The week of August 10–16 is one of the finest of the summer on The Cabot Trail (Scenic Drive) — the Perseids meteor shower peaks, turning Cape Breton Highlands into a natural planetarium, with star parties at Cape Breton Highlands National Park and Black Brook Beach and Still Brook Falls inviting visitors to peer through telescopes at one of the year's most spectacular night skies.
Spend some special time looking up, learning, and peering through telescopes at the incredible night sky over the highlands. These parties coincide with the peak dates of the Perseids meteor shower, so plenty of shooting stars are in the forecast. August 12, 2026 Mkwesaqtuk / Cap-Rouge 8:30 pm August 13, 2026 Bog Trail 8:00 pm August 14, 2026 Black Brook Day Use Area 8:00 pm
Evening stargazing event held during the Perseid meteor shower peak, featuring telescopes and views of the night sky over the highlands. Dates align with peak meteor activity for optimal viewing of shooting stars.
A weekly trivia competition where teams answer questions across various categories. Bring your group and compete against other participants for bragging rights.
Eve Stockton is a nature-inspired printmaker with a strong tie to Nova Scotia — her summer studio is on the tip of the province, and The Markland in Dingwall, Nova Scotia appears in her own exhibition listing. No negative content found. Writing description now. Eve Stockton is a Connecticut-based printmaker and former architect whose large-scale woodcut prints draw on summers spent along the Nova Scotia coast. Her works are inspired by close observation of nature, hand-carved from three-foot square woodblocks with rich layers of color.
Begin the week by settling into the rhythm of The Cabot Trail (Scenic Drive), the 298-km loop that has earned its reputation as one of the most celebrated drives in Canada. Whether arriving from the north shore or circling up from Baddeck, a stop at the Clucking Hen Café & Bakery — positioned at a scenic midpoint between Baddeck and Ingonish — makes an ideal first meal: breakfast, fresh-baked goods, and a chance to get oriented before the highlands unfold ahead.
Once in the Ingonish area, the Middle Head Trail offers an accessible peninsula walk past the Keltic Lodge to a tern-nesting headland framed by two bays — a good warm-up for legs that may have been in a car all morning. Afterwards, Ingonish Beach delivers one of Cape Breton's most unusual natural features: Atlantic surf on one side and a warm freshwater pond on the other, side by side on the same stretch of sand. For lunch or a post-swim meal, the Coastal Restaurant & Pub in Ingonish Beach pours Cape Breton beers on tap alongside creative comfort food with a casual, Cabot Trail spirit.
On Wednesday evening, head into Cape Breton Highlands National Park for the star party weekend. The Perseids peak coincides with this event, and the darkness of the highlands amplifies every streak of light crossing the sky. Rangers and astronomy enthusiasts are on hand with telescopes, making it as educational as it is awe-inspiring. Those with an appetite for wilderness hiking might spend Thursday tackling the Polletts Cove Trail, a demanding 16-km route to a roadless meadow-and-beach valley north of the park — genuinely remote and genuinely rewarding.
Friday offers the second major celestial event of the week: the Star Party at Black Brook begins at 8:00 p.m. at Black Brook Beach and Still Brook Falls, where the sound of the ocean provides a backdrop for Perseid watching through telescopes. For those who want to keep the evening going, Trivia Night at The Cape Restaurant & Lodge starts at 10:00 p.m. — a fun team competition that draws locals and visitors alike. Throughout the week, Salty Rose's & The Periwinkle Café in Ingonish is worth a visit for locally sourced coffee, handmade teas, and live music in a garden setting. For a daytime ride with panoramic payoff, the Cape Smokey Gondola & Adventure Park in Ingonish Ferry runs year-round, offering sweeping Atlantic views alongside zipline and mountain bike options.
Sunday afternoon brings a gentle, cultural close to the week with the Artist Reception featuring Eve Stockton at the Markland Lobby, starting at 2:00 p.m. It's an unhurried setting to appreciate original work before heading south. Travelers looping back toward the Trans-Canada can shave 25 km off the return by taking the Englishtown Ferry (Jersey Cove), the tiny provincial cable ferry that crosses St. Ann's Harbour in minutes — a fitting, scenic end to a week on the trail.
The Cabot Trail loops around the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, French Acadian villages, Mi'kmaq communities, and over six mountain passes. Allow at least two days to drive it properly — three is better.
Ingonish Beach is a slim sandbar that separates the cold Atlantic from the warm waters of Freshwater Lake. Swimmers can choose ocean waves on the seaward side or bath-warm freshwater on the lake side just metres away. The beach is supervised in summer and has a full bathhouse. The trailhead for the easy Freshwater Lake Look-Off is right next door.
Middle Head juts a kilometre and a half into the Atlantic between South and North Bay Ingonish, ending in a rocky tip where common and Arctic terns nest each summer. The trail begins behind the historic Keltic Lodge and follows a wide, mostly flat path through spruce woods with frequent ocean overlooks. It is one of the best places in the park for a sunrise walk and is popular with families. The final approach to the tip is closed during seabird nesting season in late spring.
Polletts Cove is the reward for one of the most challenging day hikes in Nova Scotia: an undulating 16-kilometre round trip from the end of the road at Pleasant Bay over five major headlands into a sweeping abandoned settlement valley. The cove itself is broad, grassy, and ringed by mountains, often grazed by wild horses. Many hikers carry a tent and stay overnight. Streams must be forded and there are no facilities. Start early and check the tide.
A casual Cabot Trail pub at Ingonish Beach with comfort food that punches above its weight and a tap list that takes Cape Breton beer seriously. The pick for dinner if you're staying in the Ingonish area and want something better than typical roadside fare.
Year-round gondola, zipline, and mountain bike park on the cliffs above Ingonish Ferry. The gondola alone is worth the stop — eight minutes up to a 360-degree view of the Atlantic, the Highlands, and Ingonish Beach far below.
Located half way between Baddeck and Ingonish. Open daily from mid May until the end of October. Serving Breakfast, lunch and Dinner, licensed serving beer, wine, and lots of homemade baked goodies.
Foodies and nature lovers know Salty Rose’s & the Periwinkle Café is a must-visit destination for a unique and delicious dining experience. This cozy café, situated on the scenic Cabot Trail, offers a diverse menu featuring fresh, locally sourced coffee, handmade teas, specialty lemonades that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more. Your dining experience is a feast for the eyes as well, with indoor and outdoor seating, garden views, and light and welcoming environment. Still wanting more? They offer unique features, such as on-site gift shop, handmade jewellery and features local artists and artisans. The also host live music and specialty dining events, making Salty Rose’s & the Periwinkle Café the perfect spot for a brunch, a date night, or a fun night out with friends. Salty Rose’s & the Periwinkle Café now offers overnight accommodations with beautiful and bright flower themed rooms! Don’t miss out on this hidden gem and book your next stay or dining experience today for a mouth-watering culinary adventure amidst stunning natural beauty.
The Englishtown Ferry is a short, government-operated cable ferry across St. Anns Bay between Jersey Cove and Englishtown. The crossing takes about three minutes and the boat fits roughly a dozen vehicles per trip.
Taking the ferry instead of driving around the head of the bay saves roughly 25 km and 30 minutes on the Cabot Trail. Cars pay a small toll (around $7 each way at last update) — exact change or tap card, no reservations.
The ferry runs year-round, generally early morning until late evening, on demand rather than fixed schedule. Operations pause briefly for shift changes and during severe weather. Check the Nova Scotia 511 service for live status before you commit to the route.
Cape Breton's only ski hill, with a reborn lift system and a year-round gondola for big Atlantic views. Smokey is a small mountain by Western standards but the vertical is real, and skiing with the ocean in your face is an experience you don't get many places.
From meteor showers over the Highlands to art on the walls of the Markland, the week of August 10–16 shows the Cabot Trail at its most layered and alive — the kind of week that makes the drive back feel like a promise to return.
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