Guysborough and Area
Guysborough.
Welcome to
Guysborough
The community of Guysborough offers lovely trails for nature appreciation and an exciting cultural waterfront. The Guysborough area also includes the Lincolnville area with its’ Black Loyalist origin and history, and the road to Giant’s Lake with it’s many woods roads and fishing opportunities.
Our Nature
Guysborough Nature Trail.
There are several options for hikes, with spectacular views of Cooks Cove and Chedabucto Bay, interesting geological formations such as the Sugarloaf, and wonderful river routes including the McAllister suspension bridge. Forest cover and habitat mixes vary, and as a consequence, there is great bird and forest floor diversity – a nature enthusiast’s delight.
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The Guysborough Nature Trail has four access points:
- Part 1 is 8 km and overlooks Cooks Cove/Chedabucto Bay
- Part 2 is 8.5 km and connects at the Salmon River Bridge and goes to the Ogden Trail
- Part 3 is 9.5 km and connects Ogden to Salmon River Lake Trail
- Part 4 is 9 km and connects Salmon River Lake to Moshers Lake Trail
Our Nature
Shepherds Lake Trail.
Shepherds Lake Trail is located along Route 16 at Lincolnville. There is a lovely parking area at the trail head, and it is just a short five-minute walk to the lakeside. There are a number of picnic tables for your use at this picturesque site. The forest transitions from coniferous to a mix of softwood and hardwood species enroute to the lake, and with that comes a diversity of songbirds and other wildlife for your enjoyment and interest. This is a great place to catch your breath, stretch your legs and tune into nature.
Our Nature
Guysborough Waterfront Trail.
You can join the 3.5km Waterfront Trail at the end of Main Street in Guysborough, parking your vehicle along the road. There are always gulls and cormorants along the way during summer, and waterfowl including black ducks, grebes, and buffleheads are added to the mix come fall. Great blue herons are a regular sight as well. This route also includes past historic features including Nicolas Deny’s fishery trading posts and the ramparts of a village fort.
Our Nature
Boylston Provincial Park.
Another local trail and picnic park worth checking out is Boylston Provincial Park, located between the communities of Guysborough and Boylston. A bridge provides access to this waterside trail which offers great birding and nature enjoyment. On the western side of Highway 16 is the entrance to the camping component of the park. It is an ideal place to camp among the trees and offers a great vantage point from which to enjoy views of Guysborough Harbour.
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Guysborough
Our Culture.
This is the village where theatre, art, music, spirits, and a strong sense of community merge. Depending on the day, you can take in a local play, see artists at work, view a wide variety of arts and crafts, and enjoy music on the waterfront. You can also take a tour of a local distillery and sample a variety of spirits. Enjoy the arts and spirits of Guysborough County’s cultural hub.
Prince Henry Sinclair Monument
Located at Halfway Cove on Highway 16 is a beautiful lookout over Chedabucto Bay. There is a monument to the landing of the Prince Henry Sinclair Expedition at the nearby beach in Guysborough. The Prince Henry Sinclair Society of North America believe the prince and his large crew landed at Chedabucto Bay in 1398, which is a very early European contact. You can learn more about the landing and its significance with a visit to the site. Bring binoculars and a camera too, as the view is amazing.
Mulgrave Road Theatre
Was established in 1976 and is Eastern Nova Scotia’s longest-running professional theatre company. The Theatre produces and develops professional works of theatre and fosters artistic and cultural experiences for the region and surrounding regions to enjoy. MRT has produced dozens of original scripts, many of which have been seen on stages across the country and beyond. MRT owns two locations in Guysborough, the RoadHouse located at 10559 Route 16 located across from the Guysborough Memorial Hospital and another building at 68 Main Street, Guysborough which is primarily used for Administration purposes.
Old Courthouse Museum
Coming into Guysborough on Highway 16 from Canso, you will find the Old Courthouse Museum. It is also the local visitor centre, so it is worth dropping in to get oriented. Built in 1842-43, the museum offers a large selection of books and reference materials, including numerous complete genealogies for use within the museum. It also hosts displays and exhibits that illustrate the story of Guysborough County and its people. Here you can learn about the intriguing history of the many European conflicts that spilled over to the local area.
Guysborough Waterfront
Located just off of Main Street is the Guysborough Waterfront. The waterfront property has a full-service marina and two buildings. The Jost Building is a two-story structure that was restored from the original Jost Store property. The main floor serves as an area for community markets and winter storage, while our upstairs is a full floor space for public gatherings and entertainment. During the summer months the waterfront has regularly scheduled music on Wednesdays as well as periodic special events. The marina area also houses Artworks East and has food concessions.
In the summer of 2023 many updates have happened on the waterfront properties. Exterior renovations to both the Jost and Marina buildings as well as the addition of 2 Kiosks have revamped the entire space and made it ready for visitors. A waterfront farmers market happens each Saturday in the summer months and food vendors occupy the two kiosks. Plenty of seating has been added along with sun shades for sitting by the water watching the boats come and go.
Enjoy a bit of time on the waterfront.
Artworks East
Housed in the Marina Building during the summer is Artworks East. It is a non-profit association of artists and crafters who live in Guysborough County. The artists and crafters present their works for viewing and sale at the waterfront. They also have periodic demonstrations by artists at the site. This is a must-visit location. Appreciate the art inspired by nature and community and bring some of Nova Scotia home with you.
Authentic Seacoast
A visit to Guysborough must include a tour of the Authentic Seacoast Brewery and Distillery.
Brews and spirits for tasting include Fortress and Sea-Fever Rums, Glennevan Whiskey, Rare Bird Craft Beer, Virga Vodka, and Full Steam Coffee among others. The tasting room is open daily from 11-5 from June to September, and tours of the facility are available most days so you can learn about the history and traditions of the brewing processes. It is recommended that you call or email to pre-book tours, and though closed to the public from October until May, visits can still be arranged. Come and enjoy the flavours of Guysborough!
Chedabucto Lifestyle Complex
The “CLC” as it is known, is the Municipality of Guysborough’s newest full-service recreation facility. Opening in 2018 at 60 Green Street, the facility includes many unique features such as a refrigerated shinny rink and skating loop that measures approximately 1,000 feet in length; an outdoor firepit, a regulation-sized artificial turf soccer field that is surrounded by a four lane running track with a section of tiered seating. The facility is used year-round for skating and shinny hockey, ball hockey, basketball, rollerblading, walking and many other activities. On the interior of the building exists an elementary-sized gymnasium for recreation and community programming, a fully equipped industrial kitchen for hosting large community events and weddings, rentable meeting space, recreational offices and a fitness center. One of the most-notable uses of the building is the provision of space for the Guysborough Options for Adaptive Living Society (GOALS) which is a longstanding organization that provides a safe, friendly and educational space for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
DesBarres Manor Inn
90 Church Street, Guysborough
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Distillery House
119 Ferry Lane, Guysborough
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Hart’s of Boylston General Store
11771 Highway 16, Boylston
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Big G’s Pizza
111 Main Street, Guysborough
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Miles MacDonald Performance Center
27 Green Street, Guysborough
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