From the moment you enter our beautiful grounds, you know you've arrived somewhere special. Located in the charming seaside village of Guysborough on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore, stately DesBarres Manor Inn welcomes you with affordable boutique hotel accommodations.
Built in 1837 for Supreme Court Justice W.F. DesBarres (pronounced də-BÄR), our historic inn has been meticulously restored to its original. Casually elegant common spaces, spacious guest rooms, original art, fine antiques and genuine maritime hospitality surround you in comfort and relaxation.
Relax with a book on the grand deck and gazebo, looking out over six peaceful acres in the heart of the Village, or step onto the lawns for an afternoon stroll, a visit to the Chef’s gardens or an afternoon nap under a tree. Stretch out on a complimentary yoga mat and breath in the fresh sea air.
Share the company of other guests in the Parlour Room before dinner with a drink made with our award-winning Authentic Seacoast Distilling Company spirits, a glass of wine from our Wine Spectator award-winning wine list or a local Rare Bird Craft Beer. The warmth of our romantic fireside restaurant beckons with traditional East Coast food with a regional Nova Scotia influence.
Retreat to the Parlour Room with games, rare maps, good books and vintage ports or the supreme indulgence of your luxury bath products and linens in the sanctuary of your spacious room.
Gracious hospitality means attention to detail with complimentary hot breakfasts and WiFi included with your room.
Whether you want to relax and unwind from your busy life, or reinvigorate in with our vast array of recreational activities, DesBarres Manor Inn promises you a rare opportunity to connect the rich history of the past with the simple charm of Guysborough and the breathtaking vistas of Chedabucto Bay. The DesBarres Manor culinary team will be pleased to make you a picnic basket to take with you as you tour the Bay area along the Eastern Shore or southern Cape Breton Island.
DesBarres Manor Inn is open for bed & breakfast accommodations and dining from May 1st to October 30th. Restaurant reservations are required. The Inn is open for accommodations only from November 1st to April 30th.
We look forward to welcoming you to DesBarres Manor Inn and to creating a Nova Scotia inn getaway as unique as you.
Rich History
Built in a rare Egyptian revival style in 1837 as the home of William Frederick DesBarres, DesBarres Manor Inn has a rich history. W.F. DesBarres had a distinguished career as a lawyer, legislator and jurist, serving as Nova Scotia’s Solicitor General and on the Supreme Court.
Justice DesBarres was the eldest grandson of Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres, an army officer, military engineer, surveyor, colonizer, and colonial administrator. He had six children with his first wife Mary Cannon and eleven with his second Martha Williams. He founded the town of Sydney and was the Lieutenant Governor of both Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island.
J.F.W. DesBarres was convinced of the great potential of the Maritime colonies for settlement, obtaining property in Guysborough, Tatamagouche, Falmouth Township, and Cumberland County in Nova Scotia, as well as tracts between the Memramcook and Petitcodiac rivers in present-day New Brunswick. These acquisitions made him one of the largest landowners in the Maritime colonies.
According to the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, “There can be no dispute that his greatest contribution is the Atlantic Neptune, which stands as a landmark in Canadian cartographic achievement.” The Neptune was published by him on behalf of the British Admiralty, and appeared between 1774 and 1784. It consists of four series of charts covering Nova Scotia, New England, the Gulf of St Lawrence including Cape Breton and St John’s (Prince Edward) Island, and the coast south of New York, as well as various views of the North American coast. The charts served as standard guides for navigation well into the 19th century.
We feature several of DesBarres’ rare maps in the Parlour Room as well as other leading cartographers, providing you a glimpse into the rich history of the area, and sharing a common sense of wonderment and discovery that all travellers have in common.
It is reputed DesBarres celebrated his hundredth birthday by dancing on a table top in Halifax. There he died one month short of 103 and was buried beside his wife Martha Williams in Halifax.
To learn more about J.F.W. DesBarres’ life and achievements, visit the Dictionary of Canadian Biography at www.biographi.ca.
