Chéticamp & Margaree: What to Do June 15–21, 2026

Chef-led 8-course dining experience on the Cabot Trail featuring foraged and locally sourced ingredients prepared by Michelin-trained Chef Cameron Armstrong. Diners sit at communal tables surrounded by local art, with sommelier-led wine pairings and stories about each course's inspiration. Offered Tuesday–Saturday until November 1, 2026, at 6:00pm and 6:30pm seatings; $185 per person with advance booking required.

Chef-led 8-course tasting menu on the Cabot Trail featuring local seafood, seasonal produce, foraged ingredients, and Acadian flavours. Diners sit at communal tables surrounded by local art, with sommelier wine pairings and chef commentary on each course. Offered Tuesday to Saturday until November 1, 2026, with seatings at 6:00pm and 6:30pm ($185 per person). Advance booking required; notify of dietary restrictions 48 hours ahead.

Michael & Tracy Cavanaugh are Cape Breton musicians — Michael is a singer-songwriter from Englishtown who plays fiddle, guitar, and mandolin, and the duo are featured performers at KitchenFest! and Celtic Colours International Festival. Catch them at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #53 in Baddeck for a lively evening of tunes rooted in the island's rich musical tradition.

Fishing Cove drops nearly 335 metres over eight kilometres to a hidden cove that was once home to a small Scottish fishing settlement. The trail is steep in spots but well graded, weaving through hardwood and conifer stands before delivering hikers to a grassy meadow above a wild Gulf of St. Lawrence beach. Eight backcountry tent sites sit just back from the shore—reservations are required. Day-trippers should plan a full day for the return climb. Carry plenty of water and watch for moose along the upper section.

What you'll see

• A grassy meadow on a hidden cove with a wild Gulf shoreline at its mouth.
• The foundations of an abandoned Scottish fishing settlement.
• Dense hardwood and conifer forest along the descent, with brilliant fall colour.
• Moose along the upper trail at dusk and dawn — keep your distance.
• Bald eagles, peregrines, and the occasional whale offshore.
• Eight Parks Canada backcountry tent sites tucked into the meadow above the beach.

On the trail

• About 16 km round trip via the longer route, or 12 km via the steeper direct route.
• About 335 metres of climb on the return — the back-out is the hard part.
• Well-graded and well-marked, but steep in places.
• Allow at least six hours for the round trip; longer if you swim or have lunch.
• Watch for moose; do not approach.

What to bring

• Real hiking boots and trekking poles.
• Plenty of water — at least three litres per person; the only safe source is the brook at the cove (and even that needs filtering).
• A bear-bag system if you camp; food storage is your responsibility.
• A swim suit and quick-dry towel — the cove begs for a dip.
• Bug spray and a light layer for the breezy meadow.
• A reservation through the Parks Canada system if you plan to camp.

Park & access

• Two trailheads on the Cabot Trail north of Pleasant Bay; both signed.
• Parks Canada day pass required for hiking; backcountry permit additional for camping.
• Vault toilets at the trailheads and at the cove.
• Open seasonally — typically late spring through mid-autumn.

Combine it with

• A whale-watching boat from Pleasant Bay before or after.
• The Whale Interpretive Centre in Pleasant Bay.
• The Skyline Trail for a different highlands experience the next day.

Enragée Point Lighthouse stands on the western tip of Cheticamp Island, an octagonal wooden tower painted bright white. A gravel road and short walk lead out to the point, with sweeping views back to the Cheticamp village waterfront and west to the open Gulf. Wind here is often fierce, as the name (French for "enraged") suggests.

What to see

• A handsome octagonal wooden lighthouse, painted bright white, in a wide-open clifftop setting.
• Long views east back to the Cheticamp church and waterfront, framed by the highlands rising behind.
• Open Gulf horizon to the west — Magdalen Islands visible on the clearest days.
• Pilot whales and fin whales offshore in summer; bald eagles overhead.
• The Cheticamp Island gypsum-cliff coastline running south from the light.

Tips

• Bring a serious wind layer — the name is not a joke.
• Best light is morning for the lighthouse against the headland.
• Stay back from the cliff edges; the rock is undermined in places.
• The access road is gravel and bumpy but passable in any car.
• A great sunset spot when the wind allows you to stand still.

Park & access

• Reached by Cheticamp Island Road off the Cabot Trail just south of Cheticamp village.
• The final approach is a short walk from the parking area.
• Free; year-round access.
• No facilities on site.

Combine it with

• The Acadian Trail above Cheticamp for a longer afternoon hike.
• Les Trois Pignons or the Cheticamp hooked-rug museum for an Acadian cultural stop.
• A seafood meal on the Cheticamp waterfront — chowder and crab cakes are standard.

A three-generation Acadian bakery in Chéticamp turning out meat pies, crusty bread, and sweets the way the Aucoin family has always made them. If you're driving the Cabot Trail and want a taste of Acadian home cooking you can eat with your hands, this is the stop.

What to expect

• Small bakery counter, not a sit-down restaurant — most folks grab and go
• Glass cases of pies, turnovers, donuts, and loaves of crusty French bread
• A line out the door on summer mornings; locals on first-name terms with the staff
• Acadian French and English both spoken at the counter

Don't miss

• The pork pies (tourtière-style) — the thing they're known for
• Date squares and butter tarts for the road
• A loaf of crusty bread to pair with a chowder later that night

Good to know

• Cash is appreciated; bring small bills
• Best to arrive early — popular items sell out by mid-afternoon
• Limited parking; the lot fills fast in July and August
• Closed Sundays in shoulder season — call ahead outside summer

Pair it with

• The Skyline Trail, 30 minutes north in Cape Breton Highlands National Park
• Coopérative Artisanale de Chéticamp for hooked rugs and Acadian crafts
• A whale-watching trip with Whale Cruisers from the Chéticamp wharf

The Rusty Anchor is Cape Breton’s best kept secret!The halfway point on the Cabot Trail, serving the best lobster roll and fish n chips in the area. Come for the food and stay for the view!