Anne-Charlotte PasseraIf you want to dig deep into Cape Breton Island and get off the Cabot Trail, pull over in Cape North.
Cape North, as the name indicates, is located on the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, midway between Cheticamp and Ingonish. We used it as our base camp to explore the region.
Not many tourists hang around there or at least you won’t be overwhelmed by day trippers. If you are looking to unwind in peace and quiet on the Cabot Trail, Cape North is the place to go. Moreover, if you are travelling with dogs, they will enjoy it just as much as you. There is no better place to enjoy miles of opens spaces without anyone around.
Sleeping in Cape North
You’ll find different types of lodgings in and around Cape North but all have a common denominator – tranquility. People tend to stop in Cape North to unwind and relax.
We rented a dog-friendly old home through AirBnb on the Cabot Trail. However, fancier lodgings do exist such as sleeping:
There is one restaurant, two arts and crafts stores, a grocery store and small gas station. That’s about it.
The beauty of staying in Cape North: no air pollution. At night, while drinking a local brew, enjoy a stunning sunset and then look at the zits in the sky. Simply marvellous.
If you plan to head down to Ingonish, take the coastal trail loop to Neils Harbour. It is much nicer than the Cabot Trail. The road is less travelled and you’ll have beautiful vistas. Along the way you’ll spot secluded beaches that are perfect to enjoy with dogs.
Cape North also gives you access to some beautiful beaches that are people free.
Dingwall beach
The beach in Dingwall is an extra long stretch of white sand with strong waves. It is a good spot to build sand castles or play fetch in the water with your dog if the waves doesn’t scare him away. The water is warm.
There are no facilities on site. Parking is free.
To access it, follow signs for Dingwall off the Cabot Trail, take Quarry road which is a dirt road and then park.
The beach separates what looks to be a salty lake on one side and the ocean on the other side with highlands in the back drop. For some reason, it reminded me of our trip to Hawaii.
Dingwall is a small fishing village and you can check out the wharf and harbour if that interests you.
Meat Cove
The beach at Meat Cove is by far my favourite beach we went to in Nova Scotia. It is located about 30 minutes away from Cape North, on the northern tip of the island.
While the cove is small, it isn’t overcrowded. There, you’ll find pristine waters on a secluded tiny pebble beach. My dog and I went to the far left to be out of the way of people and set up base behind some rocks for privacy. We had a hell of a good time playing fetch.
Getting there
The road to get there is rough at times as it is unpaved in some areas. It is a rollercoaster of a drive on windy road. You can stop in some areas to enjoy the views or to gain access to a beach.
The road ends in a dead end, in the parking lot of a campground. If you reach it, you passed the entrance to the beach. It’s right before the last bend towards the campgrounds on your right. Fair warning, that last stretch of “road” is very bumpy and is best to be used with a SUV. The parking lot is very small. There are no facilities on site.
Take St Lawrence Bay road for about 15 km, then turn left on Meat Cove road. Then it’s straight ahead until the end.
Other options
On the way back, we discovered a secret beach after the lookout and the last stretch of dirt road. You’ll have to park in the grass and then make your way down to a large pebble beach. I preferred the beach at Meat Cove.
If you want food and don’t want to wait to eat until you get to your accommodation, you can grab food at the split road or in Saint-Lawrence Bay. There is a Sea Shack there and it is also a place where you can go whale watching.
Now, if you are looking for day trip ideas from Cape North, head on over to Ingonish.
