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Offered languages
- English
- English
Drive Cape Breton’s 298 km Cabot Trail counterclockwise from Buckwheat Corner at your own pace. This self-guided smartphone tour pairs GPS-triggered audio with a live route map and 48 listed itinerary entries, from Baddeck and Cape Smokey to Ingonish, Pleasant Bay, Skyline Trail and Chéticamp. Allow about 4–5 hours of driving, plus time for optional lookouts, walks and meals.
Download the tour before departure for offline use; narration plays automatically as you follow the map, and you can pause and resume whenever you like. The route ends back at Buckwheat Corner and follows this direction only. Bring your own vehicle and smartphone or tablet; no in-person guide is included. Park admission, parking reservations and attraction access are separate and may change seasonally.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
The tour starts and ends at Buckwheat Corner at the intersection of Cabot Trail Road and the Trans Canada Highway.
Itinerary
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Bras d'Or Lake (Pass by)
Start the counterclockwise drive beside the Bras d’Or Lakes, Cape Breton’s vast inland sea.
Admission ticket free -
Baddeck (Pass by)
Pass through lively Baddeck, gateway to the Cabot Trail and home to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Pass Plaister Mines and discover traces of the area’s gypsum mining past.
Admission ticket free -
Saint Anns (Pass by)
St. Anns pairs sweeping coastal views with a rich Scottish heritage.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Goose Cove’s sheltered waters and wooded brooks make a scenic pause along the route.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
The North River Wilderness Area protects rugged valleys and forested highlands beside the drive.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Enjoy the coastal scenery of St. Ann’s Bay as the road curves along its shore.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Pass the shoreline of Plaster Provincial Park, a peaceful stretch of the Cabot Trail.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
The French River Wilderness Area offers a glimpse of Cape Breton’s protected backcountry from the road.
Admission ticket free -
Wreck Cove General Store (Pass by)
Pass the long-standing Wreck Cove General Store, a familiar Cabot Trail landmark.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Pause at a safe lookout on the ascent to Cape Smokey for dramatic Atlantic views.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Cape Smokey Provincial Park crowns the mountain with coastal lookouts and a picnic area.
Admission ticket free -
Ingonish (Pass by)
Ingonish welcomes you with seaside villages, beaches and access to the national park.
Admission ticket free -
Ingonish Harbour (Pass by)
Ingonish Harbour’s sheltered waters have long shaped life along this coast.
Admission ticket free -
Keltic Lodge (Pass by)
Pass Keltic Lodge on its coastal headland, with nearby views, trails and golf.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Ingonish Centre links several seaside communities with beaches and outdoor trails.
Admission ticket free -
Cape Breton Highlands National Park (Pass by)
Cape Breton Highlands National Park brings forested mountains and ocean cliffs together along the road.
Admission ticket free -
Neil's Harbor (Pass by)
Neil’s Harbour is a colourful fishing village and a gateway to Cape Breton’s points north.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
The Bras d’Or terrane reveals Cape Breton’s ancient geological links to three continents.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Aspy Bay opens onto a broad sandy coast framed by the northern highlands.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Pollett’s Cove and the Aspy Fault reveal a rugged wilderness shaped by deep geological forces.
Admission ticket free -
Beulach Ban Waterfall (Pass by)
Beulach Ban Falls is a forest waterfall beside the Aspy Trail trailhead, both optional side trips when open.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
The Cape Breton Plateau offers sweeping lookouts over highland valleys and the Aspy Fault.
Admission ticket free -
Lone Shieling (Pass by)
Pass the Lone Shieling area, home to a replica Scottish crofter’s hut; the site and nearby pull-offs are temporarily closed.
Admission ticket free -
MacIntosh Brook Trail (Pass by)
Pass MacIntosh Brook’s wooded valley; its trail and campground are temporarily closed.
Admission ticket free -
Pleasant Bay (Pass by)
Pleasant Bay is a scenic coastal village known for whale-watching excursions.
Admission ticket free -
Mackenzie Mountain Lookout (Pass by)
MacKenzie Mountain Lookoff opens onto broad views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and nearby highlands.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Fishing Cove Lookout frames steep green headlands dropping toward the ocean.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Benjie’s Lake and its surrounding bog offer a glimpse of the highland landscape and moose habitat.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
A roadside pull-off at French Lake overlooks still water and boreal forest.
Admission ticket free -
Skyline Trail (Pass by)
The Skyline Trail overlooks the Gulf; parking reservations are required June 26–October 25, 2026 for anyone who plans to hike it.
Admission ticket free -
Le Vieux Chemin du Cap-Rouge Trail (Pass by)
Near Veterans Monument Lookoff, Le Vieux Chemin du Cap-Rouge traces a former Acadian settlement amid striking coastal scenery.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Le Buttereau Trail passes the remains of a small Acadian settlement near Chéticamp.
Admission ticket free -
Chéticamp Campground - National Park (Pass by)
Chéticamp Campground marks the park’s western entrance near river scenery and trailheads.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Petit Étang Beach stretches across a tidal estuary beneath the red bluffs of Le Buttereau.
Admission ticket free -
Cheticamp (Pass by)
Chéticamp brings Acadian culture, coastal scenery and colourful village life to the drive.
Admission ticket free -
Cheticamp Island Beach (Pass by)
Chéticamp Island Beach offers a sandy shoreline on a short side trip from the main road.
Admission ticket free -
Grand Etang (Pass by)
Grand Étang is a coastal Acadian community associated with the lively Mi-Carême tradition.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Look across the Gulf of St. Lawrence as the western coast opens into wide sea views.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Belle Côte lives up to its name with beautiful coastal scenery and a nearby wharf.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Margaree Harbour and Beach meet at a broad river estuary with open coastal views.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
From East Margaree Crossing, see the river winding across its green valley.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
The Margaree River runs through an Appalachian valley known for its scenic bends and salmon waters.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Pass Live Life in Tents at Margaree Forks, where river country meets the inland Cabot Trail.
Admission ticket free -
Margaree Valley (Pass by)
Margaree Valley’s rolling scenery marks the gateway to the river’s inland communities.
Admission ticket free -
Lake O'Law Provincial Park (Pass by)
Lake O’Law Provincial Park offers lakeside views beneath the Three Sisters mountains, with a picnic stop when open.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Middle River Wilderness Area protects forested hills and traces of the region’s mining past.
Admission ticket free -
Middle River (Pass by)
Pass the two distinctive churches standing side by side in Middle River.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Self-guided drive in your own vehicle; sightseeing is mainly outdoors or from the road, and walks are optional. Nearby buildings and services may be closed without preventing the audio tour. Check current road and park notices before travel; MacIntosh Brook Trail and Lone Shieling are temporarily closed, and Skyline Trail parking requires a reservation June 26–October 25, 2026.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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