Ferry landing and the southeast light
Wood Islands
Wood Islands is how many people arrive if they are coming from Nova Scotia. The lighthouse sits by the terminal. From here the southeast shore runs east toward Cape Bear and Murray Harbour, or west toward Point Prim. If the ferry is part of the trip, check the sailing before you build the rest of the day around it.
Photo: Markus Gregory, CC BY-SA 3.0. Source
Getting there
About 45 minutes from Charlottetown. The ferry to Caribou, Nova Scotia, is seasonal and fills on summer weekends.
Staying
Arrivals often drive on to Montague or Murray River. There is little reason to plan a whole stay at the terminal itself.
Nearby
Murray River, Murray Harbour
Eastern PEI, simplified. The left edge is toward Charlottetown. Not for navigation.
On the ground
About 45 minutes from Charlottetown. The ferry to Caribou, Nova Scotia, is seasonal and fills on summer weekends.
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Before you go
When should I visit?
July and August are warmest for swimming and busiest at Basin Head and Greenwich. June and September are quieter. September still has relatively warm water in the Strait. By October many seasonal kitchens and park services have closed, while the lighthouses and headlands remain.
Do I need a car?
Yes, for this part of the island. There is no useful public transit between the villages, beaches, and lighthouses. Distances are short — Montague to Souris is under an hour — but they are driving distances. The Confederation Trail is the exception if you want a day on a bicycle.
How long do I need?
Two days covers a river day and a north-shore day. Three days lets you add the southeast lights without rushing. A single day still works if you pick one cluster: Souris and the tip, or Montague and Georgetown, or the Wood Islands shore.
Are the beaches crowded?
Basin Head and the Greenwich beach draw summer crowds, especially on warm afternoons. Mornings, weekdays, and September are calmer. Smaller accesses such as Cable Head stay quieter. None of them are empty just because they are east of Cavendish.