Peggy’s Cove is known for the white lighthouse that sits on a rocky foundation; a granite slope weathered by time that gradually inclines downward to the Atlantic Ocean. When I visited in May, the brisk weather led me to wonder if the snow had just melted. The air held a crisp clean scent, and my fingers were numb with cold. I remember wishing I had worn gloves, as I attempted to capture the scenery with my camera. But regardless of the weather, Peggy’s Cove is a beautiful mystical stop. The small fishing village is only 43 kilometers from Halifax, about 45 minutes by car, and every bit worth the journey.
Folklore surrounds the naming of Peggy’s Cove. Located on the eastern shore of St. Margaret’s Bay in Nova Scotia, I imagine fishermen have shared the tale around their tables about the ship that met an ill fate on these mysterious rocky shores. Whether the story bares any truth, no one really knows for sure, but some still believe that the only survivor was a young woman, perhaps even a young girl. She was adopted by a family and named Peggy of the Cove.
It’s enjoyable to explore the granite rocks that the lighthouse sits on. They stretch for miles and have been polished by the ice age and time. I enjoyed simply sitting on their smooth surface and staring out to sea. However, when you visit be cautious about exploring the rocky shoreline beneath the lighthouse. The Atlantic Ocean can surge without warning and sweep you off your feet into its water. The rocks are slippery when wet and the water is titanic cold. Climbing back out would be difficult. Injury and death have rewarded other careless sightseer’s; please don’t let this beautiful place be your final fate.
A fisherman’s boat dotted the rocky shore while I watched from above. Peggy’s Cove is an active fishing location, though tourism is the largest draw now. The fisherman pulled up crates, which probably held live lobsters. If you like seafood, this is another tasty draw to this area and Halifax.
There’s a nice gift shop and restaurant near the lighthouse where you can have a cup of chowder to warm you from the cold. However, the concierge from our hotel advised us to try the restaurant Rhubarb, which is fairly close to Peggy’s Cove. I enjoyed a delicious bowl of Chowder that was not too thick and included nice big chunks of lobster. While the chowder was ample for a meal, there was plenty of room for dessert. My girlfriends enjoyed Rhubarb crumble, and I had a lemon cake topped with blueberries. Sipping on coffee, and enjoying an Atlantic view, this was a perfect wrap up for Peggy’s Cove. Now that summer has arrived, travellers could sit on the patio. In the evening as twilight descends, this traveller would enjoy a glass of white wine.
