A Birthday Trip to Peggy’s Cove

Included in our trip to Cape Breton Island was a short visit to Peggy’s Cove.
The entire trip to Nova Scotia was a surprise to me. A birthday give from Sheri. And what an amazing birthday give it was.

Neither one of us has been to Peggy’s Cove before, we had only seen it in pictures up to now.
It wasn’t exactly part of the itinerary, but once I learned we were going to be as close as the Halifax airport, I suggested we make a trip there. It did make for an extra long drive to Cape Breton, where our Airbnb was, but it worth it, in my opinion.

Peggy’s Cove is one of Nova Scotia’s most iconic coastal destinations, known for its rugged granite shoreline, crashing Atlantic waves, and the world-famous Peggy’s Point Lighthouse. Visitors come from around the globe to experience this charming fishing village, where colourful boats, weathered homes, and sweeping ocean views create the perfect backdrop for travel videos and photography. If you’re exploring Atlantic Canada or planning a Nova Scotia road trip, Peggy’s Cove is a must-see location filled with natural beauty and maritime history.

You can read more about our Cape Breton Trip here, and the Airbnb we stayed at here

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Tips for Visiting

Stay off the black rocks: The dark, wet rocks are extremely dangerous due to rogue waves. Always remain on the dry, light-coloured granite for your safety.

Visit early or late: Arriving early in the morning or closer to sunset helps you avoid crowds and capture better light for photos and videos.

Dress for the wind: Even on warm days, strong coastal winds can make Peggy’s Cove feel cold—bring a jacket or windbreaker.

Respect the village: Peggy’s Cove is a working fishing community. Be mindful of private property, homes, and fishing equipment.

Wear proper footwear: The uneven granite rocks can be slippery. Sturdy shoes with good grip are essential.

Check the weather and tides: Conditions can change quickly along the Atlantic coast, affecting safety and visibility.

Follow local signage: Safety signs are there for a reason—heed warnings and guidelines at all times.

Plan for limited amenities: There are washrooms and small shops, but food options can be limited, especially outside peak season.

ESTIMATED TIME

2 hr 00 min

ELEVATION GAIN

10 m

DIFFICULTY

Easy

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The dramatic coastline, peaceful fishing wharf, and panoramic sunset views make it a top spot for creators looking for breathtaking scenery.

Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.
Gustave Flaubert

Respect the village: Peggy’s Cove is a working fishing community. Be mindful of private property, homes, and fishing equipment.

Where to Take Photos

Peggy’s Cove is a dream location for photography. Here are the best spots to take photos, whether you’re shooting travel, landscape, or cinematic content:

The classic shot. Capture the lighthouse from a distance to include the sweeping granite rocks and Atlantic Ocean for scale. Early morning and sunset offer the best light and fewer people..
Photograph colourful fishing boats, lobster traps, and reflections in the calm water for a more authentic village feel.
Shoot toward the open Atlantic for glowing skies, silhouettes of the lighthouse, and moody long
On windy days, capture waves crashing against the rocks for dramatic motion shots—use a fast shutter speed and keep a safe distance.

Pro Tip:
Bring a wide-angle lens for landscapes and a telephoto lens for details like boats, textures, and distant waves. Overcast days are great for moody, cinematic shots, while clear days highlight the vibrant coastal colours.

All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.
Martin Buber

Location

The map below gives you the precise location of Peggy’s Cove.

Hands with painted nails holding smartphone capturing a rocky hill with a red and white lighthouse.

A person with painted nails is holding a smartphone and using it to take a photo of a rocky hill with a small red and white lighthouse on top. The background appears blurred.

Gray shingled Neil Depew Gallery on wooden pier over rocky shore with colorful chairs and person under umbrella.

A gray shingled building on a wooden pier above rocky, seaweed-covered shore under an overcast sky. There are several colorful Adirondack chairs on the pier, where a person is sitting under a blue umbrella. A sign on the building reads Neil Depew Gallery.

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A rocky coastal landscape with scattered evergreen trees and green vegetation under a cloudy sky, overlooking a calm body of water.

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A coastal landscape featuring rocky terrain and green vegetation with scattered shrubs and a single tall pine tree near the center. The shoreline extends into the distance under an overcast sky. The calm sea borders the rocky coast on the right side of the image.

Coastal scene with green shrubs, rocky shoreline, calm sea, and cloudy sky.

A coastal landscape featuring dense green shrubbery and low vegetation in the foreground, rocky terrain further back, and a calm sea meeting a cloudy sky on the horizon.

Coastal view with green shrubs, rocky shoreline, ocean, and overcast sky.

A coastal landscape featuring green shrubs and rocky terrain extending toward the ocean under a cloudy sky.

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A coastal landscape with green shrubs and scattered small trees leading to a rocky shoreline. The sky is overcast with grey clouds. A large round stone with three dark curved lines is visible on the left side on top of a larger rock formation. The sea extends to the horizon on the right side of the image.

Coastal landscape with green vegetation, scattered rocks, stone path, rocky shore, and calm water.

A coastal landscape featuring green vegetation and scattered large rocks, with a stone path winding through the terrain. The scene extends to a rocky shoreline and calm water under an overcast sky.

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A coastal landscape featuring a green hillside with scattered rocks and small evergreen trees, overlooking a calm body of water under a cloudy sky.

Stone memorial with bilingual inscription honoring 229 victims of Swissair Flight 111, outdoors with greenery.

The image shows a stone memorial dedicated to the 229 men, women, and children who died aboard Swissair Flight 111, which perished off the nearby shores on September 2, 1998. The inscription is written in both English and French, and the memorial is set outdoors with greenery and small trees surrounding the area. There is a black pot with yellow flowers placed at the base of the memorial.

Small harbor with colorful fishing boats docked near wooden piers, buildings, and rocky shore under cloudy sky.

A small harbor with several colorful fishing boats docked alongside wooden piers and buildings. The shoreline is rocky with seaweed, and houses are visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

Coastal fishing village with boats docked, rocky seaweed shoreline, wooden houses, and overcast sky.

A small coastal fishing village with several boats docked in a calm harbor. The shoreline features rocky terrain covered with seaweed, and there are wooden houses and sheds scattered along the water's edge. The sky is overcast with dense gray clouds.

Person painting a harbor scene on an easel by a rocky waterfront with boats and houses.

A person wearing a blue cap and dark jacket is seated in a folding chair, painting a harbor scene on an easel. The setting appears to be a small coastal village with boats docked in the water and houses with pitched roofs in the background under a cloudy sky. Various art supplies and coverings are placed nearby.

Small harbor with colorful boats docked, rocky seaweed shoreline, houses, and cloudy sky.

A small harbor with several colorful boats docked along the edges, surrounded by houses and wooden structures. The water is calm, with brown seaweed along the rocky shoreline. The sky is overcast with heavy gray clouds, and green vegetation with yellow and purple flowers is visible in the foreground.

Harbor with colorful boats, wooden piers, fishing buildings, grassy shore, and cloudy sky.

A small harbor with several colorful boats docked along wooden piers is set against an overcast sky. Surrounding the harbor are various buildings, including a rustic structure on stilts over the water, as well as houses spread across gentle hills. In the foreground, there is green grass with a bush flowering with pink blossoms and a wooden picnic table beside a dirt path. Rocky and seaweed-covered edges line the water.

Fishing boats docked at a small harbor with wooden buildings, rocky shore, and flowering bushes.

A small harbor features several fishing boats docked near wooden buildings and houses in the background. The shore is lined with rocks and seaweed, and in the foreground, there is a bush with green leaves and pink flowers under a cloudy sky.

Green foliage with purple flowers in foreground, fishing boats and houses by harbor under cloudy sky.

The image shows a close-up of green foliage with purple flowers in the foreground. In the background, there is a body of water with several fishing boats in blue and red colors docked near a small harbor. A cluster of houses with a cloudy sky above is visible further back.

Blue fishing boat docked by wooden piers and buildings with colorful houses in the background.

A small harbor scene with a blue fishing boat docked alongside wooden piers and buildings. The background features several houses painted in blue, yellow, and teal, with a few people walking near the shoreline. The sky is overcast, and the water is calm with reflections of the structures.

Harbor with two red fishing boats docked near rocky shore with yellow-brown seaweed and houses.

A small harbor with two red fishing boats docked near a rocky shoreline covered with yellow-brown seaweed. In the background, there are several houses and a building on a grassy, rocky area under a cloudy sky.

Harbor with two red fishing boats, rocky seaweed-covered shore, houses, and cloudy sky.

A small harbor scene featuring two red fishing boats docked near a rocky shoreline covered with seaweed. In the background, there are several houses and utility poles under a cloudy sky.

Small harbor with dock, red fishing boat, rocky shore, seaweed, and houses on grassy hill.

A small harbor with a dock and a red fishing boat moored in the water. Surrounding the harbor are rocky shores with seaweed and several houses on a grassy hill in the background under a cloudy sky.

Harbor with a red fishing boat docked by pier, rocky shore, wooden buildings, and houses on hill.

A small harbor with a red fishing boat docked by a wooden pier, surrounded by rocky shores and seaweed-covered ground. Several wooden buildings and houses are visible in the background on a grassy hill under a cloudy sky.

Coastal village with colorful houses, wooden fishing shacks, boats, docks, and green hills under clouds

A small coastal village with colorful houses and wooden fishing shacks along a calm harbor. Several boats are docked, including a white boat labeled for tours. The area is surrounded by green grassy hills and rocks under a cloudy sky.

White lighthouse with red top on rocky shore under cloudy sky by the ocean.

A white lighthouse with a red top stands on a rocky shoreline under a cloudy sky. The surrounding area features large granite rocks with patches of green vegetation and the ocean visible in the background.

White lighthouse with red top on rocky coast overlooking ocean under cloudy sky with people nearby

A white lighthouse with a red top situated on rocky terrain overlooking the ocean under a cloudy sky, with several people standing and walking near the lighthouse.

Rocky shoreline with yellowish-brown seaweed extending into calm water under overcast sky.

The image shows a rocky shoreline with large, weathered rocks extending into a calm body of water. The rocks are covered with patches of yellowish-brown seaweed near the water's edge. The sky is overcast, creating a muted light over the scene. The horizon is visible in the distance across the water.

Rocky coastline with cracked gray rocks and brown seaweed beside calm ocean water.

A coastal scene featuring large, smooth, and cracked gray rocks with patches of brown seaweed along the shoreline. The calm ocean water extends into the horizon under an overcast sky.

Person with dark hair bun and clip looking at white lighthouse with red top on cloudy day.

A person with dark hair tied up with a hair clip is standing outdoors, facing a white lighthouse with a red top on a cloudy day. The person is wearing a dark jacket and a hoop earring in their left ear. There are rocks and blurred figures of people around the lighthouse.

Person in dark jacket facing a white lighthouse with red top on rocky shore under cloudy sky

The image shows a white lighthouse with a red top situated on rocky terrain near the sea. The sky is overcast, and a person with dark hair tied back and wearing a dark jacket is in the foreground, facing the lighthouse. There are also two people visible on the rocks to the left of the lighthouse.

Person in dark jacket sitting on rocky shore facing calm ocean under cloudy sky.

A person wearing a dark jacket is sitting on rocky terrain facing the ocean under an overcast sky. The scene includes large rocks, waves crashing near the shore, and a cloudy horizon.

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A person wearing a dark jacket, green pants, and a black cap is standing on rocky terrain, facing the ocean under a cloudy sky.

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A white lighthouse with a red top stands against a cloudy sky, with a large blurred rock and some vegetation in the foreground.

White lighthouse with red top behind large gray rocks under cloudy sky.

A white lighthouse with a red top is situated behind large, gray rocky terrain under a cloudy sky.

Person standing on rocky coastal terrain with green shrubs and ocean under a cloudy sky.

A person stands on a rocky coastal landscape with greenery and shrubs, with the ocean visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

Person leaning on large rock on coastal rocky terrain with greenery and ocean in background

A person stands outdoors on a large rock near the coast, surrounded by greenery and smaller rocks. The sky is overcast, and the ocean is visible in the background. The person is casually dressed and is leaning against a sizable boulder.

Person in light blue shirt and black cap stands on rocky shore facing the ocean with cliffs and rock formations.

A person wearing a light blue shirt, black shorts, white shoes, and a black cap stands on a rocky shoreline, facing the water. In the background, there is a steep, rocky hillside with some greenery and two large rock formations protruding from the water. The sky is clear with a few clouds.

Person in blue shirt and black cap standing on rocky shoreline with cliffs and ocean rocks nearby.

A person wearing a light blue long-sleeve shirt, black shorts, white sneakers, and a black cap stands on a rocky shoreline near the water. In the background, there are steep rocky cliffs with green vegetation, a winding road, and several rock formations protruding from the sea under a clear sky.