"Cape Breton Island" Cape Breton Island by Simonneeddy

Cape Breton Island Travel Guide: 169 reviews and 438 photos

Baddeck

Visited here for the second time with a Seniors tour group on Aug. 15, 2004 . Took a lot of pictures which will be in the travelogues.

On my first trip we went to Cape Breton from Shediac by auto .I will tell you about our trip here--The picture is of Baddeck Bell center (OUR second STOP ON CAPE BRETON ISLAND) the home of the BELL MUSEUM. June 20th Left Shediac and drove to Baddeck. Nice drive,good roads. Known as the Sun Rise trail . Left Shediac at 8 a.m. arrived at Baddeck at 3 p.m. Crossed the Causeway at 1p.m. onto the island( Historic site,monument to man who built the causeway by almost moving a mountain to fill the water between the island and mainland. It took several years and cost millions). There is a rest area there.Very picturesque and clean( Gift shop, rest rooms(?)tourist bureau, picnic area etc.)
Leaving there you have a choice of 3 roads. One up the centre of the island, one on the left which follows the shore line all around the island ( beware of fog at times )One to the right which meets the left one half way around the island. You can branch off this one to go to many other towns.
In Baddeck we rented a room at Giselle's Country Inn (4 star)$ 146.00 for double occ. We walked into town where there is a great choice of restaurants. Seafood the MAIN MEALS.

Highlands National Park

The Cabot Trail

Visited Aug. 15th 2004 Cape Breton Highlands National Park of Canada

The Park stretches across the northern tip of Cape Breton Island between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean. Entrances to the Park are located on the Cabot Trail north of Cheticamp (west side of the Island) and at Ingonish Beach (east).

If traveling from the Canso Causeway, you can either take TransCanada Highway 105 to just outside Baddeck and follow the Cabot Trail north to Margaree Forks and Cheticamp, or follow Route 19 (the Ceilidh Trail) along the west coast of Cape Breton Island to Margaree Forks, then follow the Cabot Trail to Cheticamp. Driving time for either route is 2.5 hours.

If driving from Sydney, N.S., take Route 125 to TransCanada Highway 105, then take the Cabot Trail at the Englishtown ferry or at South Gut St. Ann's to Ingonish Beach. Driving time is two hours.

Gulf of St. Lawrence ahead

Mckenzie Valley from lookout

We are nearing the end of our trail and will follow the Gulf ahead to return to our starting point of the trail

Cape Breton Highlands National Park has some of the most breathtaking views in Canada. It runs from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Atlantic ocean and it's draped in a verdant forest. John Cabot may have landed in Cape Breton in 1497. European settlers were well established here long before this area was designated a National Park in 1936. Today the park protects the remaining wilderness while co-existing with thriving communities in this historic part of Atlantic Canada.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Lots to visit. Great scenery
Cons:none
In a nutshell:o Baddeck is on the Lake and has a nice walking area

Last visit to Cape Breton Island: Aug 2004
Intro Updated Nov 15, 2004
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Reviews (6)

Harbor Restaurant Cheticamp - Cape Breton Island

Authentic local dishes Restaurants (1)

Excellent home cooking Local meat pie more travel advice

Coal Miner's Choir Things to Do (1)

We were quite lucky in LOISBOURG. We were able to 'ATTEND THE CONCERT OF 'THE COAL MINERS CHOIR' (WHO HAVE TRAVELLED ALL... more travel advice

Shore Line Cabot trail - Cape Breton Island

On June 21st a.m. we left... Off The Beaten Path (3)

On June 21st a.m. we left Baddeck and drove up the Cabot trail along the coast. Beautiful ocean views and thrilling... more travel advice

Eddy boardwalk Cheticamp - Cape Breton Island

The town of CHETICAMP . Off The Beaten Path (3)

The town of CHETICAMP CAPE BRETON ISLAND more travel advice

Hotels (1)
GISELLE'S COUNTRY INN.

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Comments (4)

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scottishvisitor Nov 7, 2004 at 1:33 PM

So you saw marble mountain too Man made damage me thinks! Greetings from Scotland
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Bwana_Brown Oct 10, 2004 at 7:47 PM

Eddy, great photos of your visits to this amazing spot! Something that should not be missed!
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margaretvn Aug 16, 2003 at 9:42 AM

lovely photos - great place - although we had very bad weather when we were there.
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orke Feb 20, 2003 at 4:59 AM

wow - great pics of cabot trail...wonderfull place..