Visitors Guide

North Shore is  the halfway point between Baddeck and Ingonish on the world famous Cabot Trail. It get its name as the North Shore of  St. Ann's Bay.  It begins at Jersey Cove when you cross the cable ferry at Englishtown on route 312, or at Barrachois bridge on the Cabot Trail. There are over 10 small communities along the North Shore, each unique in its own way.  Fishing and Tourism are the main industries with several craftspeople producing and selling their own products.   

The North Shore has a rich history of the Gaelic language and traditions including milling frolics.  The North Shore Gaelic Singers were world reknown and sang in several international competitions as well for Queen Elizabeth II, of England..  Our Gaelic culture is celebrated annually at the Feis Chladaich a Tuath, ( feish clak a tua ) North Shore Gaelic Festival,  held on the third Saturday in September. The FEIS features workshops, a milling frolic and much more. The Alexander Smith Community Hall at Breton Cove, has one of the oldest milling tables on Cape Breton Island - over 100 years old. The Feis committee also hosts in October a concert during the Celtic Colour International festival, featuring an evening of Gaelic singing and celtic music.

The people of the North Shore are rich and proud of their heritage with the fishing industry dating back to 1800's. This can be seen by visiting the Little River Fisheries & Heritage Museum, operated and managed by the Little Harbour Authority and North Shore Heritage Society.  Today, there are 27 boats fishing out of the Little River Harbour  where a time there was over 100 boats fishing along the North Shore.

You may hear local people say down north, a term left over by the days of sailing ships when vessels carried North by the winds of the Gulf Stream.

Approximately 90 families live on the North Shore with a population of  over 350.   Seventy-seven  men &  women fought for Canada during the two world wars. There names can be seen at the War Memorial at Indian Brook.


Links -
Victoria County's Visitor Guide (Official Tourism web site) 
Victoria County Hiking Trails
Cape Breton Island
Nova Scotia (official tourism web site)

6) Culture, Heritage and Museum

7) Things to Do
    a) Little River Fisheries & Heritage Museum
    b) Swimming at Little River and Indian Brook
    c) Barachois Hiking Trail

8) Craft Shops
    a) Sea Shanty
    b) Piper Pewter
    c) Leather Works
    d) Glass Artisans
    e) Woodsmiths
    f) Wildfire Pottery
    g) Silver Gull Gift Shop
    h) Sew Inclined
    i) Singing Pebbles
 

9) Places to Eat & Services
    a) Pipers Restaurant & ATM
    b) The Clucking Hen Cafe, Deli & Bakery
    c) Wreck Cove General Store & Gas Bar