Martinique Beach

The Longest Crescent Beach In Mainland Nova Scotia At About 5 Km, With White Sand, Dunes, A Bird Sanctuary Behind It And A Boardwalk And Trail. A Wide Quiet Beach On The Eastern Shore With Seabirds And Plover Protection Areas · Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia

Martinique Beach is the longest crescent of sand on the mainland of Nova Scotia, an arc of about 5 km on the Eastern Shore, south of Musquodoboit Harbour. White sand, low dunes and a wide sky stretch away in both directions, with a bird sanctuary and salt marsh behind the dunes and protected plover areas along the upper beach. A road leads from Highway 7 through spruce woods to a parking area, and a boardwalk and trail cross the dunes to the shore. The beach is mostly quiet, even in summer, and the waves roll in softly across a long gently sloping strand that suits walking, kite flying and cold-water wading. In autumn and winter, geese and ducks use the marsh, and snowy owls are sometimes reported on the dunes. The park has washrooms and picnic tables but no shop, so bring food and water. For those who like open space rather than facilities, this beach is one of the best stretches of Atlantic coast within an hour of Halifax.

Martinique Beach Provincial Park, on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia about 15 km south of Musquodoboit Harbour on Highway 7; coordinates approximate, Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada

The beach has no gate and can be walked at any hour, though the park access road and services keep a seasonal pattern, roughly late May to mid-October, with washrooms and the picnic area open in that period - confirm with the province. Lifeguards are not guaranteed and, if they operate, usually work only part of July and August, so confirm before swimming. The road is plowed rarely in winter, and the lot may be closed or icy, so confirm access before a winter walk. Parts of the upper beach and dunes are fenced in spring and early summer to protect nesting shorebirds, and the fences are to be respected.

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