If you prefer a faster paced activity, take a mountain bike along the trails or cycle around the villages, exploring the active fishing harbours, beaches, exhilarating views, museums and restaurants along the way. Alternatively attend a powwow, complete with music, storytelling and traditional cooking by Nova Scotia’s first people, the Mi’kmang. On Cape Breton Island, known as the only living Celtic culture in North America, they certainly know how to put on a Ceilidh that will keep you on your toes. It is also the home to the world’s largest fiddle.
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Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is located off the far North East coast of Nova Scotia and boasts a wealth of natural beauty, deep rooted culture and unique traditions.
Whether you choose to explore the lush green mountains or the rugged and vibrant coastlines, Cape Breton Island hosts an array of activites, both land and water based. The hiking opportunities are endless on the island, with 26 hiking trails of varying difficulties in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park each offering panoramic views of ocean vistas, rugged highlands and deep canyons. Hiking has become so popular that there is now an annual Hike the Highlands festival which attracts hikers globally with guided hikes, evening activities, and more.
Being an Island, it’s no surprise that Cape Breton hosts an array of water based activities. With a coastline stretching over 1000 kilometers Cape Breton’s Bras d’Or lake is one of the world’s premiere inland saltwater seas ideal for boating, yachting, kayaking and fishing or just absorbing the stunning views. Alternatively, you could simply spend a day at the beach, the opportunities to get out on the water are endless.
With it’s endless amounts of open, green spaces, Cape Breton Island is a golfer’s paradise offering some intriguing and exciting courses for all levels. Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs sit on the west coast of Cape Breton, while the revered Highlands Links is situated to the north. Make sure you get in a round of golf at the Dundee Golf club. This championship golf course ascends the side of South Mountain, providing commanding views of the Lake and the nearby marina. The scenery can often be a distraction as the course demands excellent control and shot placement.
You will discover every kind of artisan at work here—makers of kilts and quilts, baskets and glass, along with art created from old industrial labours—blacksmithing, leather and woodworking.
