The Cabot Trail is one of the most beautiful road trips in the world. It is scenic route in northern Victoria County and Inverness County on the island of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The route makes a loop around the northern tip of the island, along and through the Breton highlands of the Cape. The route is named after explorer John Cabot who landed in Atlantic Canada in 1497,

The northern part of the Cabot Trail runs through the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The western and eastern parts follow the rugged coastline, overlooking the ocean. The southwestern part goes through the valley of the Margaree river before passing along the Bras d'Or lake.

The Cabot Trail is referred to as Trunk 30 by the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. The route is open all year round.
You drive through beautiful landscapes, through beautiful picturesque villages, but also through the rugged Canadian wilderness with its vast forests. The route runs largely along the coast and you can spot the whales and seals in several places.

The route is just under 300 km and therefore easy to do in a day, but because of all the beauty, it is certainly advisable to make a multi-day trip out of it. There are several hotels, campsites and B & Bs; on the island. Start and finish are just after Wagmatcook 1 where the Trans Canada Highway becomes the Cabot Trail. Some parts of this road are boring and straight, so we occasionally drive on a more rural road.

The first stop is already after 11 kilometers at the Alexander Graham Bell Museum (RP2). This museum contains items that were donated in 1955 from the personal museum of the Bell family. There are also memorabilia from Bell's experiments, including: the original hull of a hydrofoil, the HD-4, which set a world record for maritime speed in Baddeck by reaching speeds of over 112 km / h (70 Mph) in 1919 .

The next stop is along the route at RP6 Iron Art & Photographs Gallery; Artists Gordon and Dominique show their unique work in this eclectic 'Roadside Attraction'. Intriguing metal sculptures are made on site; colorful knits and eye-catching photos are also offered.

At RP7 there is a possibility to eat something at "The Dancing Moose Cafe". At RP8 and 9 you can stop for a while to enjoy the view at Cape Smokey Trailhead in the Provincial Nature Park of the same name.

We enter the Cape Breton National Park at RP10, and certainly stop at the Ingonish Visitor Center. The staff are happy to give you information about the park and the surrounding area, help you orientate, buy park passes and program tickets and give you the latest updates on park facilities and activities. Here you will also find official Parks Canada merchandise for sale, including caps, t-shirts, hoodies and umbrellas. Across the road you can make a quick climb via a hiking trail to Freshwater Lake Look-off, where you have a beautiful view of Freshwater lake.

Along the Cabot Trail are several hiking trails (Trail) where you can enjoy the Cape Breton National Park while hiking. These are clearly indicated. A number are included in the review as Route point and POI. There are also several lookout points along the route, so there are plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy this beautiful nature park. For lovers there are also a number of beautiful beaches along the coast, so bring swimsuits and a towel.

At RP15 is Green Cove Trail, although this walk is very short (stretch your legs) it is definitely worth it, because the view is fascinating. From this rocky granite headland protruding into the sea, you can see the waves crash against the rocks and perhaps even catch a glimpse of whales off the coast. Note the twisted trees, known as "krummholz". Plants here have adapted to this windy, salt-sprayed coastal environment and have leathery leaves.

At RP16 stands the lighthouse of Neil's Harbor, this is one of the many typical lighthouses on Nova Scotia, they are mostly made of wood and white and red. Near the lighthouse is also a small restaurant. After this we deviate from the Cabot Trail for a short while and drive via a narrow winding road towards White Point (RP17), where you can walk via a trail to the extreme point, from where you have a beautiful view.

At RP18 we stop at the North Highlands Community Museum & Culture Center which shows the history and heritage of Northern Cape Breton and serves as a local meeting place for the community to share the stories and talents of our people.

The Lone Shieling is a Scottish style cabin from 1942, you can see the cabin from the road at RP19, but to visit this cabin you have to drive about 100 meters and park and then it's a short walk through the park.
The next stop is at Pleasent Bay RP20 where enthusiasts can whale watch, there are several shipping companies to choose from.

Via RP21 where you have a beautiful view over the sea we drive along the coast to Margaree Bay. After this we follow the course of the Margaree river and we continue along the Middle River Wilderness Area to the end point of this beautiful tour.

This tour has beautiful views, interesting sights and beautiful varied nature, you drive through the mountains, valleys, along the coast, through the woods and through small fishing villages. Along the route there are many small restaurants where you can eat well, especially if you like fish.

I rate this route with 5 ***** stars.