Cavendish Cliffs

You can see and admire the beauty of the picturesque red sandstone of Cavendish Cliffs all year, but it's recommended that you plan a visit during the summer months to observe the natural magnificence of the place in pleasant weather.

The foundation of Cavendish dates back to the year 1790 when three families — the Clarks, the MacNeils, and the Simpsons — emigrated from Scotland to Prince Edward Island to settle in this area. A farming community was established here which remained the primary highlight of this place throughout the 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries because Cavendish lacked a harbor back then. 

This rural community in Queens County got its name from Field Marshal Lord Frederick Cavendish who served as a Colonel of the 34th Regiment of Foot. It is speculated that this community was given its name by William Winter to honor the patron of Lord Frederick. Winter was a resident of this community and he had also previously served in the British Army as an officer. 

This community's cultural history is as significant as the history of its foundation. The revered children's author LM Montgomery was raised in a home, east of the Cavendish United Presbyterian Cemetery which stood where Cavendish Road and Cawnpore Lane intersected. A small rustic farm by the name of Green Gables was nestled west of the intersection, where Montgomery's cousins lived. The author frequented this scenic place and it left its impression on her which is reflected in her literary blockbuster "Anne of Green Gables". 

The author set many scenes of this book series in Cavendish, specifically Green Gables and the red Cavendish Cliffs which the beloved protagonist adored! Due to this book series and its subsequent movie and TV adaptations, this place has become a cultural phenomenon and tourists flock to see Anne's humble abode in Green Gables and the surrounding tourist spots like the Cavendish Beach and Cavendish Cliffs. 

In efforts to preserve the scenic beauty of the area, Prince Edward Island National Park was established in 1937 which stretched along 60 km of the Gulf of St. Lawrence shoreline. PEI National Park protects and boasts many sand dunes, freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, and sand beaches (including Cavendish Beach and Rustico Beach). To entice more tourists, the park constructed an 18-hole golf course and also turned the small farmhouse of Green Gables into a tourist attraction. 

The further renovations and additions between the 1950s-1990s included amusement theme parks, shopping centers, clubs, bars, motels, campgrounds, and diners. These developments have successfully turned this site into a tourist hot spot and today, this park is brimming with tourists, especially between July and August.