
Looking down into the last cove on the right.
Tucked in behind Betty Island near the village of Prospect, a few hours’ sail southwest of Halifax, and a few hours’ sail northeast of Mahone Bay, is a popular hurricane hole and gathering place, Rogue’s Roost.
On a busy summer weekend, a dozen groups of power and sail boats, mostly belonging to the storied sailing grounds encompassing Halifax, St. Margaret’s Bay, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg and the LaHave River, may be rafted together, enjoying each others’ company in isolation from the rest of the world.
Some of us like it quieter, and head inward to the last cove on the right, known to some as Snow’s Cove. If even that refuge is too crowded for us, we might take anchorage in the relative spaciousness of Cub Basin around the corner. At high tide, you can row a dinghy over the rocks separating the two.
But if we’re lucky to get there on a weekday or late in the season, we settle into a rogue’s world of granite and seaweed, herons and seagulls, stunted, scrubby trees and maybe a deer.
These photos were taken during several visits to Rogue’s Roost and Cub Basin. Click any photo to view large images.
- Approaching Rogue’s Roost, follow the guide carefully.
- Stay between this rock and that hard place
- Approaching Rogue’s Roost
- Approaching Rogue’s Roost
- We make our way to the Lower Arm of the Roost, the last cove on the right.
- Looking from the Lower Arm towards the upper one, which can accommodate a larger number of boats.
- Tucked into the Lower Arm
- Our much-missed Beneteau Oceanis 323, anchored alone.
- Looking toward the Upper Arm of Rogue’s Roost.
- Two of our party climb the hill to see the view and take pictures.
- Taking pictures of them from the boat.
- The view from above Rogue’s Roost, looking toward Cub Basin and the Atlantic.
- Looking toward Prospect from the top of the hill.
- Looking down into the Lower Arm of Rogue’s Roost.
- A bronze plaque in Rogue’s Roost’s lower cove
- We aren’t the only ones to prefer this particular cove.
- One night we shared the cove with Silver Donald Cameron’s Magnus
- Settled in for the night at Rogue’s Roost.
- Cub Basin at sunset
- Exploring the shore of Cub Basin at sunset
- The granite shore of Cub Basin at sunset.
- Cub Basin in the morning
- On leaving Rogue’s Roost and heading SW toward Mahone Bay, we pass the village of Prospect
There’s a sandy beach on nearby Hearn Island. You’ll need a dinghy or kayak to get there, and if there’s much wind, it could be a challenge, as there’s a long fetch down Prospect Bay.
Here is Rogue’s Roost on Google Maps – not to be used for navigation! You’ll want a proper chart or chartplotter and a reliable depth sounder so you can stay between the rocks and the hard places.
Great job … I am a long time resident of Prospect Bay (62yr.)… longest on Prospect Bay and have spent many days and nights in this area. My parents are from Prospect. Mother youngest of 14 Father manned Betty Light for 18 yr. with his father who was the first Light keeper.
Hope you get to enjoy the area many more times.
God Bless
Paul Christian
Thank you for telling your story. Your roots run deep.
Thanks for your kind message.