Lone Shieling Trail

A quick 800-metre loop in the Grande Anse Valley brings visitors to a thatched stone hut modelled on a Scottish Highland shieling, set among one of the rare old-growth sugar maple stands in eastern Canada. Some trees here are over 350 years old. Interpretive signs explain both the Gaelic settlement history and the ecology of the forest. Perfect for a stretch-the-legs stop on the Cabot Trail.

What you'll see

• A small thatched-roof stone shieling — built in 1942 to honour the highland Gaelic heritage of the surrounding settlers.
• One of the rare old-growth sugar maple stands east of the Great Lakes; trees here can be more than 350 years old.
• Interpretive panels on Gaelic settlement and the forest's ecological significance.
• Spring wildflowers in May, brilliant red and orange in late September.
• Mature understory of hobblebush, striped maple, and wood ferns.

On the trail

• 800 m loop on packed dirt and gravel.
• Very easy grade — fine for casual walkers and families.
• Well-signed; takes 15 to 20 minutes.
• A few benches along the loop for resting.

What to bring

• Comfortable shoes — nothing technical needed.
• Bug spray in early summer.
• A camera; the shieling among the maples is striking.
• Curiosity for the panels — they're worth reading.

Park & access

• Signed pull-off on the Cabot Trail, in the Grande Anse Valley between Pleasant Bay and Cape North.
• Parks Canada day pass required.
• Vault toilet at the trailhead.
• Open year-round, though winter is unmaintained.

Combine it with

• MacIntosh Brook Trail just up the road for another short walk.
• Beulach Ban Falls a short drive north.
• The Whale Interpretive Centre in Pleasant Bay.