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Ingonish

East-coast Cabot Trail village — Highlands Links golf, Cape Smokey, and a long crescent beach.

On the Cabot Trail

Ingonish is the eastern anchor of the Cabot Trail — five small communities (Ingonish, Ingonish Beach, Ingonish Centre, Ingonish Ferry, Ingonish Harbour) wrapped around a sweep of beaches and the dramatic shoulder of Cape Smokey.

It's home to Highlands Links, regularly ranked among the best golf courses in Canada, and to the Keltic Lodge resort on Middle Head peninsula. The Franey Trail climbs to a cliff-top view of the Clyburn Valley, and the gondola at Cape Smokey has reopened with year-round access to the summit.

Most travellers driving the Cabot Trail clockwise overnight here.

Local businesses

Coastal Restaurant & Pub

Coastal Restaurant & Pub

restaurant

Casual Cabot Trail pub with creative comfort food and Cape Breton beers on tap.

★★★★★ (1164)
Salty Rose’s & The Periwinkle Café

Salty Rose’s & The Periwinkle Café

restaurant

Dine at this cozy Cabot Trail café in Ingonish featuring locally sourced coffee, handmade teas, and live music with garden views.

★★★★★ (805)
Cape Smokey Holding Ltd. (Ski & Gondola)

Cape Smokey Holding Ltd. (Ski & Gondola)

service

Cape Breton's only ski hill, with a year-round gondola for big Atlantic views.

★★★★ (736)
Cape Smokey Gondola & Adventure Park

Cape Smokey Gondola & Adventure Park

tour

Year-round gondola, zipline and mountain bike park

★★★★ (736)
Seagull Restaurant

Seagull Restaurant

restaurant

Book a table at Seagull Restaurant on the Cabot Trail in Ingonish for homemade seafood, pasta, and ocean views from the deck.

★★★★ (510)
Andrew’s Pizzeria

Andrew’s Pizzeria

restaurant

Order pizza, subs, wings, and donairs at Andrew's Pizzeria in Ingonish Beach on the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton.

★★★★★ (482)
Knotty Pine Cottages

Knotty Pine Cottages

accommodation

Cottages, cabin suites, and motel rooms over Ingonish Harbour

★★★★ (393)
Glenghorm Resort

Glenghorm Resort

accommodation

Stay at Glenghorm Resort on 20 acres in Ingonish with private beach access, near Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the Cabot Trail.

★★★★ (340)
Cape Breton Highlands Links

Cape Breton Highlands Links

attraction

Play one of Canada's Top 10 golf courses at Cape Breton Highlands Links in Ingonish Beach, featuring 18 holes with ocean views and mountain scenery designed b

★★★★ (317)
Stay at Groovy Goat Farm Co.

Stay at Groovy Goat Farm Co.

accommodation

Stay on a working goat farm in Ingonish with hands-on animal care, new hotel rooms, and complimentary gelato from the on-site shop.

★★★★★ (302)
Groovy Goat Farm & Soap Company

Groovy Goat Farm & Soap Company

attraction

Tour a family goat farm in Ingonish on the Cabot Trail, meet playful goats, and shop handcrafted goat milk soaps and gelato.

★★★★★ (302)
Ingonish Chalets

Ingonish Chalets

accommodation

Book a cozy cabin retreat in Ingonish near Highlands National Park with pet-friendly accommodations and easy access to hiking trails and coastal views.

★★★★★ (216)
Ingonish Visitor Centre (Cape Breton Highlands National Park)

Ingonish Visitor Centre (Cape Breton Highlands National Park)

service

East-side park gateway with passes, trail info and interactive exhibits.

★★★★★ (207)
Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Cape Breton Highlands National Park

attraction

Hike 26 trails through Canada's rugged highlands where mountains meet the sea along the iconic Cabot Trail in Cape Breton.

★★★★ (204)
Sea Breeze Cottages & Motel

Sea Breeze Cottages & Motel

accommodation

Housekeeping cottages, chalets, and motel rooms in Ingonish

★★★★ (203)
Middle Head Trail

Middle Head Trail

attraction

Hike the 5.3 km Middle Head Trail in Ingonish to dramatic coastal cliffs with Atlantic views, seabirds, and seals in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

★★★★★ (202)
Doucette’s Market & Eatery

Doucette’s Market & Eatery

restaurant

Enjoy fresh local meals at Doucette's Market & Eatery in Ingonish Beach, featuring a cozy eatery, market with handmade goods, and mountain views from the picn

★★★★ (202)
Franey Trail

Franey Trail

attraction

Hike Franey Trail in Ingonish for 360° views of the Clyburn Brook canyon, Atlantic coastline, and dramatic mountain vistas; two loop options available.

★★★★★ (172)
Castle Rock Country Inn

Castle Rock Country Inn

accommodation

Hilltop country inn with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of Cape Smokey.

★★★★ (170)
Keltic Express Zodiac Adventures

Keltic Express Zodiac Adventures

attraction

Speed along the Cabot Trail near Ingonish on a zodiac tour seeking whales, dolphins, puffins, and eagles with one of Atlantic Canada's best sighting success r

★★★★ (149)
The Island Inn

The Island Inn

accommodation

Stay at this charming Ingonish Beach bed and breakfast with 10 tastefully decorated rooms, stunning landscape views, and easy beach access on Cape Breton.

★★★★ (145)
Cape Smokey Provincial Park

Cape Smokey Provincial Park

attraction

Hike scenic trails atop Smokey Mountain along the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, with panoramic lookoffs and excellent bird watching opportunities.

★★★★★ (143)
Ingonish Freshmart

Ingonish Freshmart

restaurant

Shop for groceries, fresh meat, and produce at Ingonish Freshmart on the Cabot Trail, open 7 days a week for all your needs.

★★★★ (142)
Eagle North Canoe & Kayak

Eagle North Canoe & Kayak

tour

Paddle the Clyburn River and Ingonish lakes

★★★★★ (111)

Things to see & do

Other towns along the same trails

Around Cape Breton

More news →
CBC · May 27, 2026
WWI Canadian soldier with ties to Cape Breton identified

A WWI Canadian soldier with connections to Cape Breton has been identified after years of mystery.

CTV News · Jun 15, 2026
Transit Cape Breton users can now ‘tap and ride’

Transit Cape Breton has introduced a tap-and-ride payment system for easier bus travel.

CTV News · May 30, 2026
Cape Breton Regional Municipality's viability in jeopardy, according to study

A new study raises concerns about the long-term viability of Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Ingonish, Cape Breton