A Scenic Digby Neck Drive

The very scenic Digby Neck is a great place to go for an afternoon drive while visiting the Annapolis Valley. Actually to really enjoy everything there is here to see, pack a lunch and spend the day.

If you like spectacular shorelines, great beaches, unusual rocks, small fishing communities and rugged landscape, then this is the drive for you. You can have it all in the Digby Neck.

Although the Digby Neck Islands are one of my very favorite places to visit and explore, I am not going across the ferries for this drive. That will be another day, as there is just too much to see in one day's drive. As it is I suggest you pack a picnic lunch and stop at one of the great beaches along the way.

The Park & Walking Trail in Digby, NS
Where We Will Start Our Scenic Digby Neck Drive

I am starting my scenic Digby Neck drive at the park on Shore Road in Digby. That is the main street in Digby that follows along the shore. There are numerous other ways and faster ones to get to the Digby Neck road, but I am making a day of it and so I am taking a bit of a detour out around the coast from Digby.

Take time to discover Digby as you drive through town, it is a beautiful little town with a lot to offer. In 1997 Canadian Living magazine announced that Digby was voted the most romantic place in Canada.

Digby was named after Admiral Sir Robert Digby who arrived here with 1500 United Empire Loyalist and settled the town. Before long Digby became a important fishing and lumber center. Today Digby has become a favorite place to visit and of course they are still home to the world known Digby Scallop fleet.

For our scenic Digby Neck drive keep going past the Digby wharf and the road will turn as you go around what they call the "Rachet". Turn onto Highway 303 towards the Digby / St. John Ferry.

Now I will warn you here that the trail I am taking will involve a bit of travelling on a dirt road. If you would rather stay on payment then you can go straight through this intersection and take your first right onto the Lighthouse Road. We will meet up again at the Point Prim Lighthouse.

As we drive towards the ferry you will past by the majestic Digby Pines Resort. Maybe, if you are lucky you might see a celibraty driving out of the Pines, several do come to stay there.

Just before the ferry terminal you will pass by some round things out in the water. These are salmon hatcheries and are full of young salmon in differet stages of their growth.

Just before you get the the ferry terminal for the Princess of Acadia you will see a road junctioning off to your left. Turn up this road, It will turn into a gravel road, but it good travelling. Not far up this road if you look down to your right you will have a good view of the ferry terminal, especially if the Princess of Acadia is in port. Then a little farther up the road you will have a great view looking across to Victoria Beach wharf area.

This road will come out onto the Lighthouse Drive and continue on to the Point Prim Lighthouse. I love this spot and suggest that you take a moment to get out of your car and take a look at the scenery here. You are at the outer edge of the Digby Gut and can easily look across to Victoria Beach on the other side. If you are really lucky in your timing you may see the Princess of Acadia steaming by

Looking at the Digby Gut from Point Prim Lighthouse
Part of my Scenic Digby Neck Drive    

either entering or leaving the Digby Gut. There seem to be always fishing boats going by here also and you just may be lucky enough to see some seals or even a whale.

When you have enjoyed this beautiful place enough and ready to continue on our scenic Digby Neck drive, just head back the way you came for a short distance until you come to the Broad Cove road on your right. Turn west onto this road and follow it along to the end. It follows along the shoreline for most of it and comes out to the Route #217, the Digby Neck road. Turn right here.

Continue on your way down this road enjoying the quiet little houses along the way. Do not be surprised if anyone you meet throws you a wave, it is not because they think they know you, it is to welcome you to their area.

The first turn off I am taking along the scenic Digby Neck is the road into Gulliver's Cove on your right in Roseway.

I can remember coming to Gulliver's Cove a lot when I was growing up. As I have mentioned before my father used to make agate jewelry and this was one of his favorite spots to search the beach for these semi-precious stones. Most times my brother and I would head for the bedrock and have fun searching the many pools of water left behind from the out-going tide. We would find all kinds of marine life in these pools.

The last time I drove down to Gulliver's Cove we passed by a driveway full of dulse laid out to dry. Of course my sister and I had to stop to see if we could buy some and the lady was very nice and scooped us up a bag full. Oh fresh dulse is so good.

Retract your way back onto Route #217 and continue on down the scenic Digby Neck.

Not far from here you will come to a spot where the road passes really close to the shore of St Mary's Bay on your left. At high tide the water will be right up close to the road, and even on the other side of the road. This area is known as the Seawall and during low tide this was another place Dad used to look for agates. You are welcome to stop and stretch your legs and walk along the shore, if the tide is low

The Caves and the bands of Agate in the rocks at Centreville, NS

enough.

The next little village you will come to along the scenic Digby Neck road is Centreville. It is worth taking the turn here and drive down to their wharf. Notice the landscape along the way, it is very rocky and the trees are actually smaller.

When you reach the wharfs you can stretch your legs again and take a walk out onto them. Take notice on your right of the rocks, it looks like there are caves in them. This was caused by erosion from the force of the waves and tides over the years.

You will also see what looks like lines in some of the rocks. These are seams of agate and other semi-precious stones running through the bedrock. If the tide is right and you have the time you can walk over and beyond these rocks and you will find many more with these seams of agate running through them.

Back out onto the road again the next place of interest will be Lake Midway. Lake Midway recieved it's name as this is approximately halfway through the scenic Digby Neck drive to the Islands.

At Lake Midway there is a lovely little Provincial Park with picnic tables and a place to go swimming. This would make one nice place to stop for your lunch and let the kids cool off for a bit.

The next spot on our scenic Digby Neck drive will be the beautiful Sandy Cove. First let's take the turn off on your right which will take you to the Bay of Fundy side of Sandy Cove. You will find their wharf and a beautiful beach area, another great spot for a picnic and a swim in the Bay of Fundy.

Have you ever heard the mystery of Jerome? He was a fellow who was found abandoned with no legs on the shoreline here on August 23, 1863. A vessel had been noticed the day before lowering a boat and heading to shore. But it was thought they were probably in search of water so no one paid much attention to it. The next day a young man found Jerome on the beach with a jug of water and a supply of biscuits.

The villagers gave him the name Jerome after they found the man either could not, or would not talk. He stayed for a bit in the community and then arrangements were made and a man in nearby Metagan took Jerome in for several years. After, Jerome was moved to Cheticamp where he lived out his remaining years, never to tell the mystery of why he was abandoned on the beach or how he lost his legs.

Now lets go back out to Route #127 and continue our scenic Digby Neck drive. Right after you get back on the main road the road will pass very close to the water's edge and give you a fantastic view of this beautiful inlet. The water seems so blue here and the green of the hills surrounding it just makes a perfect picture including the fishing boats and the wharf.

The fog rolling over the hill at Sandy Cove, Digby Neck, NS
Seen Along the Scenic Digby neck Drive        

It is very interesting to see the difference here between low and high tide. At low tide all the fishing boats are left high and dry on the sea bottom.

As we continue our scenic Digby Neck drive you will see several other roads that will take you to either the Bay of Fundy coast or the coast of St. Mary’s Bay. You may take any of these for great views and scenery, however the next one I am going to mention is at Little River.

At the turn off to your left in Little River you will see a general store on the corner. When I stopped in here I found both the staff and customers very helpful and informative to me. They answered any of my questions and shared some very interesting stories about the area with me.

Travelling down the road to St Mary's Bay watch for a beautiful lily pond on your right. When we were last by this pond it was almost completely covered in beautiful red, pink and white lilies and was just beautiful.

In the fishing village of Little River you will come to a corner with a monument in the middle of the intersection. I pulled off here and

Scene at Little River, Digby Neck, NS
        Along the Scenic Digby Neck Drive

enjoyed the scenery of this little village with the river running through it. Then I continued on up the road to their wharf where I was struck with the beauty of the area. Take the time to go have a look, you will not be disappointed.

The next place I turned off was the Whale Cove road on your right. Up over the hill you will see a great camping area and more great views of the majestic Bay of Fundy.

Back on the main road again you will start to see the landscape changing. The land is becoming rockier, the trees and shrubbery are shorter and you will find more swampy areas. The North Mountain is still on your right, but the hills are not as tall anymore and as you approach East Ferry you will notice the big wind turbine on top of the mountain.

This road will take you right through East Ferry, around a sharp horseshoe turn and right down to the Ferry dock, where you can cross over to the Digby Neck Islands. As I mentioned, I am not going across today, but I do recommend you to go across at some time. Both Islands will reward you with great scenery and lots of marine life to behold. But I will leave that for another day and another trip.

First take your time looking around East Ferry, enjoy the fantastic views overlooking the Petite Passage. Watch for fishing boats, or whale watching boats travelling up and down the passage.

Watch the little ferry the "Petite Princess as it crosses back and forth from one side to the other.

You know the very first time I remember coming to visit the Digby Neck Islands they did not have a ferry like is here today. At that time it was a barge towed across by a tug boat. They would have to travel way up or down the passage shoreline, depending on which way

A "Bouy Tree" seen along the Scenic Digby Neck Drive  

the tide was running, before attempting to cross over. As they crossed the passage the force of the tide would carry them way past their port and they would have to steam back up or down.

After you have your fill of this beautiful spot just back track back on Route #217 to return to Digby. This road will take you right into Digby where I turn right at the 4-way stop sign. At the stop lights turn left and this will take you right back to our starting point at the park.

You can always continue exploring the scenic Digby Neck on your way back. Look for the road to take you to the head of St. Mary's Bay where you will find a picnic area and beach.

In Seabrook look for a sign for the replica of the Maude Lewis House. No this is not the original house but a very good replica of her tiny little house where she would spend her days painting. Paintings she would give away or trade for services but are worth a very nice price today.

Can you think about anything I missed along the scenic Digby Neck drive that should be mentioned?

Or maybe you have another favorite drive in the Annapolis Valley or Bay of Fundy Shore that you would like to share with us?

We would love to hear about it. It is easy to include your story to this web site, just click here to be taken to where you can submit your story.

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