Castlerock Country Inn

Cape Breton – Ideas for Free Time

The Cabot Trail is the main attraction on Cape Breton, and it’s a journey full of picture-perfect vistas, friendly locals, and one that should certainly be taken at a leisurely pace. The section around the Highlands National Park is particularly scenic and can be explored further by venturing onto the many walking trails here. The Skyline Trail is a particularly popular walk, offering beautiful views along the rugged coastline. Access is from the western side of the Cabot Trail, halfway between Chéticamp and Pleasant Bay, and the return walk is approximately 7.5 kilometres in length. Aside from the obvious natural beauty, there are several cultural attractions on Cape Breton as well. The Highland Village Museum, which sits on the shores of Bras d'Or Lake, is a living history museum offering insight into the roots of Gaelic Nova Scotia, how the first Scottish settlers lived, and how the culture remains vibrant today. With costumed interpreters greeting you in Gaelic and a number of restored historic buildings, this attraction truly brings to life the culture, heritage, and hospitality of the area. Louisbourg Fortress is a reconstruction of part of a huge French fortress as it was in 1744. The site, once the focus of several struggles between the English and French, served as both a defensive structure and a centre of administration for the province. Although the original fortress was burned to the ground, today you can enjoy guided tours led by workers in period dress, several interpretive walks around the site, and buildings that recreate typical life for the fort's inhabitants.