Coastal Treasures of the Canadian Maritimes — Self-Launched

Arrive at Halifax Stanwyfield (YHZ) and take the Halifax Transit Route 320 bus into the city centre (~CAD 4.25, ~40 min) or a taxi (~CAD 45). Check into a downtown hostel (HI Halifax is well located near the Citadel). Spend the late afternoon on the waterfront boardwalk, the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 (CAD 15) and the Citadel if time allows. In the evening, grab fish and chips or a donair on Argyle Street and use the free time to confirm your bookings: Halifax–Antigonish/Baddeck coach seats, the Caribou–Wood Islands ferry, the Digby ferry and your Hopewell Rocks shuttle. Self-catered breakfast supplies from a supermarket to keep costs down.

🚌Airport bus Route 320 (~£2.50) or taxi (~£26)

🛏Hostel dorm, Halifax (~£30 pp)

• →Waterfront boardwalk walk
• →Pier 21 immigration museum (optional, ~£9)
• →Supermarket run for breakfast supplies

Take the Maritime Bus coastal service from Halifax to Antigonish (~4.5-5 hrs, CAD 60-75). Antigonish is a small Gaelic-heritage university town; walk the Fairmont Ridge and Pomquet Acadian trails from town (free, 1-2 hrs) and pick up a picnic lunch from a local bakery or the farmers' market. Continue by Maritime Bus to Baddeck (~3 hrs, CAD 40-50) — the bus timetable is limited so book ahead and expect a mid-afternoon departure. Check into a guesthouse or the Baddeck hostel/motel strip. Evening stroll along the Bras d'Or Lake waterfront.

🚌Maritime Bus Halifax–Antigonish–Baddeck (~£55 total)

🛏Guesthouse or hostel, Baddeck (~£45 pp)

• →Fairmont Ridge trail walk
• →Pomquet Acadian trail
• →Antigonish town wander
• →Bras d'Or Lake waterfront

The Cabot Trail is the hard part without a car — the best self-launched option is a one-day small-group shuttle or e-bike/van tour from Baddeck, or a rental car for the day. Book a Cabot Trail day shuttle with a local operator (several Baddeck/Keltic Lodge outfitters run these, roughly CAD 120-180 pp) or hire a car for 24 hrs (~CAD 80 plus fuel) and drive the loop yourself. Priority: hike the Skyline Trail (7.5 km return, ~2 hrs, cliffside boardwalk with ocean views — the trip's signature hike), stop at the Coastal Trail and MacIntosh Brook, and finish with Ingonish beach. Buy a Parks Canada Discovery Pass or day pass (CAD 8.50 day / CAD 72 annual). Pack a box lunch. Return to Baddeck; dinner at a local pub.

🚌Cabot Trail day shuttle or 1-day car hire + fuel (~£85)

🛏Guesthouse or hostel, Baddeck (~£45 pp)

• →Skyline Trail hike
• →Cabot Trail scenic drive
• →Ingonish beach stop
• →Cape Breton Highlands NP (Parks Canada pass ~£5)

Morning drive or Maritime Bus from Baddeck toward New Glasgow/Pictou (~2.5-3 hrs). Pictou has strong Scottish heritage — visit the Hector Heritage Quay (CAD 10) and its full-size replica ship, then lunch on the waterfront. Continue to Caribou and cross to Wood Islands on the Northumberland Ferries service (vehicle-free foot passenger ~CAD 21, ~75 min, book ahead; foot passengers need taxi/shuttle from Wood Islands to Charlottetown or Summerside — pre-book a local shuttle ~CAD 60-80). Settle into a Summerside guesthouse or motel. Evening walk along the Summerside boardwalk.

🚌Bus/taxi to Pictou + Northumberland ferry + PEI shuttle (~£60)

🛏Guesthouse or motel, Summerside (~£48 pp)

• →Hector Heritage Quay (optional, ~£6)
• →Pictou waterfront
• →Northumberland Ferries crossing
• →Summerside boardwalk

Take the local bus or a pre-booked shuttle into Charlottetown (~1 hr). Free day with plenty of self-bookable options: a historic walking tour (CAD 25, book direct with a local guide or GetYourGuide), electric bike hire (CAD 80-100), kayaking on the harbour (CAD 55-75 via a local outfitter), or the very worthwhile Charlottetown food tour (CAD 98 — Cows ice cream, lobster rolls, local beer). Afternoon: head to the North Shore beaches at Cavendish or Brackley (shuttle or taxi, ~CAD 40 return) for a swim. Evening: seafood dinner in Charlottetown or Summerside (a lobster supper is the local rite of passage, ~CAD 45).

🚌Local shuttle/bus Summerside–Charlottetown (~£15 return)

🛏Guesthouse or motel, Summerside (~£48 pp)

• →Charlottetown historic walking tour (~£15)
• →Kayaking or e-bike hire (optional)
• →North Shore beaches
• →Seafood dinner

Cross the 12.9 km Confederation Bridge (Maritime Bus/SMT run PEI–Moncton services, ~CAD 50; the bridge toll applies to the vehicle, so a bus ticket covers it). Stop in Moncton for lunch supplies, then take a local taxi/shuttle or a GetYourGuide day trip from Moncton to Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park (entry CAD 15, plus shuttle ~CAD 40-60 return). Time your visit to low tide — the tide window shifts daily, check the Hopewell Rocks tide table — and walk the ocean floor between the flowerpot rocks. Continue to Fundy National Park for a 2-4 km clifftop hike to the beach-viewpoint balcony (Parks Canada day pass CAD 8.50). Continue to Saint John by bus or pre-booked shuttle; dinner on your own in the Uptown area.

🚌PEI–Moncton–Hopewell–Saint John bus/shuttle (~£50)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Saint John (~£45 pp)

• →Confederation Bridge crossing
• →Hopewell Rocks low tide walk (~£11 entry)
• →Fundy National Park hike
• →Tide table planning

Morning exploring Uptown Saint John — the Reversing Falls Lookout Point (free, best at tide change), the waterfront and AREA 506 Container Village. Book the Indigenous storytelling walk directly with the local First Nations tour provider or via GetYourGuide (~CAD 40-60 pp) for a land-history perspective on the area. Lunch in town, then take the Bay Ferries Princess of Acadia-style crossing from Saint John to Digby (foot passenger ~CAD 55-65, ~2.5-3 hrs; check the current season's schedule as foot passenger capacity is limited). Arrive early evening, walk the Digby scallop fleet wharf and eat at a local seafood spot.

🚌Bay Ferries Saint John–Digby (~£38)

🛏Guesthouse or motel, Digby (~£42 pp)

• →Reversing Falls Lookout
• →Indigenous storytelling walk (~£30)
• →AREA 506 Container Village
• →Digby wharf walk

Full free day. Top pick is a Bay of Fundy whale watching cruise from Digby or Brier Island (CAD 90, ~3 hrs, book direct with a local operator — humpbacks, minkes and finbacks are common in summer). Alternatively take the local bus/taxi to Annapolis Royal to see Fort Anne National Historic Site (CAD 8), the oldest European settlement in North America, plus the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens and the Saturday farmers' market if your dates align. Bear River's unincorporated artist community and galleries are a short taxi away. Dinner in town; Digby scallops are a must.

🚌Local bus/taxi to Annapolis Royal (~£12 return)

🛏Guesthouse or motel, Digby (~£42 pp)

• →Bay of Fundy whale watching (~£53)
• →Fort Anne NHS (~£5)
• →Historic Gardens
• →Bear River galleries

Travel from Digby to Lunenburg by local bus connections or a pre-booked shuttle (~3 hrs, CAD 60-80). Lunenburg is a UNESCO World Heritage town — take a guided walking tour (CAD 25, book direct with the local historical society or GetYourGuide; the original tour includes this) and visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic (CAD 12). Lunch on the harbour, then continue to Western Shore and check into a guesthouse or the area's hostel/cabin options. Evening: walk or bike the coastal trail, use the property's water activities, and join a bonfire with live music if on offer.

🚌Digby–Lunenburg–Western Shore shuttle/bus (~£45)

🛏Guesthouse or cabin, Western Shore (~£50 pp)

• →Lunenburg guided walking tour (~£15)
• →Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic (~£7)
• →Western Shore coastal trails
• →Evening bonfire / live music

Morning to Peggy's Cove — take the local Peggy's Cove Express shuttle from Halifax (CAD 45-60 return) or a taxi from Western Shore. Walk the fishing village, wharf and the famous lighthouse on the smooth granite rocks (do not walk on wet black rocks — a genuine safety hazard). Continue into Halifax, check into the hostel, and do a self-guided orientation walk: Citadel Hill, the waterfront, Historic Properties, and the Spring Garden Road area. Final evening dinner with any travel companions you've picked up along the way — oysters and craft beer at a Halifax pub.

🚌Peggy's Cove shuttle (~£32)

🛏Hostel dorm, Halifax (~£30 pp)

• →Peggy's Cove lighthouse walk
• →Halifax waterfront orientation
• →Citadel Hill (exterior, free)

Breakfast at the hostel, then take the Halifax Transit Route 320 bus back to YHZ airport (~CAD 4.25) or a taxi. Consider a late flight so you can squeeze in a final coastal walk along Point Pleasant Park or a coffee on the waterfront.

🚌Airport bus (~£2.50)

🛏—

• →Point Pleasant Park walk (if time allows)