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Gàidhlig / The Gaelic College or relax and enjoy the stunning scenery of the Bras d'Or Lakes, and Cabot Trail. Whatever the amount
of time you have to spend with us, we look forward to giving you
a trip to cherish forever!
Visit
Explore the Alexander Graham Bell Museum
Understand our unique and complex ecosystem at the Bras d'Or Lakes Interpretive
Centre
Activities
Hike to the beautiful Uisge Ban Falls
Golf Bell Bay or Baddeck Forks golf courses
Soak up some sun at Kidston Island Beach and Playground
Hop aboard a local boat tour
to explore the Bras d'Or Lakes
Shops & Boutiques
Explore the wonderful unique shopping at local artisan studios, gifts boutiques & retail shops
Entertainment
Experience the magic of true Nova Scotia culture with nightly ceilidhs, featuring fiddle, piano, and step-dancing or relax at one of the many restaurants or dining rooms
which feature local musicians
Discover the breath-taking beauty of the world famous Cabot Trail
Step back in time at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic site
Explore true Nova Scotia Gaelic culture at the Gaelic College Great Hall of the Clans
Get back to nature with a bird or whale watching cruise and hike some of the trails
in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Golf one of the world-renowned Cape Breton golf courses:
- Cabot Links in Inverness
- Le Portage in Cheticamp
- Highlands Links in Ingonish
- Dundee Golf Course in Dundee
- Enjoy a wonderful breakfast at one of our many restaurants in the Village of Baddeck.
- Pick up a lunch from one of the cafés before leaving town.
- Travel west onTrans Canada Highway 105 toward Cheticamp.
- When you reach the Cape Breton Highlands National Park Pavilion, stop and purchase a Park Pass. Pavilion offers books and videos on the Park.
Grab a Cape Breton Highlands National Park of Canada Park Guide and Map
- Travel to the Skyline Trail. This Hike will be #7 on the Park Guide and Map.
- Enjoy a lunch on a bench while over-looking the magnificent views of the Gulf Coast.
Once you return to your vehicle, continue to travel west until you reach Lone Shieling Trail (#12 on the Park Guide and Map).
This is a short hike through 350-year-old sugar maple trees.
- Travel west to Ingonish and stop in at the Keltic Lodge to hike Middle Head, located at the rear of the Lodge property.
- Enjoy an early dinner at one of the many restaurants Ingonish has to offer.
- Return to Baddeck to enjoy a nice stroll along the boardwalk with a cold ice cream
Day One
Enjoy a full breakfast at one of our many restaurants in the Village of Baddeck.
Pick up a Cape Breton Highlands National Park of Canada Park Guide and Map Brochure for the trip. (Visitor Information Centre) Head east on Highway 105 from Baddeck and take exit 11 to St. Ann’s.
Ascend Cape Smokey Mountain until you reach Cape Smokey Provincial Park turn off (top of mountain).
This trail is very rugged, but leads to spectacular views of the Highlands and the Atlantic Ocean.
Keep heading east to Ingonish to obtain your park pass from the Parks pavilion.
Just past Black Brook Beach there is a turn off to the Jack Pine hiking trial.
Get out of the car and enjoy this 1-hour trail to explore the Jack Pine Forest and the spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean coastline.
To wind down the evening hike MacIntosh Brook, a 30 minute hike that leads through an old growth hardwood forest ending in with an amazing waterfall.
Finish off the day by staying the night in Pleasant Bay at one of the many beautiful accommodations.
Enjoy a nice relaxing dinner at one of the restaurants found in Pleasant Bay.
Finish off the evening with a nice glass of wine while enjoying a peaceful evening.
Day Two
Today you are going to experience the Skyline Trail, be sure to pack some snacks to eat while over looking the Gulf Coast.
After breakfast, pack a lunch and head east until you reach the Skyline Trail, this hike is 2 – 3 hours in length, where you will see moose, eagles and bear that tend to roam these parts.
Unfortunately there are no pets permitted on this hike.
Travel down French Mountain to the first look off.
Pull over to enjoy the scenery while you eat a late lunch.
Finish your hiking adventure by traveling to Le Buttereau Trail.
This 30-minute hike over looks the Gulf of St. Lawrence where the sunsets are breath taking.
Finish off your two-day hiking trip back in the Village of Baddeck and take a leisurely hike up to Uisge Ban Falls in North Branch Public Park.
Experience Cape Breton Lobster at one of several restaurants in the town.
Day One
From the Village of Baddeck, travel east on Highway 105 and take exit 11 to Ingonish.
Stop and purchase lunch at a café along the way.
Purchase a park pass from the Cape Breton Highlands National Park pavilion.
Take a Cape Breton Highlands National Park of Canada Park Guide and Map brochure to easily locate each allotted hike in the schedule.
Travel to Franey hiking trail, #23 on your Park Guide and Map brochure. This hike is a 2 – 3 hour steep climb, but ends with a spectacular panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean.
Enjoy your lunch while taking in the scenery.
Continue the journey along the Cabot Trail to Black Brook, stop off and hike Jigging Cove Lake, #17 in the Park Guide and Map brochure. Finish off your day with a walk through old growth hardwood forests that end with a spectacular waterfall at MacIntosh Brook (#11).
Stay over night in Pleasant Bay.
Day Two
Start the day by hiking Lone Shieling Trail, #12 on the Park Guide and Map brochure.
This short 15-minute hike takes you through 350-year-old sugar maple trees.
Get your heart rate going with the hiking trail Coastal, #16 on the Park Guide and Map brochure.
This 3 – 4 hour hike takes you through coastal forest featuring magnificent views of the Atlantic coastline.
Enjoy a late lunch while sitting on the beach at Black Brook.
To wind down your day, travel to Ingonish Beach and for the last hike of the day.
Fresh Water Lake Lookoff is a short 10-minute climb up a steep hill but offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean at the top.
Travel to Baddeck and spend the night.
Day Three
Pack a lunch and some snacks and head west on Highway 105 toward Cheticamp.
Purchase a Park Pass at the Cape Breton Highlands National Park pavilion.
Don’t miss the spectacular scenery of the rugged Gulf Coast while hiking the Skyline Trail, #7 on the Parks Guide and Map brochure.
Enjoy your lunch at one of the many look offs along the way as you travel the Cabot Trail towards Pleasant Bay.
Just after you cross the plateau of French Mountain, take a hike through the boreal forest on Benjie’s Lake trail. (#9 in brochure)
Enjoy a quiet, relaxing evening at one of the many spectacular accommodations in Cape North.
Day Four
Make sure to pack a lunch for today’s hike; Fishing Cove trail is 5 to 6 hour descend through Cape Breton Highlands National Park forest with an amazing look off of the ocean.
If your blood is still flowing and you have some energy left for the day, travel west on the Cabot Trail toward Cheticamp.
Before leaving the Park, Le Buttereau trail offers ocean scenes with magnificent sunset views.
Complete your tour and head back to Baddeck.
(printable version)
Only staying a short time with us, but would love to see the Cabot Trail?
Here are a couple of options for you to experience a quick trip of the beautiful Cabot Trail.
Baddeck to Neil's Harbour
Leave the Village of Baddeck and head east on Highway 105.
Take exit 11.
Make sure to stop at some of the local artisan shops along the way.
(Brochure of all artisan shops around the Trail, available at the Visitor Information Centre, Baddeck)
Pull into the Provincial Park at the top of Cape Smokey, and look out over the Atlantic Ocean.
Travel to the Cape Breton National Park pavilion in Ingonish and obtain and park pass.
Enjoy a quick snack in Ingonish.
Take the exit into Neil’s Harbour and venture out to the lighthouse to see the spectacular views.
Continue around Neil’s Harbour loop until you connect back up with the Cabot Trail.
Head west on the Cabot Trail back to Baddeck.
Baddeck to French Mountain
Leave the Village of Baddeck and head west on Highway 105.
Take exit 7.
Stop at some of the world-renowned craft and gift shops along the way or visit Nova Scotia's oldest fish hatchery and the Margaree Salmon Museum.
Stop in Chéticamp and visit Les Trois Pignons to explore Acadian culture and the history of Chéticamp, a magnificent collection of hooked rugs and antiquities,
genealogy resource centre and library, as well as a visitor information centre.
Experience the outstanding views that our mountains provide, stop at any of the look offs going up French Mountain.
Head east on the Cabot Trail until you reach Baddeck.
These are just a few must see scenic views along the Cabot Trail.
Day One
Begin your adventure in the Village of Baddeck with a hike up Uisge Ban Falls. (Map for directions at Visitor Information Centre, Baddeck)
Before you leave town to continue on the tour, take a stroll along the boardwalk that over looks the Harbour and lighthouse.
Take a picture sitting next to Alexander Graham Bell and his wife, Mabel, a new statue erected on the boardwalk.
Grab lunch at a local café in town before heading out.
Head east on Highway 105 and take exit 12 to Englishtown.
Drive along the picturesque route of St. Ann’s Harbour and St. Ann’s Bay.
Continue on the Cabot Trail until you climb Cape Smokey Mountain.
At the top, turn right into Cape Smokey Provincial Park. Area provides magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean and it’s coastline.
Turn into Ingonish Beach and enjoy snacks while taking a leisurely walk along the shoreline.
Continue on the Cabot Trail and turn into Neil’s Harbour. Travel around the lighthouse.
Keep around Neil’s Harbour, along the coast of Aspy Bay.
Spend some time in Cape North at their “4 mile beach."
At Big Intervale, go and see the Beulach Ban Falls.
Spend the night in Pleasant Bay
Day Two
Before leaving Pleasant Bay, go and explore Gampo Abbey, a Buddhist Monastery at Red River, Pleasant Bay.
On a nice day spend a few hours on Petit Étang beach.
Continue to Baddeck and catch a boat cruise around Kidston Island to see eagles, Baddeck Harbour and Alexander Graham Bells’ estate.
For the shopper in the car, grab the Artisans Map at the Visitor Information Centre before leaving town. This brochure lists the local artisan shops around the Cabot Trail.
Also, if you visit
http://www.cabottrail.travel/thingstodo.cfm
it will give you a list of all the artisan studios as well as gift and craft stores. |
