Standing sentinel at the southernmost tip of mainland Nova Scotia, Baccaro Point Lighthouse has guided mariners along this rugged coast for nearly a century. The striking 45-foot wooden tower, built in 1934, replaced an original 1850 structure lost to fire. Long before roads reached this remote headland, early settlers hauled building materials along the beach to construct the first beacon—a testament to the vital importance of this light to sailors navigating the treacherous Atlantic waters.

Baccaro itself holds a special place in Nova Scotia history as the province's oldest recorded place name, derived from the Basque word baccolaos, meaning codfish. Basque fishermen worked these waters centuries before permanent European settlement, and their legacy lives on in the name. Today, the point draws birdwatchers who come to spot seabirds riding the coastal winds, as well as visitors seeking the raw, windswept beauty of Nova Scotia's southern shore.

The square tapered lighthouse continues to serve as both a working navigational aid and a symbol of Maritime resilience. Easily accessible by road, Baccaro Point offers sweeping Atlantic views, dramatic sunsets, and a tangible connection to centuries of seafaring history.

Approximately 10 minutes from the Town of Yarmouth, the Cape Forchu Lightstation is home to the first “applecore” style lighthouse with its 75 feet of statuesque beauty. This towering beacon sits atop picturesque volcanic rocks and has guided vessels safely into the Yarmouth Harbour since 1840. Today, it’s a great place to have a picnic on the 19 acres of well-groomed grounds, shop in the gift shop, visit the museum and walk the shorelines enjoying the views and crisp salty air of the Yarmouth Harbour. You can even take a tour and climb the 77 steps in the tower! The leisurely country drive to the Cape Forchu Lightstation takes you through magnificent ocean side scenery and coastal communities to experience a part of Nova Scotia that is seacoast, fog, beaches, fishing vessels, working fishing villages and shanties, unpredictable water and tides and breathtaking sunsets. In 1604, Samuel de Champlain discovered this forked tongue of land that he named, Cap Forchu, meaning forked cape. Now it is your turn to come discover what the excitement is all about!