Polly Cove

Located just a few kilometers down the road from Peggy’s Cove, Polly Cove has a great hiking trail by the ocean. This trail was recommended to me by some locals, and is truly one of the hidden gems of the Halifax area. Along this trail you can take two routes, the first route will take you towards Peggy’s Point Lighthouse, and offers a unique vantage point for photography. The trails at Polly Cove are thin, and traverse between pine trees, and rocks. They are not accessible with strollers or wheelchairs, so please take that into consideration. While you hike this trail, I’d recommend a good sturdy pair of walking shoes with maximum comfort. I like to wear asics, as they provide a great amount of versatility, support, and cushion. Additionally the thin trails don’t make it easy for large groups, so it would be recommended to travel in small groups.

After traveling the trail to the right that takes you towards Peggy’s Point Lighthouse, you can turn around and hike a less followed trail. This trail first leads you past some concrete foundations, which I am guessing is the ruins of an old building. Following these ruins, you descend down hill, and travel down a windy path along the granite slopes. This trail was a bit more challenging, and offered a bit steeper terrain. I have climbed a few mountains in the eastern part of the United States, so this wasn’t too challenging for me. But this might not be an easy hike for small children, as it constantly goes up and down hills. The end of the trail is a rewarding view, as you stand on top of the rocky hills and gaze off into the ocean. You will find small granite islands, covered in moss and shrubs, and maybe if you are lucky, you can catch a break from the fog. This would be a great place for meditation or yoga, as it is very peaceful and calming.

During the hike at Polly Cove there was a lot of nature to be spotted, especially the birds. I spotted a few herons, willets, a few types of gulls. Additionally I saw a few frogs, and there were some beautiful flowers along the beginning part of the trail. This trail was hard to find, and a great place to enjoy the coastal barrens. If you would like to see more of Polly Cove, I go further in depth on my YouTube video about Peggy’s Cove, which you can find here.