We’ve given you a few options on this one. From Amherst you can take the main route to Advocate Harbour and it’s amazing twisties, or for a more relaxed ride err onto the north shore and the Sunrise Trail. The Main route takes you off the Trans Canada Highway just past Amherst through some rolling farmland to the coast and the town of Joggins. Here you can take a stop to explore the fossil museum, with fossils pulled from the famous Joggins cliffs (a World Heritage site dontchaknow).

After Joggins the road looks like you’ll get lots of great coastal roads but alas it’s pretty much all trees and there’s not much of interest until you reach the quaint coastal village of Advocate Harbour, where you can gas up and get a bite to eat. If you’re confident about a bit of hilly gravel road then just out of Advocate take the road to Cape D’Or for a short diversion to a rather spectacular lighthouse (with seasonal tea-room) and some tingling cliffs.

But the road from Advocate to Parsboro is spectacular as it hugs the hilly coastline and is forced to roller coaster it’s way with the occasional hairpin thrown in for good measure. When you get to Parsboro, you adrenal gland may need to recover and the town offers food for both the rider and the bike. 

Alternate Route – if you want to bypass the so-so road through Joggins and down to Parrsboro, then consider taking the alternate due south road to Parrsboro. The Parrsboro Shore Road can be found on your right just before you arrive and I strongly recommend taking this to Advocate for a cuppa/meal (see POI) and then coming right back. The road is that good, that to do it in both directions is a worthy option than taking the Joggins road.

From Parrsboro east the road is not as spectacular but it’s still very good with some good twisties and views of the coast. You may want to take a pause to check out the Five islands which can be seen from the road or detoured for a closer look. Shortly afterward we depart the coast and head north through the Wentworth valley before heading due east along the Scotsburn road which meanders through some smashing Nova Scotia countryside.

At New Glasgow there’s what is known as the mini Cape which is a brief teaser of what is to come if you’re heading all the way up to the Cabot Trail, followed by a short hop to Port Hawkesbury and Cape Breton island.