Port Hawkesbury

Industrial port at the Canso Causeway — the first town most visitors see crossing onto the island.

On the Ceilidh TrailOn the Fleur-de-lis Trail

Port Hawkesbury is the gateway to Cape Breton from the mainland — the Canso Causeway (built 1955) crosses the Strait of Canso here, the deepest causeway in the world. The town is a service centre and the home of one of Canada's largest paper mills.

For most travellers it's a refuel stop, but the NSCC Strait Area Campus is here, and the town has a workmanlike walkway around the harbour and a small live-music scene at The Granite Brewery.

Other towns along the same trails

Around Cape Breton

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