The Heart of PEI

Start planning your visit in the “heart of hearts:” the Town of Kensington. Find a bench (in real life – or virtual) at the Kensington Railway Station which is actually a National Historic Site. Or slip into a local café for a tea and delicious scone.

It’s well known that driving through central PEI inspires the most “oohs” and “aahs” as the Island’s rich pastoral scenery is revealed around every corner and down every hill. We can’t even guess how many times the classic fishing port of French River has appeared on Instagram feeds! But keep driving to discover some lesser-known Heart of PEI viewscapes.

You will find three designated Scenic Heritage Roads in the Heart of PEI – these are the protected, unpaved, mostly tree-lined back roads that will return you to an era before speeding cars and asphalt highways. The Wall’s Road in Freetown crosses the Dunk River, perfect for nature lovers and fishing enthusiasts. Enjoy a picnic near the river, watching for muskrats, grey partridge, red fox or maybe even a bald eagle!
The Millman Road in Irishtown was one of the first scenic heritage roads to be designated. A canopy of trees creates a tunnel effect with sun-dappled patterns on the red dirt road. We suggest travelling the Millman Road from north to south for the best scenic vantage points. The steep inclines of the County Line Road near Darnley make for some spectacular vistas of rolling hills and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. According to local legend, rumrunners transported their valuable cargo along this secluded trail risking costly spills on the sharp inclines!

If you prefer to stick to paved roadways, try a tour through North Granville, Stanley Bridge (love those lupins at the end of June!), or Baltic. You could easily spend three or four days leisurely touring the Heart of PEI by car, stopping in to fishing ports and craft shops, and visiting hamlets and villages like Malpeque, Park Corner, Clinton or Indian River.

See our Trails section for touring suggestions on foot or by bicycle.

Designed for Instagram
– We’re not exaggerating when we say that central PEI really is about the most scenic area of a beautiful province. Here are three well-known scenic viewscapes. Be sure to add your own amazing shots to our Heart of PEI Instagram feed!

1) Cousins Shore is a classic example of the Heart of PEI’s gorgeous coastline incorporating rolling farm fields, red sandstone cliffs and white sandy shores – and hey, if you don’t believe us, take a look at the 1992 anniversary edition of the Canadian 25-cent coin!

2) Cape Tryon is as well known with similar landscape features but with the added bonus of a lighthouse! Take care however in accessing the site down a country lane, and remember the walk along the high cliff is not protected.

3) French River manages to represent the Heart of PEI in one spectacular viewscape. Conveniently, there is a safe spot to pull off the highway to capture your best shot of this charming fishing village.