Port Hood, Mabou and Lake Ainslie are all within convenient reach by carriage. Port Hood has coal mines, a safe harbor, and is the centre of a good farming district. Mabou is one of Cape Breton’s most characteristic little places, and the scenery all through this neighborhood is charming. The town itself is very quaint and enjoyable, while the river and woodland walks and drives are all excellent. There is a very comfortable little hotel here, and a restful vacation may well be spent in this pleasant place as a centre for a series of quiet excursions in quest of nature’s beauties. The Trout River and Lake Ainslie are also good objectives for drives and rambles, for the scenery in this region is full of charm.
Returning to Whycocomagh, and taking the steamer to Baddeck, and through the Bras d’Or Lake to St. Peter’s Canal at its southern outlet, a stay may be made in quiet St. Peter’s, the Port Toulouse of olden days, to enjoy its calm and tranquil summer life. This place was formerly known as Port Toulouse and was one of the fortified trading stations founded by N. Denys. It may be well to note here that several places on this coast, though still retaining their French names, are now exclusively peopled by the Scotch. While the scenery of the south coast districts does not compare with that of other parts of the island, the neighborhood of St. Peter’s is a thoroughly pleasant one. From here excursions may be made to the beautiful island-studded body of water known as Loch Lomond, to L’Ardoise and also to Arichat, Petit de Grat, and D’Escousse, on the island known as Isle Madame. Here the visitor will find himself in another world—the Acadian world of long ago; and the quaint life so different from that of a few hundred miles south cannot fail to make a lasting impression on the minds of all that sojourn for a while in these remote little outposts.
The return to Point Tupper and Mulgrave may be made either by rail or steamer.
There are splendid fishing rivers in Cape Breton, and fine trout streams are everywhere. Hunting, and shooting of wild birds, in season is excellent, too. Particulars relating to all Cape Breton outdoor sports will be found in the Chapter “Where to Go.”
Tuna Fishing, St. Ann’s Bay, C.B.
Where to Go—Recommended Places
