Pugwash
 (©jennerally, flickr.com)A Pugwash sunset |
Pugwash is a small fishing and salt mining village on Nova Scotia’s north shore.
The name comes from its location at the mouth of the Pugwash River and the town is particularly proud of its Scottish history, with street signs in English and Gaelic.
Pugwash’s regular residents are fewer than 1,000 in number, making it a relaxing and quiet place to spend a few days.
You can laze on sandy beaches, swim in some of Nova Scotia’s warmest waters or admire the work of local artisans in the town’s gift shops and art galleries.
You can even enjoy a round of golf for as little as $40 at the Northumberland Links Golf Course. There’s a view of the ocean on 16 of the 18 holes. It’s ranked as one of Canada’s top 100 golf courses.
The town also has Nova Scotia’s only salt mine and is the base for Seagull Pewter, a company producing beautiful picture frames and other items for the home out of pewter. Tourists flock to the Seagull Pewter gift shop in Pugwash.
On July 1st, Canada Day, Pugwash springs to life with the Gathering of the Clans – a lively celebration of its Scottish heritage with bagpipes, highland dancing, highland games, food and drink. The day ends with a concert featuring the best of Maritime music and a fireworks show over the harbour.
Perhaps Pugwash’s most famous person was Cyrus Eaton, who invited key scientists from both sides of the Cold War to the town for a conference to state their opposition to nuclear weapons. The meeting later became known as the Pugwash Conferences and meetings with the aim of reducing armed conflict continue around the world to this day.
The Tourist Bureau is in an old brick railway station, now turned into a cultural centre, at the end of the Pugwash Harbour bridge. Check your email at a Community Access Point that charges just $2 a day for the use of computers and wireless internet (open year round, Monday to Friday, 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm).
Directions: Pugwash is on Route 6, between Amherst and Tatamagouche. It’s about a 2 hour drive from Halifax. From Highway 104, take Exit 6 at Oxford and then Route 321 or Route 301 to join with Route 6.