This places lives up to all the 10/10 reviews. Top of the list is the setting, a perfect coastal location and the cottage, especially the sun room, is situated to take maximum advantage of the location and the views. Whaleback is the perfect definition of a seaside cottage. The owner should be proud, and we felt blessed to find the place. D&J, Sept 2025 stay.
This cottage is straight out of a movie. Situated in a quaint fishing village on a private property overlooking the rocky coast, it was exactly what I imagined it would be. It is pretty typical to be a little let down once you arrive at a vacation rental because the pictures usually make it look more impressive than it actually is. That was not our experience with the Whalesback cottage. The pictures included in the VRBO listing are an accurate representation of this property.The cottage was clean, cozy, and had everything we needed. We loved sitting in the room with the panoramic views while our daughters ran around on the grass outside in their beer feet. There were fresh melt-in-your-mouth biscuits left for us on the table when we arrived and they were such a treat. We loved walking on the rocks along the water as the sun was setting and took approximately 200 photos. The cottage is only about an hour from Halifax so we spent an afternoon wondering the waterfront and eating ice cream. We also did a trip to Lunenburg for some shopping and to see the Bluenose, which made for a lovely day.We will never forgot this incredible property!Thank you Tom for being such a wonderful host!
Idyllic, serene, gracious hosts. Just so lovely and about an hour from Halifax. A very short drive to Peggyâs Cove, which is perfect because staying in Peggyâs Cove might be annoying with the number of people constantly traipsing through.
Nothing fancy..but youre not here for that. The look, feel and views are as represented in photos. If weather allows, open the bedroom window at night and fall asleep to waves breaking on granite waterfront. Find the right trails to hike the rocks and grottos down on pollys cove where there is an actual bit of sand to enter cold water if you dare. The rock strewn fir/juniper preservation area is a view i wont forget. Halifax for Citadel tour and lunch at The Black sheep was an easy 10:30-3 excursion..we were back by 4pm). Rhubarb restrnt was good.Shaws is a deep fried joint...ok if youre not looking for more.Lunenberg was a bit of a tourist trap.Difficult to park (in late July) and not too many surprises gallery to gallery.Road contruction in Mahone bay kept us from stopping to get a closer look.The owners to do list is easy to consider...but its his not yours so dont sweat the maintenance required and just enjoy the panoramic views.Dont expect to see whales or frankly much wildlife of any kind....its a place to hike, read and chill.Narrow shoulders and winding roads discourage walking and biking though possible.Owner host was attentive and available but we didnt require a visit.We were very happy with our visit to Indian Harbor.
Wow! Whalesback Cottage was the Nova Scotia oceanside escape that we were looking for. Our own private space â no traffic ⊠no crowds ⊠and the only sounds were the waves hitting the rocks.
We spent countless pleasant hours watching the tides change the view ⊠scanned the ocean with binoculars looking for the whales folks see occasionally. A few excited moments at dusk when we caught sight of several whales waaaaay out â okay, turned out be distant shoals but what fun!
Enjoyed long walks ⊠to Peggyâs Cove ⊠and exploring Pollyâs Cove. Exchanging smiles and waves with the locals made us feel right at home.
And visiting with hosts Tom & Donna ⊠after spending time with these cheerful folks we didnât want our time in this one-of-a-kind special place to end!
Perfect location and weather provided great opportunity to explore nearby area and relax. House is situated right on coast, providing solitude, rock climbing, beautiful sunsets and night skies without leaving âhomeâ. Hosts were friendly and helpful. Peace and quiet was order of the day.
Wonderful cottage for isolated getaway. Spent hours gazing at the shoreline. Will need to return to see a sunrise and sunset or two since our weather did not allow. Unfortunately Hurricane Lee sent us packing earlier than expected but got to see great waves crashing on rocks. Location is ideal for day trips. Tom is a great resource for history, local events, and questions!
Our recent stay was beyond our expectations. The cottage is well appointed, beautiful, and well cared for in every way. The surrounding area is serene, beautiful, and completely relaxing. Slept every night to the wonderful sounds of waves crashing along the rocks. A very special vacation, indeed.
Thank you Tom !
Whalesback cottage (house) has everything to make the stay totally delightful! From the graciousness of Tom and Donna to the well equipped kitchen and incredible views, this place has it all! I highly recommend Whalesback!!
Peace and tranquillity, right on the ocean with the waves hitting the rocks, the outstanding view, all the amenities you need to cook with, a house that is almost 200 years old that has so much charm. If you need anything at all Tom is there for you, thank you Tom
The Whalesback is a fantastic place to stay! Everything I needed was right at hand and Tom and Donna are great hosts! I highly recommend at least a weeks stay! You wonât want to leave!
What a perfect litter house at Peggy's Cove. Literally feels like you have your own private Peggy's Cove. So nice to sit out and enjoy the view in one of the many seating options. The room inside with the three windows is spectacular especially when it is too windy. The hosts were so nice and available anytime you had a question. Definitely was a Maritime welcome. My son and I loved our week here and were sad to leave!
The propertyâs location cannot be diminished over time. The views of the ocean are spectacular. But, when weather forces you inside for several days, you realize how little effort has been put forth to maintain the cottage. The bedrooms and sole full bath were esp. poor. Plastic taped windows and no screens. Cracked ceilings. Untaped drywall. No toilet paper holders.Sliding doors in the primary bedroom with no screens. No ceiling fans. Mismatched furniture and lamps. Pealing paint and rust on the exterior rear of the house. And a kitchen with 1980s appliances. The view was great. But, if you like upscale beds and baths - not here !
Beautiful, well appointed cottage in a stunning location. We had more rain than we wanted, but it was comfortable to relax indoors. When we did venture out, it was an easy walk to the beautiful rocky coast, and a bit more adventurous scramble along the rocks all the way to Peggy's Cove.
We loved our time in this magical place listening to the waves crashing, walking along the rocks by the Atlantic, barbecuing oysters from the local lobster seller, hiking the many oceanside trails. The views from the bay windows provided orange sunsets, white tailed deer and other assorted wildlife. Tom and Donna are wonderfully kind and generous hosts. Highly recommended.
My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful, but shorter stay than planned due to Fiona. The location is perfect, and the house is very clean, and so charming. We will definitely return.