A pristine sandy beach in Louisbourg, N.S., is a popular spot for visitors, but some say it can be hard to get to.
The secluded Kennington Cove beach is located on lands within the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site and is maintained by Parks Canada.
Jim MacDonald has been going to Kennington Cove for decades with his family. About two weeks ago, he and his wife took their grandchildren for a swim at the beach but found it difficult getting down onto the sand due to the slippery rocks.
“You had to really watch your step and you’re trying to do that and you’re carrying everything” including cooler, beach chairs, towels and toys, said MacDonald, who is 75 years old. “It would be nice if the path wasn’t an obstacle course.”
Because the site is operated by the federal government, MacDonald said it should be made accessible to all.
“It’s a great beach and it should be easier to get to,” MacDonald said. “There are sort of large smooth stones. They’re a pretty good size. It wouldn’t take much to move them. I mean, you don’t need a machine to move them, but you could manually move them either way.”
Eddie Kennedy, Parks Canada visitor experience manager, said the Kennington Cove is the first of two beaches on the Fortress of Louisbourg property, and its path down to the beach is fairly steep and rocks along the path can be slippery.
He said sometimes the ocean moves or piles up rocks at Kennington Cove in ways that make walking down to the water more difficult.
Kennington Cove is a popular spot for visitors, but some say it can be a tricky walk to the beach because of slippery rocks along the pathway. (Submitted by Jim MacDonald )
“If you get a day where there’s a lot of surf action, the sand that’s mixed in there can get totally pulled out,” Kennedy said. “All of a sudden it’s gone from a rather accommodating stone/sand mixture to a lot of stone being present.”
The beach at Kennington Cove is also historic. It’s the first place where British Army officer James Wolfe and other troops landed in 1758, marking a pivotal event in the Seven Years’ War and the beginning of the second siege of Louisbourg.
Kennedy said because the beach is “archeologically sensitive,” making it completely accessible would require extensive work to ensure its grounds remain unharmed.
Kennedy suggests visitors go past Kennington Cove to the second beach known as Anson’s Cove, which has more parking and an easier path to the water.
He said Anson’s Cove beach is a short walk through the woods on a wide gravel road and features picnic and bathroom facilities.
“I didn’t know there was a second beach,” said MacDonald. “I don’t know why there wouldn’t be a sign telling you that. Obviously, if there’s a second beach and if it’s an easier entrance, that should be easy to identify.”
Parks Canada said it regularly monitors the conditions of its beaches and attempts to fix any issues that arise, but there are no plans to alter the path to Kennington Cove.