Have you heard of The Cabot Trail?
If you haven’t, then trust me when I suggest you add it to your bucket list for 2026. Preferably in September/October when it’s slightly quieter and absolutely stunning.
The Cabot Trail is one of the world’s most iconic drives, perfect for any stage of life. A 298 km road around Cape Breton Island in the north east of Nova Scotia, Canada. It can be done in 1 day, however, our recommendation is that you take 2-3 days to complete it.
The road hugs the coastline, with plenty of lookout points and charming places for a coffee or bite to eat. The trail connects communities and is rich in Scottish culture.
Our first day was spent in and around Baddeck, a quaint town with plenty to do. We had lunch at Highwheeler Cafe and Bakery, which was excellent. Definitely one of the best toasties and coffees we’ve had in Nova Scotia. They even had a Slayer coffee machine, which is a sign of quality and coffee craft.
Baddeck looks out over the Bras d’Or Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site. By design, we did this drive in October which is during the Celtic Colours International Festival, a nine-day event celebrating traditional Celtic culture through music, dance and workshops. Between events and the vibrant red, orange and yellow leaves, it was idyllic.
As we left Baddeck, we popped into Bell Bay GC, a charming course with spectacular views over the Bras d’Or Lake. Designed by Canada’s greatest modern architect Thomas McBroom, this is a course firmly on the list for the next trip.
The next day, we woke to a blue sky and crisp air. We drove for 3 hours, all the way around to Inverness and Cabot Cape Breton. We strolled around the area, and rested up at our lodgings, before a night of Ceilidh and food at The Red Shoe, a short 15-minute drive from Inverness. Owned by local musical heroes, The Rankin Family, this was a highlight. A packed pub, filled with great people, live music and decent food. A night that had us smiling for days.
The next morning started early at the range at Cabot Cliffs, to prepare for an 8:30am tee time. We played with a group from Long Island, NY. Wonderful people, and never a dull moment. Being paired with a group you don’t know is always potluck, and on this occasion we got lucky. There was camaraderie, birdies, bogies, music and a few ‘wee drams’. We had two excellent caddies with us who enhanced the experience. They were locals and shared plenty of stories of their experiences on the links at Cabot Cape Breton.
The course was in great shape, especially for this time of year where it is cooler. The Cliffs has some unbelievable holes, especially 2, 15, 16, 17 and 18. These are the holes that in many ways look better from the air than they do from the ground.
As we finished, it was a quick shuttle across to The Links for a beer, water and a Cabot cookie. The Links is a very different course and possibly our preferred. It feels less dramatic, and is open and exposed to the elements. On this day though, there was hardly a breath of wind. A perfect autumn day. Holes 6, 11, 14 and 15 are the ones we’re still replaying. Great fun.
As the sun began to set, it was time to head to Whit’s for a quick beer and pizza, located near the pro shop and their premier restaurant Panorama.
Needless to say, the entire Cabot experience is our highlight of The Cabot Trail, which is already remarkable on its own. We are putting together tours for 2026, so if you are interested in learning more, please drop us an email.
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