The Sambro Loop
A 50 Km trip - (30 miles)
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The following trip is a medium length trip that is a loop. The participants begin and end the trip at the Armdale Rotary in Halifax. There is adequate parking should you wish to drive to the start and park your car. Because of the long hill at the start, an alternate start is to proceed up the Herring Cove Road (the route you would be cycling) past the lights at Cowie Hill and past the Ultrimar Service Station at the top of the hill. Here you can park on a side street and start and end your trip from that point.
The trip is a medium difficulty due to it's moderate distance and few serious hills. The longest hill is at the start when proceeding up the Herring Cove Road. It is expected that a cyclist in good shape can complete the trip in 2.5 to 4 hours, not including stops.
It is peculiar that considering you start and end at the same elevation, the up hills and down hills should equal out. With that in mind, it seems to this rider that the trip seems easier when proceeding through Harrietsfield to Sambro and back along the Halifax harbour shore, than when the trip is taken in the other direction. With that in mind, I will describe the trip in my favored direction but, of course, being a loop, the trip can be cycled in reverse if desired.
The routes travelled will be the route 306 to Sambro and the route 349 back to Halifax.
There are some services along the way but there are stretches without.
Proceed from the Armdale Rotary up the short rise towards the Herring Cove Road/Purcells Cove Road split. Keep right at this first set of lights and proceed along the Herring Cove Road up the long hill and keep straight. You will go through another set of lights part way up this hill, at Cowie Hill, keep straight. The next set of lights is just past a new Petro Canada Station on the right. Habib's Meat Market is on the corner with a fire hall on the opposite corner. Turn right and proceed to the next set of lights and travel straight through. This is the Old Sambro Road. Proceed to the 4 way stop. There is a small green signpost saying "Old Sambro Rd" and turn right. This is a newly completed section of highway that hooks up with the old road to Sambro.
Soon you will pass an Irving Service Station and convenience store. They are well stocked with items for snacking or for a picnic lunch along the way. They also have a good price on Riverdale (Irving's house brand) springwater.
Leaving the station, is a slight downhill section of wood about 2 Km until you reach the village of Harrietsfield. There are few services. The ESSO service station is now closed but the Pizza Shop is still open. There is another convenience store about 2 km further along on the left.
Just past the old ESSO Service Station, on your right is the remains of an old homestead. All that remains are the fields ringed with rock walls and a long stone retaining wall by the road. Signs of an era lost in the mists of time. There is now a new home built on this homestead.
Travelling along the route you will come to Williamswood. This signals you are now 1/4 of the way around the trip. The travelling gets easier as you leave Williamswood for the road is level or downhill the rest of the way to Sambro.
When reaching Sambro, there is a stop sign and a corner store. Our trip proceeds straight ahead at this point, but it must be noted that one of the provinces finest beaches, Crystal Crescent, is only 3Km from the intersection. Should you wish to visit Crystal Crescent, turn to the right at the stop sign. Follow the signs to Crystal Crescent, it is well marked. The road into the beach is not paved. The nearest beach access is the first road off to the left, and over a rise. It is well worth a visit should you have the time.
To continue on our trip, bear left at the Sambro stop sign and take the first left just 300m past the stop sign. Proceed up a steep but very short hill. You are now on the back leg. At this point, our trip proceeds straight till you arrive at the Armdale Rotary in Halifax. It must be noted that there are NO SERVICES until you reach Halifax again.
The road winds along the water for a while and through a wooded area. In this area is the remains of the Canadian Coast Guard radio station that kept communications with marine traffic in the North Atlantic. This service has now been replaced with newer digital and satellite communications.
You eventually come to Ketch Harbour. There is a government wharf that is home to some charter boats. There is also an old DND ferry moored off the wharf that was home to an adventuring soul for a few years. He is now living ashore and has a family.
The next spot passed is Chebucto Head and Duncans Cove. These are off the main road. Duncan's Cove is a very picturesque artists community featuring an eclectic collection of cottages often rented out to visiting Neptune theatre cast members or artists.
As you travel towards the city, you pass by unseen coves with interesting names like Portuguese Cove, Halibut Bay, Bear Cove. These are not visible from the main road.
The next communit reached is Herring Cove, although our route does not take us into the actual cove. You will know you are there when you spot the Ultramar station. The road passes by the backs of some subdivisions. Eventually you reach the turn that leads to Herring Cove. Keep straight, do not turn right.
Long Pond is the next feature to be passed. This is a very narrow lake that extends almost 2Km in length beside the road. You next enter Spryfield and will eventuall see the back of the South Center Mall and the big Zellers store. Keep straight through all the intersections and you will pass McDonalds and IGA. Down hill and soon you will reach the rotary and the end of the trip.
This trip is a favorite of mine. I hope you enjoy it.