The Cabot Trail

We were up early this morning and treated ourselves to breakfast at the Red Barn Restaurant  which is owned by Adventures East Campground and is only about 1 minute down Hwy-105 from the campground entrance. We practically had the restaurant to ourselves except for another couple having an early Sunday breakfast.

Before heading out on the Cabot Trail drive, we went back to the RV to pack a picnic lunch and pick up Tinker. The Cabot Trail is named after the explorer John Cabot who landed at Aspy Bay in 1497.

There are 2 different theories on the best way to drive the Cabot Trail. Some say to go north through Baddeck and drive around the island (counterclockwise) with the coast on the passenger side where you have a good view of the change in the landscape. Others say to start at the Red Barn Restaurant (which is at southern entrance) and travel around the island (clockwise) with the coast on the driver's side with a view of the changing coastline. We opted  to drive the Cabot Trail in the clockwise direction.

We drove inland to Margaree Forks and then followed the Margaree River to Margaree Harbour and crossed the bridge to Belle Côte. We followed the coast up to Cap Le Moine.

From The Cabot Trail

We drove through the scenic villages of Grand Étang, Chéticamp, and Petit Étang where we entered Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

From The Cabot Trail

From The Cabot Trail

We drove inland through the Highlands to the eastern coast and stopped for a picnic lunch at Black Brook Beach.

From The Cabot Trail

After lunch we continued south going through the villages of Ingonish, Ingonish Beach, Wreck Cove, St. Ann's Bay and back into Baddeck. This is truly a beautiful drive and the weather couldn't have been better for our drive. The total distance around the Cabot Trail was 289 kilometers, or 179 miles.