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In the eighteenth century the British navy protected the seven-kilometre-long sea passage into Halifax harbour , and the Bedford Basin behind it, with coastal batteries strung along the shore between the city and the Atlantic. Two of these are worth a visit, though more for their commanding views than the ragbag of military remains. There's one at Point Pleasant, at the tip of the Halifax peninsula about 3km south of the city, whilst the other is on McNab's Island, sitting in the middle of the main seaway, 4km south of the city. At the end of South Park Street and its continuation, Young Avenue, Point Pleasant Park (bus #9 from Barrington St) incorporates the remains of four gun batteries and the squat Prince of Wales Martello Tower (July-Aug daily 10am-6pm; free), which was built at the end of the eighteenth century as a combined barracks, battery and storehouse. One of the first of its type, the design was copied from a Corsican tower (at Martello Point) which had proved particularly troublesome to the British. The self-contained, semi-self-sufficient defensive fortification with its thick walls and protected entrance proved so successful that Martello towers were built throughout the empire, only becoming obsolete in the 1870s with advances in artillery technology. The surrounding park, 200 acres of wooded hills and shoreline, is crisscrossed by paths and trails and remains one of the few places in North America where heather grows, supposedly originating from seeds shaken from the bedding of Scots regiments stationed here. McNab's Island , 5km long and 2km wide, contains the remnants of five different fortifications, dating from the middle of the eighteenth century to the establishment of Fort McNab in 1890. The island, half of which is parkland, is laced with hiking trails and dotted with picnic spots, making it a relaxing retreat from the city. The island is accessible by ferry from the Eastern Passage jetty on the east (Dartmouth) side of Halifax harbour - call 465-4563 or 1-800/326-4563 for schedule; the round trip costs $8. To reach Eastern Passage jetty from downtown Halifax, take the Dartmouth ferry and then bus #60 (every 30min, hourly on the weekend) from outside the terminal building. Ask the driver to let you off or else you're likely to go whistling past.
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