Parks and Farmer’s Markets and Museums, Oh My!

Pictou County, on the North Shore of Nova Scotia has pretty much everything you need for an amazing Nova Scotia Adventure. It boasts some amazing beaches (check out some in our NS Beach Challenge post), large towns and villages that provide you with all the necessities; shopping, food and attractions; as well as, small communities and back roads that allow you to see some of the prettiest sites our province has to offer. On our adventure, today we chose to by-pass the larger attractions and towns (we will have posts on these later) and focus on an off-the-beaten-path adventure – our favourite!

Check out some of the neat things we found, below.

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Loch Broom Log Church

Visiting the Historic Loch Broom Log Church, (Built in 1787, the first church in Pictou County) is the main reason we set out on our adventure today – it has been on our bucket list for awhile and last year, we almost made it – but we were a little timid and unsure of it’s location…

To clarify, the Loch Broom Log Church is actually quite easy to find: if you turn off the Pictou rotary towards Lyons Brook or come into Lyons Brook from Scotsburn or West Branch you just need to follow the signs – it is well marked.

When you reach the last sign at Loch Broom Loop Rd.; however, it points you into the driveway of a bustling farm property. Last year, we chickened out and did not want to drive into someone’s private driveway and disturb them. This year, we bit the bullet and as the sign clearly pointed into their driveway (which is actually more of a farm road) we decided to try it – what’s the worst that could happen – we’d be in the wrong place, turn around and leave or have one of the owners question why we are there and most likely direct us to the church, so in we went.

I’m glad we did. You only need to drive a short distance and you pass the farm and pull into a little loop where the church sits with a beautiful view across the field to the West River. It was pretty in the Spring, but I can just imagine it in the summer and fall.

The church was restored, mostly replaced, in 1973 to; as closely as possible, resemble the original 1787 building.

Since it is still very early in the season we did not get to go into the church (it is open in July and August – see open dates and times on the church Facebook page) but did get to explore the grounds and learn a little of the history of the church and the Scottish immigrant (Alexander Cameron)’s family that built it.

We will be going back as the Loch Broom Log Church Committee hold Gaelic church services there throughout the summer and have even been known to host a family ceilidh on the riverbank (check the Facebook page for dates and times).

Upon leaving the church we continued our journey around the Loch Broom Loop and saw a few Canada Geese and found a hiking trail along the old rail bed.

Then headed toward New Glasgow and one of our favourite parks in Green Hill.

Greenhill Park

“I’m on the top of the world lookin’ down on creation” – The Carpenters

Being on top of the world is certainly the feeling you get when standing on the edge of the Greenhill Park lookoff. Located on Greenhill Rd, at the top of Greenhill, in Pictou County, you can see for miles – forever, on a clear day – even out to the Northumberland Strait. You are so high up, the houses below look like miniature Lego creations and the vehicles traveling on the roads in the distance seem smaller than dinky cars. The view is beautiful now, but again – imagine it in the summer and fall!

The park is great for picnic’ing or going on a hike and the view is incredible. If you have small children, keep a tight hold, the look-off is a cliff and a long drop, roll – through scrub brush and rocks to the fields below. (We have been taking our kids here since our youngest was 4 and we have never had a problem – just be aware!)

There is a little pond near the entrance to the park where you can often see little birds and other wildlife and the entrance to the hiking trail to Dover is located by the look-off.

The park boast a beautiful pavilion which can be reserved for events like family reunions, wedding pictures and large gatherings (see the picture below for contact information).

Little Libraries

When leaving the park, we normally turn right and head down the hill to Highway 4; but, in true back-road adventure fashion we turned left this time to explore the other end of the Greenhill Rd. I’m glad we did! Not only did we have a nice, quiet drive overlooking the valley below, but we found a “Little Free Library” – I love them! We always carry a few pre-read, gently-loved books in our car for just such a find and we traded a few for new ones – one for me (a new series for me – but, when I started reading it I realized I have seen a TV series based on it – luckily the book is a different story than the show was 🙂 )and one for dad! Thanks, Greehill Little Library owners!

You have even inspired us to create our own “Little Free Library” at the Ice Cream Shop. (Check out our post about Blenders and Beyond and things to do in the area HERE!

PS: We found another “Little” library on our way home – I’ll tell you more about it below!

Now that we had started this way, we would normally keep going, but the road travelled down into the valley and we knew we could get to the same place going in the other direction and also knew that there is a Farmer’s Market at the bottom of the hill in the other direction so we turned around a little past the library and headed back past Greenhill park and down to Highway 4 below where we stopped for ice cream. Sorry, no pictures but you can check out the Green Thumb Farmer’s Market on their Facebook Page – they have great ice cream, lots of local arts and crafts and an in-house bakery – OK – we picked up a pie or two, too!!!

Mountain Water and Back Roads to Nowhere

We continued on Highway 4 and traveled into the valley on the roads we had seen from above. We saw the little yellow house – which wasn’t so little now! We also found a mountain spring water collection site. Oh, so cold and so fresh and pure. Tessa took a drink, and got a little wet . 🙂 I did better, but not much! It tasted sooo goood. Filling your water bottles here for the rest of your drive is a must!

We also found some interesting road signs. We have found a “Back Road” sign in Guysborough County before but this is our first in Pictou County!

I love the Upper Mount Thom sign – the steep road before you leads “Up Mt. Thom”

Just a note: We stopped to take a picture of the “Back Road” sign – remember, we are on a lonely road in the middle of almost nowhere (as proven by the sign above) and haven’t seen a car for awhile (although there are a few houses around) and; of course just as I stopped and was getting out two trucks with 4-wheelers on the back came by to head down the “Back Road”. Seeing me stopped and out of my car they slowed down, rolled down the window and called to us to make sure everything was OK and we didn’t need any help – people can be so friendly and nice!!!

Then we drove on through Brookland, through an amazing road-side art gallery – everything is decorated on a whole section of the road – the power poles, the road, and the trees – all bright, sparkly colours. Wow! Sorry, no pictures, I couldn’t stop. The Brookland road was another new one for us – yes, I was lost for a little bit and not sure where we would come out but the road was wide and smooth and we seemed to be heading in the general direction of home and getting lost and finding new things is what our adventures are all about, so we continued on. At the end of the road we turned back onto Highway 256 (in West Branch), cool, I knew where I was again! When we went on our Horseback Riding Adventure at Shelby Ranch in Scotsburn, I mentioned the churches in West Branch and thought we would stop this time and take some pictures to share so we turned down the side road in West Branch to get the best views.

West Branch Churches

A Loop in Time Museum

When leaving the churches and turning back onto Highway 256 we looked up and got a different perspective then we normally see when travelling the 256. In front of us – on the other side of the highway, up a little rise, through the trees there were a bunch of antique tactors and wagons. Being ever curious, we turned in the next road and found “A Loop in Time Museum” – so cool!

If you like history and antiques this stop is a must. It is the perfect little unadvertised, road-side gem we love to find on our travels.

Although not yet open for the season, the owner was there doing some maintenance and yard work and offered to open everything up for us. He has a ticket booth with historical train and bus information from around the area and across the province, a motorcycle shop, a blacksmith shop, a farm store, general store (full of antiques) and a library (the second library we encountered on our journey that I mentioned above – Tessa just loves books and libraries and this one is a lending library that is always open!)

He is adding a church this year and a school house in the future. All the antiques and historical materials come from his family collection and donations from local families. We spent quite a long time, there was so much to see. It was a great place to end our Pictou County adventure.

Try some of these other amazing places in Pictou County to round out your adventure!

• 
  Things to See and Do Back-Roading in Pictou County, NS
  Pictou County, on the North Shore of Nova Scotia has pretty much everything you need for an amazing Nova Scotia Adventure.
• 
  The Best Places to Photograph Bald Eagles in Nova Scotia
  Bald Eagles are a photographers dream, pair them with Nova Scotia scenery, waterways and fields and you get amazing pictures!
• 
  A Horseback Riding Adventure – Amazing Things To Do in Scotsburn, NS
  Looking for some winter fun in Northern Nova Scotia? Why not go on a horseback riding adventure at Shelby Stables – Scotsburn, NS!
• 
  Nova Scotia Beach Challenge
  Oh, to be on a NS beach! Showing mostly North Shore beaches and a few others. Great swimming and bird watching – a photographers dream!

A Walk Through Time Museum – 4119 Scotsburn Rd.

Historic Downtown Pictou – Town of Pictou Facebook Site

Smith Rock Lodge & Chalets – 310 Fitzpatrick Mountain Road

Deb’s Hidden Cafe – 4149 Scotsburn Rd.

Do you know of other Pictou County surprises we should visit? Let us know about them in the comment section below.