Purcell’s Cove and Herring Cove, Nova Scotia
Purcell’s Cove is a community within the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada, on the west side of Halifax Harbour from the Northwest Arm to Ferguson’s Cove along Route 253. Purcell’s Cove is named after Bill Purcell who ferried people to and from Halifax in the 1940s.
Purcell’s Cove Road real estate has developed into a prime real estate location in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Just past the Armdale Rotary The drive is very scenic, with several yacht clubs, historic forts, and breathtaking ocean views.
The Backlands Hiking Trail:
The Backlands encompass 1350 hectares between Williams Lake, Colpitt Lake, McIntosh Run, Powers Pond, Herring Cove and Purcell’s Cove roads. Trails and access points (except the protected area) are unmarked and unofficial. Exploring here requires navigational, ecological and land ownership considerations.
This ecologically unique land is composed of granite and bluestone glacially sculpted rock. The area had been used as a quarry from the mid-late 1700s through to the 20th century. Much of the stone used to construct Halifax’s fortified defences and historic buildings was quarried from this area.
York Redoubt National Historic Site:
High on a bluff overlooking the entrance to Halifax Harbour sits a fortification that has helped protect this historic port throughout three centuries of Canadian history. Part of Halifax’s formidable Defence Complex, York Redoubt was constructed in 1793 just as war broke out between Britain and France. Perched on a bluff at the narrowest point of the outer harbour, it offers superb views. Bring your camera and zest for adventure.
Herring Cove:
A little further along the coast from Purcell’s Cove is Herring Cove. It is situated on the eastern shore of the Chebucto Peninsula, 15 kilometres south of Downtown Halifax. It is near the western approaches to Halifax Harbour, and can be reached both via Purcell’s Cove along the coastal road and from inland via the Herring Cove Road through Spryfield. There are local amenities in Herring Cove and two schools in Herring Cove, William King Elementary and Herring Cove Junior High.
