Nova Scotia – Day 2 – Biking the Celtic Shores Trail – June 15, 2025

Mark and Carl Roberts are biking the popular Celtic Shores Trail. A 55 mile trek along the shores and through the woods of Cape Breton island

Day 2 Itinerary

Celtic Shores Trail

Breakfast at the house
Bike south on the Celtic trail
Lauri to hike the Inverness beach
Lauri picks up Mark and Carl near Port Hastings
Dinner out at The Annex in Inverness

Once an active coal mining town, today the town of Inverness is better known as a golfer’s destination with Cabot Cape Breton’s Cabot Cliffs and Cabot Links golf course. There are a heck of a lot more golfers in town than bikers!
Lauri took advantage of Inverness Beach, a long stretch of sandy coastline. Every night we have enjoyed catching the gorgeous sunsets over the ocean. We have been looking for a pod of whales passing by but no luck today.

Map of our Biking Trip Today

Bike from Inverness to Port Hastings for 55 miles

The Celtic Trail is hard packed gravel with no paved sections. There were so many picturesque lakes that a picture doesn’t do justice to the beauty of the area.
In 55 miles we might have seen 10 people and most of them were riding ATVs.

The Celtic Trail is pristine with no development – Not one bit of trash the entire way.

The trail is a former railroad so it was fairly flat with expansive beautiful woods in all directions.

Unlike the Great Alleghany Passage bike trail in western Pennsylvannia this trail has no refreshments. No restaurants or little eateries along the way. You are in the middle of nowhere and you better have all of your food and water with you! The volunteer team that maintains the trail did build bathrooms occasionally along the trail.

Carl pointing to the kilometer marker #88. We started at #90 and went to #1.

The first 25 miles were in the woods and the last 25 miles are along the coast. Across the Bay of St. Lawrence we could see the outline of Prince Edward Island. The ocean water is so clear that you can see down to the bottom for a hundred yards out to sea.

Rest stop for water and a snack. Although still sparsely populated, Nova Scotia has very interesting history. The Mi’kmaq indians have been in Nova Scotia for several thousand years. Around the year 1054 the Vikings established a settlement. It was first discovered by John Cabot (who actually was Italian) in the 1520s just a couple of years after Columbus came to the Americas in 1492. The French also also landed here just a few years later. There are many French named towns but the pervasive cultural influence of the area is Celtic lifestyle.

One of the inlets that leads to the Bay of St. Lawrence.

Lauri was a real trooper and waited for us to finish the ride. She found a cool hour and half hike on a boardwalk and along the beach.

Highway 19 is Cape Breton Island’s only paved road. Every other road is gravel. Here is our trail heading south.

The last kilometer of the trail is closed due to a storm washing it out. Carl points to the warning sign.

After 6 hours on the bike saddles traversing 55 miles we were ready for a little treat. We sought out a nearby Tim Horton’s coffee shop that are as ubiquitous in Canada as Starbucks in the US

We had dinner at The Annex restaurant which is walking distance from the home rental.

It was a great evening for eating out on the deck of the restaurant and overlook the ocean.

Just for Lisa’s edification: Carl’s Lobster Linguini with diablo sauce. Mark and Lauri had halibut with mussels, asparagus and potatoes. Everything was delicious as it was all from local fishermen.

Thoughts for the day :

Lauri :

I enjoyed living like a local with an hour and half hike along the beach, strolling the farmer’s market and enjoying the views of St. Lawrence Bay.

Mark :

The Celtic Trail was more beautiful than I anticipated. The 55 mile bike adventure wiped me out. Dinner with Lauri and Carl on the deck of the Annex restaurant eating local seafood was a highlight of the day.

Carl Roberts

Live the Adventure – Seek Nature!