Nova Scotia Hiking: Cape Breton Island Walking Holiday

7 Days & 6 Nights

Nova Scotia Hiking: Cape Breton Island

Hike the wild coastline of Nova Scotia's iconic Cabot Trail
Explore quaint Acadian villages, rich in history, dotting Cape Breton's coastline
Enjoy malt whiskey and daily Scottish music at the Glenora Inn & Distillery
Feast on fresh-caught lobster, snow crab and mussels from the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Look for moose, whales and wildflowers on the Skyline Trail and Franey Mountain

Hike the stunning landscape of Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island, exploring by car and on foot and stopping at trailheads along the Cabot Trail and throughout Highlands National Park. Upon arrival in Halifax, enjoy a picturesque drive up to Baddeck for a waterfall hike, lobster supper and optional evening sail. Continue up to Ingonish Beach for a two-night stay at the Keltic Lodge, allowing plenty of time to soak in the panoramic views and nearby trails. Drive the coastal route to White Point, a memorial for an unknown sailor and seaside hike for spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. Continue west to Cheticamp, for scenic views of the St. Lawrence seaway and hikes along the Skyline Trail. Strap on your boots for more hiking adventures and whale watching opportunities before heading to Glenora Inn & Distillery, an old-world inn with daily whiskey tours and nightly traditional Ceilidhs (Scottish) music.

From £1,185.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive Halifax Day 2: Drive to Baddeck & Hike Uisage Ban Falls 1.5 miles / 2.6 km Day 3: Drive to Ingonish Beach & Hike Warren Lake and Franey Mountain 5 miles / 8 km

From Baddeck, drive the Cabot Trail up to Ingonish Beach, the eastern entryway to Cape Breton Highlands National Park (approx. 1.5 hours).

Warm up your legs with a relaxing trail hike around the shoreline of Warren Lake, the National Park’s largest lake. Get an early start for greater chances of viewing moose, bears and a variety of birds native to the area.

Take it up a notch with a hike up Franey Mountain. The spectacular views at top make this hike a must do and well worth the challenge. Walk through forest until reaching wooden stairs, the steeper section of the hike. Turn back at any point along the trail or hike up to the summit (1,400 ft. above sea level) for priceless views and world famous panoramas.

Head back to the Keltic Inn to swim in the pool, enjoy a spa treatment or to play an 18-hole round of golf.

Walk 1: Warren Lake, 5.4km, 1.5 Hours, Ascent/Descent: 43m/46m

Walk 2: Franey Mountain, 7.6km, 2 Hours, Ascent/Descent: 344m/329m

Overnight Ingonish Beach

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Keltic Lodge | Hotel

Sitting high on top of the peninsula, this historic 1950’s Lodge offers fantastic views, newly renovated guestrooms, an on-site restaurant, 18-hole golf course, swimming pool, spa and is only a short distance from the national park.

Lantern Hill & Hollow | Hotel

An enchanting beach house just steps away from the Atlantic Ocean offering guest beds and bathrooms overlooking the sea alongside beachfront cottages. Located directly along the Cabot Trail in Ingonish, NS.

The Island Inn | Bed and breakfast

The Island Inn is situated on a hill overlooking a quiet lake in the village centre. It is within close walking distance of commercial amenities and short drives of the areas major attractions. There is an endless variety of hiking and scenic activities along the fifty miles of rugged accessible coastline and the Highlands of Cape Breton.

Day 4: Drive to White Point & Hike Middle Head and White Point Trail 3.5 miles / 5.5 km Day 5: Drive to Cheticamp & Hike Benjie’s lake, Bog and Skyline Trail 4.5 miles / 7.5 km

Today, you will drive from the east side of Cape Breton to the west side, overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Before reaching Cheticamp (approx. 2 hours), stop-off at three incredible, yet diverse, hiking trails along the way. Located only a few blocks apart, start with the hike to Benjie’s Lake for views of moose, boreal forest and birds. Head over to the Bog Trail for a short loop along a level wooden boardwalk to view beautiful wildflowers, particularly orchids. Continue on to the famed Skyline Trail, one of the park’s best hikes and a local favourite for the perfect conclusion to this hiking day.

Drive down to the Acadian town and Francophone enclave of Cheticamp. Check into your B&B or join a whale watching tour to view whales, dolphins, seals, eagles and wildlife near Pleasant Bay (not included).

Walk 1: Benjie's Lake, 2.8km, 1 Hour, Ascent/Descent: 21m/21m

Walk 2: Bog, 0.5km, 30 mins, Ascent/Descent: 8m/8m

Walk 3: Skyline Trail, 7.5km, 2 Hours, Ascent/Descent: 159m/159m

Overnight Cheticamp

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Maison Fiset House | Bed and breakfast

The Maison Fiset House is an elegant retreat on the magnificent Cabot Trail. Built in 1840 and situated in the heart of Cheticamp, enjoy exquisite accommodations with magnificent views of the highlands, harbor and ocean.

Auberge des Pecheurs Inn | Bed and breakfast

L'Auberge des Pêcheurs Inn, in Chéticamp, is the perfect inn along the Cabot Trail that will keep you coming back for years to come. The rooms, the atmosphere and the friendly personnel are second to none. Enjoy a night’s stay at this charming inn, partaking in all that the surrounding Acadian community has to offer.

L’Auberge Doucet Inn | Inn

Overlooking the Chéticamp Harbor and surrounded by the Cape Breton Highlands, this cozy inn is set in a quaint red building along the scenic Cabot Trail. The quiet and relaxing atmosphere which surrounds the Inn will lull you into a deep and peaceful sleep; while the food, atmosphere and friendly personnel offers an experience unlike any other.

Day 6: Hike Acadian Trail & Drive to Glenville 5.4 miles / 8.7 km Day 7: Onward Travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 4kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 4kg is equivalent to 2.5 avocados. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.

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Other Information

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Is it for me?

This tour is graded easy to moderate, with daily average hiking around 3-7 miles (3 to 5 hours). Enjoy hiking along hand-picked trails to stunning vistas, waterfalls or natural delights within the national park or coastal trails. Trails are signed, well-maintained, traveled frequently and near the road for ease of navigation and parking. Each night, drive to nearby villages to stay at historic B&Bs and inns influenced by Irish and Scottish settlements.

Trip Type:

Discovery | Think of it as a ‘local’s guide’ to the best of the region. It includes a combination of activity and transportation to give you the freedom to explore and cover more ground at your own pace. We do all the research and organisation for you. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy!

Activity:

Drive and Hike | Exploration of picturesque and remarkable destinations by car combined with walks that highlight the best of a country or region.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 5 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Islands

Grade & Terrain

This tour is graded easy to moderate with five days of hiking and a maximum distance of 8 miles. Daily hikes average around 3-7 miles (3-6 hours) along dirt nature trails or wooded boardwalks and stairs.

Although the trails are maintained by the park or local organizations, there is always the possibility of encountering washed out, overgrown or of muddy conditions. Almost all trailheads have parking lots with plenty of space, while only a few have pullouts or space to park on the side of the road. Distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.

Experience & Fitness

Although the trails are maintained by the park or local organizations, there is always the possibility of encountering washed out, overgrown or of muddy conditions. Almost

all trailheads have parking lots with plenty of space, while only a few have pullouts or space to park on the side of the road. Distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.

Daily trails have been hand-selected by the Macs Adventure team and chosen for their level of difficulty, scenic qualities and high rank within top trailheads, so you can enjoy the best of the region. Due to the flexibility of this trip, you can always skip a hike or turn around whenever desired.

Note: Wildlife safety, cell service availability, and other trip specific information will be outlined within your pre-departure information pack.

Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included When to go Travel & Transfers Info & FAQ

General Information

National Park Pass

While hiking within Cape Breton National Park, a parking pass will have to be purchased upon arrival. Booths will be set-up at entrance stations to prompt you to purchase your pass before parking, or you can stop by the visitor’s center along the route. You can purchase each day’s pass all at once or per day if preferred. Costs are $7.80 CAD per person via cash or credit card. For more information click this link and visit the national park pass section found within the pre-departure information pack.

Equipment

Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advise and a packing list on what to bring. This includes warm and cold weather gear, hiking boots, rain gear and lots of other specifics.

Please be prepared by packing all the necessary items for a comfortable trip. If you have any questions about what to take, we'd be happy to share our own top tips and advice.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance helps protect your travel investment, your belongings and most importantly you, from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip.