Chester Basin · South Shore
South Shore vacation rentals
Casa Scotia has 2 homes on the South Shore, both in Chester Basin: a waterfront retreat with a private dock and hot tub, and a circa-1890 farmhouse near Oak Island. They sleep 8 to 10, and Chester, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg are a short drive away.
See the 2 homes
The homes in Chester Basin
The Oaks Seaside Retreat pairs a historic main house with a modern carriage house on the water. Spyglass Seastead, as its listing puts it, is a circa-1890 farmhouse steps from Oak Island.
Know the area
Local notes for planning a South Shore stay. Tap a topic to open it.
Why the South Shore?
Nova Scotia’s South Shore runs southwest from Halifax along the Atlantic: fishing villages, beaches and heritage towns. Old Town Lunenburg, about 100 km from Halifax, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995; it and Old Québec are the only two urban communities in North America on the list. Lunenburg is also the home port of the schooner Bluenose II.
Mahone Bay is known for its three churches — St. James’ Anglican, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran and Trinity United — standing side by side on the harbour. Chester, a sailing village, hosts Chester Race Week each August, billed as Canada’s largest keelboat regatta; the first documented regatta there was in 1856.
Chester Basin sits between Chester and Mahone Bay, so both are close, and Lunenburg is a little further along the coast. The pace is slower than the city: beach walks, sea kayaking among the islands off Blue Rocks near Lunenburg, and a passenger ferry from Chester out to the Tancook Islands.
Things to do on the South Shore
Lunenburg, Mahone Bay and Chester
Old Town Lunenburg was laid out as a planned British colonial town in 1753, and its brightly painted wooden buildings climb the hill from the waterfront. The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, on the waterfront, tells the story of the Atlantic fishery and is open from mid-May to mid-October. In Mahone Bay, the three churches and the shops and cafés along the harbour are a short stroll apart, and Chester has live theatre and concerts at the Chester Playhouse.
Food and drink
Seafood comes first: chowder, fish and chips and lobster in the harbour towns, with bakeries and cafés along the way. Many restaurants are seasonal, so check hours outside summer.
Beaches and trails
Hirtle’s Beach near Kingsburg, about 3 km long, is the start of the Gaff Point trail, a walk of about 6.5 km round trip with the beach included. Kejimkujik National Park Seaside, further down the coast, has trails to wild beaches where harbour seals haul out on the rocks.
On the water
A passenger ferry runs year-round from Chester to Little and Big Tancook islands. Sea kayakers explore the islands off Blue Rocks, near Lunenburg, and Chester Race Week fills Mahone Bay with keelboats in August.
Best time to visit the South Shore
Summer (June to August)
Beaches, sailing and festivals: Chester Race Week and the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival both take place in August. Book early; summer weekends fill up.
Fall (September to November)
Fall colour along the coast, quieter towns, and the Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival, which fills the town with handmade scarecrows from late September into October.
Winter (December to February)
Quiet and dramatic on the coast. Lunenburg opens the holiday season in late November with its Christmas by the Sea market.
Spring (March to May)
The coast wakes up slowly, and many seasonal restaurants, shops and museums open around May.
Vacation home vs. South Shore hotel
| Compared | Casa Scotia vacation home | Hotel or B&B |
|---|---|---|
| Space | A whole house; our South Shore homes sleep 8 to 10 | A room, often with shared common areas |
| Your group | Under one roof, with shared living space | Spread across rooms |
| Kitchen | A kitchen in every home | Often breakfast only, no cooking |
| Where | Chester Basin, a short drive from Chester, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg | Mostly in the town centres |
| Booking | Priced per home, and never priced above the platforms before tax | Priced per room |
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to compare with a hotel.
South Shore planning questions
How far is Lunenburg from Halifax?
About 100 km southwest of Halifax, roughly an hour and a quarter by Highway 103. The coastal Lighthouse Route takes longer and passes through Chester and Mahone Bay.
Is Lunenburg worth visiting?
Yes. Old Town Lunenburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of only two urban communities in North America on the list. It has a lively waterfront, the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic and, in season, the Bluenose II.
What is Mahone Bay known for?
Its three churches, St. James’ Anglican, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran and Trinity United, side by side on the harbour, one of the most photographed scenes in Nova Scotia.
Can you visit Oak Island?
Oak Island is privately owned. Visitors can go only on scheduled guided tours in season, and boat tours run around the island; check current tour dates before you go.
What are the best beaches on the South Shore?
Hirtle’s Beach near Kingsburg, with the Gaff Point trail; Risser’s Beach Provincial Park near Petite Rivière; and, further along the coast, the beaches of Kejimkujik National Park Seaside.
When is the best time to visit the South Shore?
June to October. July and August are warmest for beaches and festivals; September and October bring fall colour and fewer crowds.
How long should I spend on the South Shore?
Three to five days leaves time for Lunenburg, Mahone Bay and Chester, a beach day and a coastal walk without rushing.
From the guest book
Casa Scotia homes average 4.7 across 400+ guest reviews on Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com. Run by a Halifax team since 2016. Three from our published Airbnb reviews, names shortened.
“Amazing property and great service. We had some of our best memories on this property. The host was great at responding quickly which helped a lot.”
“Location was really perfect, easy walk to wharf, bars and restaurants… Cam and others were wonderful to deal with… Would highly recommend.”
“The property looked better than the photos… We loved the property, so much so, that we tried to extend our stay by 2 additional days but were informed that the property was already booked!”
Homes at a glance
Tap a home to see its live calendar and prices.
| Home | Town | Sleeps | Bedrooms | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Oaks Seaside Retreat | Chester Basin | 10 | 5 | |
| Spyglass Seastead | Chester Basin | 8 | 4 | STR2627D0280 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Questions guests ask
How many homes do you have on the South Shore?
2, both in Chester Basin: The Oaks Seaside Retreat and Spyglass Seastead. They sleep 8 to 10.
Which South Shore home sleeps the most?
The Oaks Seaside Retreat sleeps 10 in 5 bedrooms, on the water with a private dock and a hot tub. Spyglass Seastead sleeps 8 in 4 bedrooms.
Are the South Shore homes pet-friendly?
Yes. The listings for The Oaks Seaside Retreat and Spyglass Seastead both allow pets. Each home’s pet rules and any pet fee are on its booking page. See pet-friendly homes.
How do I book a South Shore home?
Pick your dates above, or tap a home to see its dates and prices. You book on our booking site, booking.casascotia.com, in this tab, and it shows the full price, including fees, before you pay. Direct rates are never priced above the platforms before tax. You can also call (902) 707-0329.
Can we book for a big group or a whole month?
Yes. Our largest home, Heritage Estate 1893 in Wolfville, sleeps 20; near Halifax, Schmidt Lake Mansion sleeps 14. For bigger groups we can plan a stay across two nearby homes: see group stays. Monthly terms are quoted by a person: see monthly stays.
Plan the rest of the trip
Trips & occasions
Travel guides
Other places to stay
Pick your dates. The rest is handled.
Live availability and prices for both South Shore homes are on our booking site — never priced above the platforms before tax.