The English Country Garden B&B
A Magnificent 4.5 -Star destination along the Cabot Trail
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Our Favorite
places to go in
Cape Breton
Penny's Picks
Ian's Picks
  • The Red Island Trail
  • St. Ann's Bay Lookoff
  • The Fortress of Louisbourg
  • Englishtown Ferry area
  • Driving through the St.
    Peter's/ Arichat area
  • Fall Colours in Cape Breton
  • The Dancing Goat Cafe in
    Margaree
  • Walking through our Gardens
    to see what is blooming
Details.....

Middle Head Peninsula Hiking Trail
is a fantastic Walk high above the ocean
shore.  Easy level ( except the big hill on the
way back - but there are benches!) The
view from the end - it's like standing in the
middle of the Ocean without leaving land!
You can do the hike in an hour and a half,
then stop in at the Atlantic Takeout Window
for ICE CREAM!

The Skyline Trail
is perhaps the top hiking Trail in the Cape
Breton Highlands National Park.  Three
hours round trip allows you a breath taking
view from the boardwalk and the end of the
trail.  Depending on the weather you might
chance upon a moose munching away
beside the path!

White Point (Near Neil's harbour)
is off the Cabot Trail - take the Alternate
Scenic Route at Neil's harbour staying to
the right.  Beautiful boats and a small village
and then just rugged coast line.  Take the
turn off to White Point and pull into the
makeshift gravel parking lot.  Take a walk
along the rocky hills that over look Aspy Bay
- incredible views.  There is a hiking trail
there for the adventurer.  I just like to watch
the birds and the play of water and sun.

Whale Cove Look off
My other favorite spot is again off the Cabot
Trail at Whale Cove - just below Margaree
Harbour. While travelling the Cabot Trail
south of Belle Cote take a turn onto the
road beside the Duck Cove Motel and head
to Whale Cove.  On your left you will pass
an old holiday village and to your right up
on a hill you will see a Cemetery and bluff.  
That is where you are heading.  Look for a
small wooden cemetery sign on your right
beside a dirt road.  Turn onto the dirt road
and follow it up onto the bluff. Amazing
view...
Details...

The Red Island Trail
is relatively easy and takes you down to the
ocean and pebbly beach to a pristine
unspoiled spot which makes you feel like
you are on a deserted island.  This trail is
located at the St. Ann's Bay United Church
about 10 minutes from our house.

St. Ann's Bay Look off
is accessible from the TransCanada about  
a mile up the road from exit 12 (going
toward Sydney)  on a Clear day you can
see for miles! There is a lot of history in the
St. Ann's Bay area.

The Fortress of Louisbourg
I believe this is one Historic place NOT to be
missed on a trip to Cape Breton!
A huge reconstruction of the original 1700's
site is most exciting on a misty day when it
seems to appear from nowhere as you
enter the area.

Driving through the St. Peter's/
Arichat area
can be very rewarding with amazing
pastoral scenery, fishing villages and the
famous Locks at St. Peter's - the very first
ever built in Canada.

Fall Colours in Cape Breton
Perhaps because I am British and we do not
have quite the spectacular array of colours
with the Canadian Maple in the UK, but the
season is a highlight with week after week
of increasing beauty.  And while the
temperatures dip I'm still holding on to
thoughts of summer!

Ian is a 60 year old, father of three grown
children, who enjoys the finer things in life,
is heavily involved in the tourism industry
and enjoys the Arts, especially theatre and
classical music.  This summer he is directing
the one woman play
Shirley Valentine, to
open in late August in Ingonish.

Penny is a 50 year old, who enjoys the great
outdoors and loves all wild animals.  Always
on the move, she also enjoys her job teaching
Art and directing the local theatre group.
You will see her out in her canoe most
mornings in the summer soaking up the
incredible atmosphere of the lake.
Kate'sPicks
Kate is a 20 year old young woman, who
enjoys the waters of Cape Breton for half of
the year and the mountains of British
Colombia for the other.  She loves the
waves, sand and sun of the local beaches.
Reveling in the rich and diverse art and
music talent the island has to offer she
always knows where some tunes will be
playing.
  • Canoing on our Lake!  
  • Middle Head Peninsula
    Hiking Trail
  • The Skyline Trail
  • White Point
  • Whale Cove Look off
  • Green Cove Look off
  • Our local Artisans
  • Lunch at Water's Edge
    Gallery in Baddeck
  • Seeing Moose ,Beavers and
    Eagles and Bird Watching
Little River Beach
Turn left as you are leaving the driveway, head north for about 10-15
min. Turn right at Little River Wharf, keep to your right as you come to
the buildings. On the right hand side of the breakwater is a beautiful
sandy beach. Perfect for an evening of roasting marshmallows over a
bonfire or an afternoon of roasting yourself in the sunshine.

Black Brook Beach
Head north as you leave the driveway, driving towards Ingonish. It will
take you about 1hr to reach Black Brook, look for a sign on your right
after Ingonish Beach. It is a wonderful beach surrounded by cliffs and
a river. Bring a picnic or go body surfing in the waves.

Uisage Ban Falls
Turn Right out of the driveway, head towards Baddeck on the 105. At
the second exit to Baddeck turn left, keep on this road for 10km (it is a
bit rough). Turn onto improved paved road and follow the signs. There
are picnic tables at the trail entrance. Its a lovely, easy trail that leads
you to a rushing waterfall. Take a seat on a rock by the pool and listen
to the thundering water. It takes about 2.5 hr.

Point Michaud
Head right out of the driveway towards Sydney. Turn left onto
HWY-105. Merge onto Hwy 125 E/NS-125 E via the ramp to Glace
Bay/Sydney. Continue on HWY 125. Merge onto Hwy 125 E. Take exit
6W. Merge onto Kings Rd. Continue on E Bay Hwy. Continue on Bras
d'Or Lakes Dr/HWY 4. Slight left at Salmon River Rd. Turn left to stay
on Salmon River Rd. Turn left at Hwy 247. It will take you about 2 hr
30min to reach this exceptional 3-km sandy beach, backed by
marram-covered sand dunes and large cranberry bogs. Learn to surf
in the rolling waves here or build a sand castle on the coast line.

Bunkers Celtic Pub
Located above Governors restaurant on the Esplanade in Sydney,
Bunkers is the perfect place to bunker down with a pint of beer or a
glass of wine and enjoy the musical styling of the local talent.

Cape Breton Center for Craft and Design
Located on Charlotte St. in downtown Sydney, the center displays work
from around 50 Cape Breton artisans.  So much talent concentrated
into one building.
  • Little River Beach
  • Black Brook Beach
  • Uisage Ban Falls
  • Point Michaud
  • Bunkers Celtic Pub
  • Cape Breton Center for
    Craft and Design