Charlottetown 
On a map, Belfast in Prince Edward Island appears as a simple highway crossroad. However, the entire Rural Municipality of Belfast is much, much larger than that single point on the map. Belfast includes the shorelines from Wood Islands in the south, around the east side of Orwell Bay, and up to Orwell Cove. The Belfast region of PEI also stretches inland toward Mount Vernon and includes all the villages, towns, or communities in between those spots.
Comparatively speaking, Belfast is a rather large municipality on the Island with long stretches of farmland, rolling hills, and low sandy coastline along the Northumberland Strait and Orwell Bay. While it is a more sparsely populated part of Prince Edward Island, the region is a busy place during the summers thanks to a thriving arts and culture scene, and the local ferry port with rides across the Strait to Nova Scotia. With those sandy shorelines, some great beaches and ocean swimming opportunities are also to be expected during a visit to Belfast, located approximately 40 km (3o min drive) from Charlottetown.
Belfast’s Beaches
The Belfast shore or coastline follows the Northumberland Strait for some time before turning north into Orwell Bay. Along those shores are numerous beaches, including two Provincial Park beaches. And with each will come different scenery and various interesting geological features, and an array of activities on or off the water.
- Ponds Road Beach and Pinette Provincial Park are two beaches located within the municipality of Belfast. These are both smaller and quieter beaches, with the Pinette location on the river and the Ponds Road beach on the Northumberland Strait.
- The Wood Islands Provincial Park and beach are less than 25km south of Belfast with tons of great day use features. Enjoy a day out in the water or on the sand, set up a picnic at one of many tables, or visit the Wood Islands Lighthouse for tours. The scenic beach also has amenities like washrooms, a playground, and a boat ramp.
- And as the southern stretch of the Points East Coastal Drive with its 50 beaches in total, Belfast has MANY more beach locations along the shores of the Northumberland Strait, where the saltwater is a nice, mild temperature for summer swimming. The beach areas begin at Point Prim and continue southeast to include two more beaches (on top of Pinette).
- Also on the Points East Coastal Drive of 50 beaches is the Northumberland Provincial Park beach just outside of Belfast and beside the Northumberland Ferry. The park is open from June to October, while a lifeguard is also on duty at the beach from late June to late August.
The Best Trails in Belfast
Exploring Belfast via trails is as easy as it is anywhere else on the Island, thanks to the province-wide Confederation trail system and the Island Walk trail system. With these two combined, as well as Belfast’s beaches and shorelines, the area has numerous hiking opportunities to offer as well as a huge array of different scenery. Keep any of these trails in mind for the fall season as well, as most of the scenery becomes beautifully enhanced by the fall foliage.
- PEI’s extensive Confederation Trail system winds its way from north to south through Belfast. Dozens of kilometres of trail connect the Wood Islands area to Murray River in the east, Orwell in the north, or there is a 4km connector trail to the Wood Islands Provincial Park beach to the south. This Belfast section of the Confederation Trail also follows PEI’s other major trail system: the Island Walk.
- The grounds around both the Point Prim Lighthouse and the Wood Islands Lighthouse and ferry terminal make scenic locations for easy walks, especially as the sun sets.
- Snag incredible views of Orwell Bay from a simple 3.2km trail that winds around the Highland Greens Golf Course to a lookout area over the water.
- Bring your hiking or trail adventures further inland with forested trails around Belfast that are lined with streams and creeks. The Gairloch Road Trail is a 6km loop off of the Confederation Trail to offer a quiet escape from the more popular trails.
- Any area beach has shoreline to offer for creating a hike along the Bay or Strait.
Arts, History, & Culture
It will be hard to miss the numerous opportunities to explore Belfast’s local arts and cultural scenes, or the history of PEI, and each of the smaller communities.
- Belfast Tulips are a must-see spring or summer attraction in Belfast, as the local flower farm and garden are home to rows upon rows of all sorts of colours of tulips. This helps to make Belfast Tulips a popular spot for photography sessions, while they also put on many different events.
- The upcoming Belfast Tulips events include festivities like a pop-up market, paint nights, art parties, and yoga among the tulips.
- Wood Islands Market & Heritage Seashore has several attractions and shops to offer visitors: tour the 148-year-old lighthouse and museum, grab snacks from the Sweet Company, attend one of the summer guided forest hikes, or embark on a self-guided hike along the Confederation Trail.
- The Point Prim Lighthouse (2147 Point Prim Rd), further north in Belfast, is also open as a museum from May to October each year with additional on-site attractions. Browse the shops of locally farmed or handmade goods, dine at the Point Prim Chowder House, or view all the art on display from local artists like Hanna’s Bottle Village (1696 Point Prim Rd). Point Prim is the first and oldest lighthouse on PEI, having been built in 1845!
- For those out and making trips around the entire Belfast region, there will be opportunities to travel through Scenic Heritage Drives. Find these on Roseberry Road, PE-205, between Ben’s Lake Nature Camping and Selkirk Road, and County Line Road. These are exceptionally beautiful drives during the late summer and early fall as the leaves begin to change colour. The Heritage Drives are marked with road signs and on the Points East Coastal Map.
- Selkirk Scottish Heritage Centre, next to the Highland Greens and campground, is open seasonally as an open-air museum with an old Acadian cemetery, the Croft House, which serves as the museum, the Belle River Church of Scotland, and the cairn of Honourable J. Angus MacLean.
- Explore the historical homestead of Sir Andrew MacPhail and the expansive grounds of Sir Andrew MacPhail Homestead in Orwell.
Summer Dining in Belfast
There are a handful of local dining options on the north side of Belfast near Orwell and Point Prim, and on the south end around Wood Islands and the Northumberland Ferry Terminal. Plus, the local farms are an additional source of fresh local goodies.
- Penny’s Farm & Garden is the place to find the area’s absolute freshest picnic snacks. The farm is open for store sales and strawberry u-pick each summer, while supplies last. And while the local Island Pride Garden Co. do not offer much for edible products, this store is still worth a stop in Belfast with a beautiful array of nursery products and garden or home décor.
- Those who get off the Northumberland Ferry, those making their way across the Confederation Trail, those at the Provincial Park, or anyone passing by, can take advantage of tasty dining options like Treena’s Takeout or the Wood Islands Café Express.
- Find more great options around Orwell and Point Prim like the BarVela Pizzeria & Mercato, the Point Prim Chowder House, Belfast Roadhouse and Lounge, Country Taste Kitchen and Bakery, or the Bryson Family Bakery.
- Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead Tearoom is open from July to September.
- Grab a drink out in the scenic hills of Belfast with a visit to the Double Hill Cidery, open every May Long to Thanksgiving for tastings and tours.
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Annual Belfast Events & Festivals
These local events across the Belfast municipality and all of its smaller communities cover an array of interests and Island activities. Take in art, culture, food, drink, music, entertainment, and more, with Belfast’s summer festivities.
- Cruisin’ Down East is not just an annual car show in Wood Islands, but one which also pops up every week over every summer. Starting June 5th, the area’s classic car owners will have a chance to ride with other drivers across the region to show off trucks, cars, SUVs, and any other classic vehicles.
- The PEI Mutual Festival of Small Halls is an annual province-wide event that takes place over a week each June. The Belfast event will be held on June 13th, 2026. Find more festival events nearby that week in Orwell (June 18), and Tracadie (June 17).
- The Northumberland Fisheries Festival takes place a short drive outside of Belfast in Murray River with four days of festival for which to plan. The festival boasts family-friendly activities, contests and prizes, a firework show, and a rubber duck race!
- Events from Belfast Tulips pop up all summer, with the currently scheduled events including Yoga and Tulips, Paint Night, Vendor Popup Market, East Coast Art Party & Tulips Paint Night.
Where to Stay & Play in Belfast this Summer
Camping may not be available at the Wood Islands Provincial Park beside the ferry terminal, but there is a lovely campground at the Northumberland Provincial Park, a short drive east of the terminal. The campground includes both sites with electrical, as well as sites without service. More camping is also available with the Lord Selkirk Campground & Highland Greens.
- Elevate your stay a bit from the tent, trailer, or RV camping to a cottage or cabin experience. There are beautiful and secluded options with Rachel’s Motel & Cottages, Wild Pines Cabins (next to Highland Greens), Century Farm Waterfront Cottages, or Oceanside Cottages.
- The private rentals in Belfast that appear on Airbnb or VRBO offer a variety of accommodation options like large homes, single rooms, cottages, cabins, or a bed and breakfast option.
