The Cabot Trail
A Cape Breton Bicycle Tour
- Explore the Cape Breton Highlands “one of North America”
- best rides” (Bicycling Magazine)
- Experience Coastal Riding and Celtic culture
- See whale breaching off the northern most tip
of Nova Scotia
The Cabot Trail bicycle tour is the quintessential Nova Scotia cycling loop. The paved highway swoops along the sea wall and up over some challenging climbs into Cape Breton Highlands National Park. On other days we’ll ride gentle congestion-free roads beside the largest lakes in Nova Scotia, the mighty Bras D’Or and Lake Ainslie. No Cape Breton bicycle tour is complete without a visit to Glenora Distillery for a taste of their renowned Glen Breton single malt and maybe a ceilidh (musical kitchen party) after dinner.
Day 1 - Transfer from Sydney airport, warm up ride and welcome reception
Leaders will collect you in Sydney (or meet in Baddeck) on the first morning of our Cabot Trail bicycle tour. From here we will transfer to Baddeck, a lovely village on the lake. We enjoy a short warm-up ride before a welcome reception to begin our week.
Lunch, Dinner
14 or 24 miles
2 nights at the
Inverary Resort
Day 2 - The Isle of Iona
This morning we’ll set sail for the Isle of Iona out in the middle of the wide Bras D’Or lake. From the landing we ride around the island on un-trafficked roads with a stop at the Highland Village, a recreation of a 19th century pioneer settlement.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
43 or 75 miles
Day 3 - – Lake Ainslie to Glenora
Today we leave Baddeck and ride along the water until we turn inland over rolling hills to the beautiful Margaree Valley. We travel on through more quite back roads and around the clear waters of Lake Ainslie to our home for the night, the Glenora Distillery. Here we can tour the distillery to see exactly how Uisge Beath or Water of Life is made from the pure, clear brook that bubbles outside our rooms that night. After dinner there is always a fiddler in the lounge playing traditional jigs and reels.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
40, 56, or 68 miles
Glenora Inn
Day 4 - Along the Sea to Cheticamp
On to Cheticamp and Acadian fishing village perched on the shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. After some rolling hills through wooded countryside we emerge to ride close by the sea with stunning vistas on all sides. Stop and visit the spectacular beach and harbor in the old coal town of Inverness before we continue biking to Cape Breton.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
40 to 68 miles
Lauries’ Motor Inn
Day 5 - Over the Highlands
This is the big one. two challenging climbs of French and North Mountains as we traverse the highlands across the island to Aspy Bay. Take a break from biking to hike the Skyline Trail, a stunning ridge that abounds with moose and vistas that sweep away to the Magdalene Islands far out at sea. Tonight we can have a bonfire on the beach on the shores of Aspy Bay where mountains plunge down into the Atlantic Ocean.
Breakfast. Lunch, and Dinner
46 miles
Markland Coastal Resort
Day 6 - – Sea and Mountains
We’ll ride next to the ocean as we continue our Cabot Trail bicycle tour, pedaling to our final destination, the beautiful Keltic Lodge on Middle Head, Ingonish Beach. We’ll start the day with a whale watching excursion off the northern most tip of Nova Scotia and after a quick lunch hit the road for some of the most beautiful scenery and sweet riding you’ll find …anywhere!
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
46 to 62 miles
The Keltic Lodge
Day 7 - Climbing Cape Smokey
The conclusion of our Cape Breton bicycle tour kicks off with a dawn ride to the peak of Cape Smokey, high above the sea. After checking out the look off, we’ll button up our jerseys for the 10KM descent back to Ingonish. Then after a bountiful breakfast at the Lodge, we’ll load up, say our farewells and head to Sydney airport. You'll take home sweet memories of biking Cape Breton that you will recount fondly for years to come.
Breakfast, Lunch
18 miles
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