Hartlings Island

Located in the midst of unspoiled nature, Hartling’s Island is a true gem of a private island. Tucked away in Nova Scotia’s charming Mitchell Bay township, the island offers everything your heart desires and more. From lush green woodlands and endless fresh air to endless ocean views and star-filled skies, Hartling’s Island is a little piece of paradise on earth.

The island boasts an enviable location, hugging the coast of Mitchell Bay and protected from the elements by a series of neighbouring islands – which perhaps explains why the island has been inhabited since the mid-19th Century. The east of the island opens out into a large bay, which boasts calm waters and safe mooring even during windy conditions.

From here, it’s just a  few steps to the main house – a solid, fully-insulated 40 m² building home to a spacious sleeping / living area, a kitchen area and a small outhouse surrounded by a field. The house can easily be extended without any problems, and drinking water can be found in abundance, thanks to the islands’ newly constructed well.

In terms of landscape, the island enjoys a dense coverage of coniferous woodland and various other trees (birch, ash, maple and alder). A number of hiking trails (approx. 8 km) zig-zag across the island, criss-crossing through various berry bushes (raspberries, blackberries and gooseberries) and leading on to countless cosy bays and crags.

Nature-lovers will be in there element on Hartling’s Island: further to the aforementioned trees, ferns and flowering plants, the island also hosts a small herd of deer and is also occasionally visited by friendly sealions who like to bask in the sun upon the island’s natural beach (located towards the west of the island). 

A small camp (20 m²) can be found not far from the beach. Offering a kitchen area and two bunk-beds, the camp is just steps away from the clear waters of Mitchell Bay. Offering pleasantly warm water throughout the summer months, it’s ideal for swimming, diving and any other watersports you’d care to indulge in.

A small fishing village can be found on the mainland adjacent to the island. A small harbour can be found here, offering ample space to dock your boat and easy access to Hartling’s Island. The village of Moser River is just 10 minutes’ drive away, offering access to a convenience store, a post office and a community hall.

Beyond Moser River are the towns of Sheet Harbour and Sherbrook (both 30 minutes’ drive away). Here, you will find a generous complement of shops, restaurants, banks and even a hospital. Furthermore, the provincial capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax (and Halifax International Airport), is approx. two hours’ drive away.

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