The Cabot Trail is a winding scenic drive along the coast and through the highlands of north-east Cape Breton. Even though it was quite early spring when we were there at the beginning of May, and the day went from sunny to grey rather quickly, the majesty of the highlands was breathtaking. One of the upsides of traveling in the off-season is getting to experience each place without the buzz of the tourist season. We practically had the road and the beaches to ourselves.
If I were to travel here in the summer it would definitely be a camping destination. Perhaps at Meat Cove, on top of a windy cliff overlooking the Bay of St. Lawrence where it meets the Atlantic Ocean.
A tufted sand dune at Inverness Beach, looking out into the Gulf of the St. Lawrence.
The Inverness Beach and the breakwater on the horizon.
One of several gorgeous cobble and sandy beaches along the coast.
A young male moose stopping to feed at a pond. Note the missing antlers which are shed each fall and regrow in the spring.
Much of the interior of the highlands look like this with miles of rolling tree covered hills and valleys.
A view from above Meat Cove and the velvety looking reddish beach below. Meat Cove is the most northern community in Cape Breton and lies at the end of a winding and sometimes steep road. You have to travel several kilometers off the Cabot Trail to get here, but it’s well worth the trek for a visit.
The boulder scattered beach at Black Brook Cove.
All images © Karen McRae
draw and shoot 
Just beautiful!
Thanks, Lois. I imagine it’s even better in the summer and fall!
Excellent shots! I got shivers from the chilly beach wind…
Oh , it was chilly! A cold ocean wind. Thank you!
So amazing! I just love the rugged shoreline shots.
Me too, the varied shorelines are so interesting.
Beautiful series, Karen…thank you for the mini-vacation. 🙂
Thanks you, Scott! 🙂
You’re very welcome. 🙂
Karen, I can tell from these photos what a treat it would have been to have the place to yourself over the off season. The beach takes on a different feel, doesn’t it? I have a favourite image in this series, that I keep going back to: the wave crashing on the rock. What a great shot! I also enjoyed the picture of the moose – I wonder how long it will take for his antlers to grow fully. That is a lovely capture.
Marina, these places are really best experienced without crowds of people around. The crashing waves always draw me in too, I miss them… 🙂
Thank you.
The thing I found so amazing in these photos was the similarity, not to say “identical-ness” of the coast in your pictures with the coast where I live in the Finistère, Brittany, which is almost exactly on the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean (if you went up a bit to the top of St Pierre et Miquelon you’d be opposite). I personally prefer the ocean in winter and spring when the beaches are empty of people and you get real weather. Lovely pictures, thank you.
Thank you for your comment. It’s amazing how similar (or different) things can be an ocean apart. I hope to make it St Pierre et Miquelon some day!
Beautiful shots Karen – I especially like shot 1 & 15…. 🙂 **
Thank you, Xandre!
Absolutely stunning! Reminds me so much of Ireland… thanks for the trip!
David, I’ll have to get to Ireland one of these days!
Thank you.
Always looking forward to see a mail notification from you. I know it’s going to bring a smile to my face and make my day better! Wonderful shots, each and every one in it’s own very special way. Thank you, Karen.
Thanks very much, Marina. I appreciate your kindness! 🙂
Thank you for the nice tour and for your great photography. Each and every shot was a joy. The moose surprised me, but in a delightful way. Thanks again.
Wally, thank you very much.
Beautiful photos as always Karen! It looks as such an unspoilt place.. Lucky you!
Yes, so much of it is still quite natural. Thank you, Marija.
Beautiful scenery and well captured! 27. blows me away!
Thank you, Joylene. Those boulders on the beach are amazing, aren’t they?
Absolutely! I have a feeling that you captured this exactly as you saw it. No small feat 🙂
Hi Karen, these are simply stunning and so tranquil and serene. Beautiful work as always!
Thanks, Jack!
What beautiful captures… I’m completely in love with the land. And what a lovely portrait of the young moose!
Thank you, Fey Girl. It’s an easy land to love. 🙂
Glorious. I’m struck by the flesh tones in the sand and rock that read as an intrinsic, benign human presence. I also see change and movement contrasting with the forever.
Thank you, Elena. A great comment as always, I love this;
“I also see change and movement contrasting with the forever.”
beautiful place, a dream to visit this coast and landscapes, I like the spring to these places, few people to photograph, to be with nature. I love
Thank you, Angel. I indeed was a beautiful place to visit.
Love the rugged structure and look of the scenes. Is this where there’s that huge tidal range?
Thank you, I believe it’s the Bay of Fundy that has the huge tidal range you might be thinking of. I’ve not been there, although I’d very much like to go!
what a fantastic place and great to have it all for yourself 😉 great shots …love it!
Thank you, Joanna. It was nice to have it to ourselves!
Fantastic pictures! Looks like such an amazing place. I hope I can go there one day.
It’s worth the trip, Inga! Thank you.
I think more and more it really is better to travel to a place off season rather than in-season. You see and understand so much more.
You’re right, Christian. I prefer the off season most of the time. Unfortunately it was a bit of a whirlwind trip, I’d like to go back.
I agree with David Patterson.. it is very like Ireland ( where I lived for 25 years) I love the colour of the rocks and the crashing waves.. I’ve learnt something about Moose too 😉
Thank you, Helen. The moose was cool, it was the first time I’ve actually seen one.
Ohhhh!!!! It’s like watching a silent movie! You break my heart with the moose!!!! How wonderful!!! And it keeps going! Fabulous Karen! 🙂 You must be smiling now … 🙂
Thanks you so much, Gigi. You always make me smile! 🙂
These all look like my kind of scenery! Lovely stuff, Karen!
Steve, it’s a great place!Thank you.
Just lovely to armchair travel to these places with you Karen, it looks so beautiful. I would just love to go there one day..on my wishlist for sure!
Thanks, Cath. I hope you make it there. I have England on my wish list! 🙂
My favorite is the tufted grasses echoing the clouds and even the water! (I’ve been gone so am catching up 🙂
Thanks, Carla! 🙂
Beautiful and scenic environment of the coast. I like that! 🙂
I’m glad you do, much thanks!
Very cool photos.
Thank you, Allen.
Fascinating! I enjoyed the photos and tour.
Thank you, Fergiemoto!
Beautiful photographs! I love how you captured the rich reds and browns of the earth. Great shot of the Moose : )
Thank you, Nareen. The moose was a bonus! 🙂
Karen, how I wish we had two weeks together to explore each other’s worlds… one week in Norway and one week in Canada. What do you think? Great shots!
That would be an amazing time, Erica! I am hoping to make it to Norway one day. 🙂
(Tucked away in the back of my mind…)
Thanks!
These photos make me want to just – be here. Right now. And never leave. So serene and mysterious. You’ve captured it so well. Beautiful.