Beautiful scenery around the Cape dOr Lighthouse

Cape D’Or Lighthouse – What a Stay Looks Like

I didn’t appreciate the treat I was in for when I booked a one night stay in the lightkeeper’s cottage – a stone’s throw away from the Cape D’or Lighthouse near Advocate Harbour in Nova Scotia.

I’d left accommodation arrangements until the last minute – but sometimes the planets align and everything falls into place. This was one of those times.

Looking out at the Cape D'Or Lighthouse and restaurant
Looking out at the Cape D’Or Lighthouse and restaurant

Cape d’Or Lighthouse location

The Cape d’Or Lighthouse is about 6 km away from Advocate Harbour, a small community near Cape Chignecto, accessible via a well signed gravel road. From Halifax it’s a 2.5 – 3 hour drive.

Once you arrive at the parking lot it’s a hike down on a steep, boulder strewn hill to get to the lighthouse. Should you be unable to hike up or down the hill, Darcy the owner, will drive up and get you. At the end of your meal – should you eat there – the hike back up is a great way to burn off some calories.

Many people come just to see the lighthouse and the surrounding landscape. Others come for lunch or dinner and some like me come for a night or two.

The restaurant has been included for years in the book Where to Eat in Canada – and would have been again this year except that Darcy didn’t even think he’d be open so he asked to have his listing removed.

"A desolate but beautiful view from the dining room at the Cape DOr Lighthouse
A desolate but beautiful view from the dining room

Dining at the Cape d’Or Lighthouse

On the night I was there for dinner there were just two other tables filled – but it was mid-week. My meal was superb from start to finish – and for $30 a bargain considering it included three courses – all of which were outstanding.

The view from the table is amazing and would make a great place to watch a storm; I settled for watching the tide roll in.

"Fresh caught haddock and shrimp on a bed of bok choy at the Cape DOr Lighthouse restaurant
Fresh caught haddock and shrimp on a bed of bok choy
A rhubarb crumble
A rhubarb crumble

After dinner I had a bit of time to check out the scenery before the light faded. Ideally I would want to spend a whole day in the area exploring the cave and walking the beach.

You can explore the cave at low tide
You can explore the cave at low tide
Cape dOr Lighthouse area in Nova Scotia near Advocate Harbour
Rugged cliff landscape around the corner from the restaurant

The Lightkeeper’s Cottage

The accommodation in the lightkeeper’s cottage is simple but clean. It would be the ideal place to go to as a family as there are three bedrooms, a small kitchen and a living room. I shared it with one other couple but I had my own bathroom.

Darcy had contemplated closing a few years ago. He’s been running the place for a while and is contemplating a change – so go now – because this isn’t the sort of place you want to miss if you’re visiting Nova Scotia.

2025 update: The place is very much a going concern. 

Visit the Cape d’Or Lighthouse website for more information and to book.

Rooms are $165 per night plus taxes (2025 prices) – with four rooms in total. It is possible to rent the whole cottage at a savings. Bring cash as plastic isn’t accepted. They are open from June until November.

Dusk at the Cape d'Or Lighthouse
Dusk at the Cape d’Or Lighthouse
The fading light of a June evening
The fading light of a June evening at the Cape d’Or Lighthouse

Further reading on things to do in Nova Scotia

Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.

A stay in the Cape D'or Lightkeeper's Cottage on the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia

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50 Comments

  1. Please tell me if this gem is still operating? My Mother and I will be visiting this summer and a light house sleep over is on our list :0)
    Cheers!
    Margaret in British Columbia

    1. @Margaret When I was there he had threatened to close it but I think it’s still open. Call and leave a message; I remember it taking a bit for me to get through. Here’s the # I found on the web – (902) 670-8314. The food is AWESOME!

  2. Stayed at Cape D’or lighthouse a few years back with my sisters, it was absolutely fabulous and the food was awesome! Would love to go again!!

  3. Gorgeous! I do want to stay there now. The food looks great too 🙂 I always love seeing and reading about new places but then I realize how I keep adding places to go, where will all the time come from 🙂

  4. I cant say that I have ever stayed in a lighthouse before, it sure does sound magical.
    That cave would be so good to explore, as long as low tide was around for some time!
    The meals are such good prices, love the “bring cash” because there is no plastic allowed, smart guy that runs the Lighthouse.

  5. I love staying in quirky accommodations, and light houses are among the best. Just returned from a stay at the old lightkeeper cottage at Lista in Southern Norway where we were given the keys to the light house, to go up and down as much as we wanted all night long. It was wonderful. I’d like to return in autumn when the weather, the wind and the sea is a bit more rough and dramatic.

    Cape d’Or looks wonderful too (and very reasonable) – and there’s even a restaurant! And Nova Scotia is just a hop across a wee expanse of water from here. Hm…

    1. @Sophie I think you better go this summer in case he closes next year. And the way you hop around the world it would be no big deal.Your recent stay also sounds marvelous.

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