Situated on the gorgeous Northumberland Shore, the rural village of Caribou is the gateway to the picture-perfect town of Pictou. Steeped rich in history, culture and community spirit, Pictou is also renowned as “the Birthplace of New Scotland,” as it is here where Scottish immigrants first landed in 1773.
With its beautiful waterfront, lovely inns and B&B’s, and wonderful seafood, Pictou is as charming as the people who live there.
Recommended Pictou Experiences
Explore Nova Scotia's Scottish Heritage
Located on the Pictou waterfront, the Hector Heritage Quay is one of Nova Scotia’s major cultural tourist attractions and documents the story of the Scottish migration to the New World. It showcases artifacts, displays and a full-scale, three-masted replica of the ship Hector, while the Ship Hector Company Story features items built on site and official memorabilia.
Outdoor Activities
With such an idyllic location, it’s only natural that there are so many walking, hiking and cycling trails to be found in Pictou. Choose from the Jitney, Short Line and Fitzpatrick Mountain Trails for a meandering stroll or a challenging hike—or take to the waters for some ocean kayaking or a spot of fishing.
A Night on The Town
Get your front-row seats at the deCoste Centre, northern Nova Scotia’s premier presenter of the arts. Opened in 1982, it’s hosted over 2,000 concerts from some of the top singers, dancers, musicians and actors from around the world, while every summer the deCoste Centre stages a weekly series called “The Summer Sounds of Nova Scotia,” featuring the very best of Maritime music.
Get To The Point
World-renowned for their beauty, balance and quality, Grohmann Knives have been handcrafted in Pictou for over 50 years, and have won more than 25 international honours including a display at the New York’s Museum of Modern Art. There are free factory tours throughout the week, where you can see displays and how Grohmann Knives are made using time-honoured Old World traditions.
Trip The Festival Fantastic
Pictou’s deeply rooted Scottish heritage—combined with proud Maritime customs and ties to the sea—make for a number of fantastic festivals including Tartan Day, a celebration of all things Scottish; the Hector Festival, commemorating the 1773 landing of the Ship Hector; and the spectacular Pictou Lobster Festival, one of Nova Scotia’s Signature Events, in honour of all things crustacean.
How to Get to Pictou, Nova Scotia
If travelling by land, take Trans Canada Highway 104, and then take Exit 22 to Trans Canada Highway 106. The Town of Pictou is 17 kilometres from Exit 22.
When arriving by sea onboard the Confederation Ferry from Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island, to Caribou, Nova Scotia, head southeast on Three Brooks Road, take the second left onto Ferry Road and then take Trans Canada Highway 106 for eight kilometres.
