Cabot Trail

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While camped in Baddeck on Cape Breton Island, we drove the Cabot Trail, named after Guiseppi (John) Cabot. “From this port John Cabot and his son Sebastian (who was born in Bristol) sailed on the ship Matthew A.D. 1497, and discovered the continent of America,” according to the plaque at Cabot’s Landing.

As the highlight of Cape Breton Island, the Cabot Trail hugs the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic coastline with stunning views. Along the Trail is Cape Breton Highlands National Park, which includes the famous Highland Links golf course at Keltic Lodge, on a high peninsula overlooking the water. Although we didn’t get a chance to play golf, we did enjoy the view from the dining room.

The vast interior of the Park is unspoiled wilderness area. We were rewarded with a sighting of three moose along the Skyline Trail--one very large mother, and two young ones. We kept our distance! We also spotted a young bear as he slowly approached a guardrail along the roadway. At Pleasant Bay, we joined a whale-watching cruise and spotted two pods of pilot whales, very close to the boat.

We drove on a dirt road to Meat Cove, in the highlands at the very tip of the island, just because we could. In a very remote location we found a few cottages, a small community center with internet access, and a tiny general store/ice cream stand. Perched on the edge of a cliff was a campground and small chowder house, with a winding trail down to a small beach with several kayaks. The dirt road just ended at the campground, and we wondered what would happen if someone in a tent got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom but walked the wrong way…….

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Photos

Cabot Trail 1
Scenic views from atop the highlands

Young Moose Siblings
Mother was not far away

Keltic Lodge
Landmark of Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Pilot Whales
Two whales sighted on our cruise

More Pilot Whales
They seemed to be playing here

Cabot Trail 2
At places, the trail was quite steep

Meat Cove Campground
Tiny campground perched right on the edge of the cliff

Beach at Meat Cove
Photo taken from the campground

Meat Cove General Store
Someone making a mess of his ice cream