lighthouse offers a terrific vantage point for watching seabirds. This loop road rejoins the Lighthouse Route near Shelburne but first it turns right at Port Clyde and follows the coast to Birchtown. About a thousand Blacks who came to Shelburne with the Loyalist migration in 1783 first settled the village of Birchtown. At the time, this was the largest free Black settlement in North America. The village was named in honour of General Birch, the New York commandant who gave protection to Black Loyalists who supported the British during the Revolutionary War.

The next stop is Shelburne, a town whose rich history and picturesque charm has captured the hearts of many and attracted the attention of the film industry. Shelburne was settled in 1783 when 3,000 United Empire Loyalists, who had maintained allegiance to the British Crown during the American Revolution, arrived by ship from New York City, creating an instant boomtown in the wilderness.

The Lighthouse Route continues along the shore, reaching historic Liverpool, "Port of the Privateers", the privateering capital of North America between 1760 and 1812. South of Liverpool is the scenic Western Head/Mersey Point Loop which brings you to the Western Head Lighthouse, where surfers, a variety of sea birds and harbour seals are often seen, along with a view of Coffin Island Lighthouse in Liverpool Bay. 208 From Liverpool, the Lighthouse Route continues to Brooklyn, birthplace of the former country music star Hank Snow. Now the Route follows a scenic coastal loop to Beach Meadows, where Beach Meadows Park features a white sand beach and more striking views of the Coffin Island Lighthouse. In Port Medway, the attractions include the Port Medway Lighthouse Park and the Medway Head Lighthouse.

Turn right at Crescent Beach and follow the sign to LaHave Islands. Before you enter LaHave, turn right to go to the Fort Point Museum, a former lighthouse-keeper's house and site of the Fort Sainte-Marie-de-Gr