I just learned about the Island Walk. Is it safe for a mom and a female 12 year old to hike by themselves? If so, which route/section would be more recommendable for a 1 week trip?

Good afternoon from Prince Edward Island on this sunny winter day, 

Thank you for your interest in the Island Walk. Rest assured, Prince Edward Island is one of the safest places in the world for you and your daughter. What an incredible family adventure you are planning! 

I would recommend either of these two itineraries which are designed to take 4 to 7 days to complete: 

• the Southside section(85 km) allows you to experience the Island’s two cities, Charlottetown and Summerside, as well as the red cliffs and rolling terrain of our Red Sands Shore;
• a northside route could begin in PEI's second-largest city, Summerside, at (waypoint 4) following the Confederation Trail to Kensington (pt 15) and onward to Dalvay-by-the-Sea (pt 18) along Green Gables Shore. This section may be of interest to your daughter as it is home to a lot of family-friendly attractions and a popular pilgrimage for Anne of Green Gables fans (see Shores & History section below that applies to this shortened route);

For your information, most people who are doing the walk stay in one of our partner accommodations where the host can arrange transportation to and from the trail each day. This also means that you won't have to carry a heavy bag every day.

Tourism Prince Edward Island has great resources for planning a trip to PEI. Order a free copy of the 2022 PEI Visitor’s Guide and a PEI Highway Map 

Of course, you may contact one of our Tourism PEI vacation planners any day of the week at 1-800-463-4734 (toll-free).

I hope this information proves helpful. Have an amazing vacation!

Verna Lynne

From Shores & History, the Island Walk 

Take in the fresh salt air at the Summerside Harbour and grab a coffee and a snack at Samuel’s. If you are a craft beer lover, check out Evermoore Brewing. Craving some ice cream? Take a trip down memory and head to Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour, for gourmet ice cream, decadent desserts, and old-fashioned hand crafted sodas in an historic atmosphere in one of PEI’s most significant heritage homes.

Then you’ll be off to the town of Kensington, home of National Historic Site, the Kensington Railway Station, and the Frosty Treat, the ideal stop for a refreshing treat, especially on a warm day.

The next part of your journey will encounter breathtaking ocean views and quaint fishing villages. If you are a fan of Anne of Green Gables, the community of New London is where writer L.M. Montgomery was born. The Table Culinary Studio is another notable stop to eat, and it’s located in a former church. You can even take a cooking course here!  Check out Village Pottery, selling and making amazing pottery and crafts by local Island artisans. As you head through Stanley Bridge, keep your eyes open for brave Islanders jumping off the bridge and into the water.

As you enter Cavendish, you’ll feel Anne of Green Gables presence everywhere. Take in Green Gables Heritage Site, check out Montgomery’s Cavendish home, or go to the Green Gables Post Office. Hungry, try Chez Yvonne’s restaurant. This family restaurant has been serving Islanders and visitors alike for over 50 years. Their turkey dinner comes right from their own turkey farm. You can also walk through the Cavendish Beach section of the PEI National Park and even walk along the beach to the fishing village of North Rustico, where you should include a meal stop at the Blue Mussel Cafe.

Continuing through some of the most beautiful beach towns on the Island, you will have the option to road or beach walk through the National Park. You may want to have your swimsuit handy so that you can take a dip off the North Shore at either Brackley or Stanhope beach. As you arrive in Dalvay, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the historic Dalvay By The Sea Hotel and enjoy a lovely meal, as the royals have done. As a part of their royal honeymoon tour, Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge visited Dalvay By The Sea in the summer of 2011.