Barrhead Travel's Destination of the Week: Atlantic Canada

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Feast on The East

In the face of stiff competition from big-draw cities such as Montreal and Toronto, and the Rockies and Vancouver out west - not to mention the US states across the border such as New England and New York - Canada's rugged Atlantic coastline has remained stubbornly off the mainstream radar for UK tourists.

In a bid to rewrite the rulebook, the country's four eastern provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador have joined forces, teaming up as one destination, Atlantic Canada, to boost the region's profile in the UK.

It also has some spectacular scenery; expansive Atlantic beaches; excellent whale and wildlife-watching opportunities; open roads, ripe for exploring on a flydrive; an old-fashioned pace of life; great lobster fishing (and eating, of course); harbour towns full of welcoming locals; and accommodation options ranging from bed and breakfasts, cabins and resort hotels to houseboats and lighthouses.

Here's a brief breakdown of what each of the four provinces has to offer.

Nova Scotia
Wherever you are in Nova Scotia, the ocean is no more than half an hour away. This is a province of stunning seascapes, rocky cliffs and sandy beaches. The Cabot Trail, on Cape Breton Island, is one of the world's most scenic drives. Cape Breton is also known for its wildlife, folk art, traditional music and warm nightlife.

Driving is the opposite of hassle and navigating is dead easy. When not at the wheel (or in the saddle of a motorbike!), you will be tempted to explore Nova Scotia's national parks on foot, or take to the water in a boat or sea kayak.

Halifax, the province's capital and gateway city has excellent museums and heritage sites, as well as great dining options aplenty. In fact, Nova Scotia has a surprising abundance of mouth-watering treats, from blueberries and maple syrup, to locally-caught lobster and homegrown wines.

New Brunswick
When it comes to outstanding natural beauty, The Bay of Fundy is hard to beat. Every day 100 billion tonnes of seawater roll into the bay, giving it the world's highest tides. In the summer, you can expect to share the shoreline with tens of thousands of birds, as well as passing pods of whales.

Other holiday highlights include kayaking through the soaring Hopewell Rocks and getting up-close and personal with your first humpback whale.

New Brunswick also has hundreds of miles of beaches, and some of the warmest salt water north of Virginia. Kouchibouguac National Park's miles of sand dunes make it a magnet for birdwatchers (the park is home to the endangered piping plover as well as North America's second-largest tern colony) as well as spotters of grey and harbour seals.

Inland from its dramatic coastline, New Brunswick is renowned for its colourful fall foliage. There are also eight cities to stroll around, including Fredericton, which holds an annual jazz festival.

Newfoundland and Labrador
St John's, Newfoundland is less than five hours from the UK, so you can catch a lunchtime flight and arrive in time for a lobster dinner! After exploring St John's, you will want to move on to Gros Morne National Park.

Here you can go hiking or kayaking, or take a boat trip through the fjords to spot breaching whales (July and August), dolphins and porpoises, or maybe even glimpse the odd iceberg drifting south.

Canada's newest national park, Torngat Mountains, offers insights into local Inuit culture. At the Inuit base camp, visitors can chat with tribal elders as well as experience traditional activities such as fishing for char, walking on the tundra and storytelling.

Beyond the parks, the region's coastal towns have great charm and some great characters.

Prince Edward Island
In a part of the world that's not exactly hectic, Prince Edward Island is known for its gentle pace of life. People come here for the endless beaches and luxury resorts, but most of all to unwind.

Popular activities include beachcombing, cycling, a round of golf at one of the island's 30 courses, exploring Prince Edward Island National Park, holistic spa treatments and fine dining.

To enjoy the very freshest lobster, take a fishing trip to catch and then cook your own king of crustaceans. Alternatively just get together with locals at a beach clambake.

The island's capital, Charlottetown, makes a perfect base and has a historic boutique hotel, The Great George, that's handy for the city's shopping, theatre district, and tranquil waterfront.

For more information on Atlantic Canada or for any of your travel needs be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call. Phone us now on 0871 226 2673 or visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk and start planning your holiday to Atlantic Canada today!