June opens on the Cabot Trail with an atmospheric run of nightly lobby sessions at The Markland and a guided waterfall hike into Cape Breton Highlands National Park — a perfect pairing of culture and wilderness to kick off summer on the island's northern shore.
Three local Cape Breton musicians — Bruce Courtney, Norman MacDonald, and Deron Donovan — bring the warmth of the island's musical tradition to the Markland Lobby each evening. Together they also perform as part of Trail Bound, a local band celebrated on the northern tip of Cape Breton, sharing laughs, stories, and vibrant Cape Breton music nightly from 7 to 9 pm starting in June.
Three local Cape Breton musicians — Bruce Courtney, Norman MacDonald, and Deron Donovan — bring the warmth of the island's musical tradition to the Markland Lobby each evening. Together they also perform as part of Trail Bound, a local band celebrated on the northern tip of Cape Breton, sharing laughs, stories, and vibrant Cape Breton music nightly from 7 to 9 pm starting in June.
Buddy MacDonald is a celebrated Cape Breton singer-songwriter from the North Shore of the island, entertaining audiences for over 45 years with his warm blend of Celtic roots and storytelling. He is a 2022 East Coast Music Association Stompin' Tom Award winner, and his iconic song "Getting Dark Again" was inducted into the Cape Breton Music Industry Hall of Fame in 2023. He has performed across Canada, the United States, Scotland, and beyond, sharing stages with Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac, and many other Cape Breton greats.
Three local Cape Breton musicians — Bruce Courtney, Norman MacDonald, and Deron Donovan — bring the warmth of the island's musical tradition to the Markland Lobby each evening. Together they also perform as part of Trail Bound, a local band celebrated on the northern tip of Cape Breton, sharing laughs, stories, and vibrant Cape Breton music nightly from 7 to 9 pm starting in June.
Weekly market selling local produce, fish, maple syrup, honey, preserves and baked goods from Cape North vendors. Operates on the Cabot Trail in the northeast Highlands. Check ahead for current hours and seasonal dates.
Guided hike to Still Brook Falls and Jack Pine Trail waterfall in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, departing from Black Brook Beach. Part of the Waterfall Season programming.
The week begins quietly and beautifully. Monday through Friday, The Markland hosts nightly lobby entertainment — Bruce Courtney, Norman MacDonald, and Deron Donovan perform together each evening at 7:00 p.m., making it easy to build a Highlands dinner-and-music ritual. Monday's session, Tuesday's, and Wednesday's all offer the same warm, unhurried setting — arrive early and settle in.
Daytime hours earlier in the week are made for the road itself. The Cabot Trail loop stretches 298 km around the northern Highlands, and drivers who want to shave a stretch of pavement off the eastern leg can catch the Englishtown Ferry at Jersey Cove — a short cable crossing that saves 25 km and adds a memorable moment to the drive. Along the North Shore, the Clucking Hen Café & Bakery sits roughly halfway between Baddeck and Ingonish, making it an ideal midday stop for breakfast plates or homemade baked goods.
By mid-week, Thursday's Markland lobby session pairs well with an afternoon walk on the Middle Head Trail — the easy peninsula loop past the Keltic Lodge leads to a headland between two bays where nesting Arctic terns are active in early June. Afterward, Ingonish Beach offers something genuinely unusual: Atlantic surf on one side and a warm freshwater pond on the other, separated by a narrow strip of sand.
Friday delivers a double bill of live music. Buddy MacDonald performs at the Keltic Lodge Arduaine Restaurant at 7:00 p.m., while the final Markland lobby session of the week runs at the same hour — visitors based in Ingonish might choose one; those with flexibility in Dingwall have the other. The Coastal Restaurant & Pub in Ingonish Beach is a reliable pre-show option, with Cape Breton beers on tap and casual comfort food to fuel the evening.
Saturday rounds out the week with a satisfying local rhythm. The Cape North Farmers' Market opens at the Cabot Fire Hall at 10:00 a.m., where local farmers and producers bring fresh fish, maple syrup, honey, preserves, and baked goods. An hour later, the Guided Hike to Still Brook Falls and Jack Pine Trail departs from Black Brook Beach — a sheltered cove with pink granite sand that already rewards the drive before the hike even begins. The guided route leads into Cape Breton Highlands National Park to the waterfall corridors of Still Brook Falls and Jack Pine Trail, two of the park's most scenic early-summer draws.
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.
Black Brook is a sheltered crescent of coarse sand and pebbles framed by pink granite headlands. A small freshwater waterfall drops onto the eastern end of the beach, a favourite photo spot. The cove is the southern terminus of the Coastal Trail, so a beach day can easily be combined with a short shoreline walk. Waves can be lively; supervision recommended for children.
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.
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.
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.
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 lobby music under the Markland's beams to a waterfall cascading onto pink granite at Black Brook Beach, the first week of June sets the Cabot Trail in motion with everything that makes this stretch of coastline worth the journey — come for a night, stay for the week.
Around Cape Breton
More news →