I’m getting a lot of questions about where to stay when enjoying the Cabot Trail by bike. Here’s what I suggest:
Support those that support our lifestyle – stay at a biker friendly location. Now, in Nova Scotia, it seems that everyone likes bikers. By biker friendly, I really mean those that are specifically interested in having you. Anyone listed here contacted me through this site, or, paid money to advertise in the Motorcycle Guide. I can’t give them a full review, but I’ll give the facts that you care about. No one’s paying me for the props, so feel free to comment honestly on any of the accommodations listed here. Remember, comments from you is what will make this site a genuine biker resource for other bikers.
Whycocomagh (20 or 40 minutes from Trail)
This is the new 'toy barn' - if it's not a toy, it's not stored in here. The Quay hosts snowmobiles and ATV's in the winter.
This is the back side of Steve's cabin - the bottom half is complete wheelchair accessible throughout.
this is where we parked before Steve built the toy barn
Owner Steve Smith (in Red) talking about the wildlife in Whycocomagh Bay. This is taken from my balcony.
Edwardsville (40 minutes from St. Anne’s, towards Sydney)
The Ponderosa Bed & Breakfast - Gary and Connie (902) 539-0344
or by email
Middle River (6 minutes from Trail)
Cabot Trail Motorcycle Retreat – Patrick and Angela
(902)295-1087
Aberdeen Motel Affordable Drive-up Units, 3-Star (Open Mar 1-Dec 12) 902-756-2331
10293 TCH #105, Whycocomagh, NS, 1-888-286-8886, www.swiss-valley.com
Auberge Bay Wind Suites Themed Ocean View Suites 902-224-3800
15299 Cabot Trail, Cheticamp, NS, http://www.baywindsuites.com/, Breakfast from 7-11am in Restaurant
Bras d’Or Lakes Inn 4 Star (Open Year Round) 902-535-2200
at the Canal, St. Peter’s, NS; 1-800-818-5885; http://www.brasdorlakesinn.com/; Licensed Dining Apr-Oct
Cabot Trail Motel overlooking Bras D’Or Lake (Open May 15-Oct 31) 902-295-2580 email them
8450 TCH #105, Baddeck, NS; http://www.cabottrailmotel.com/; 42 A/C ground level rooms, laundry
Cabot Trail Sea & Golf Chalets Fully Equipped 1, 2, 3 bedroom 902-224-1777
71 Fraser Doucett Lane, Cheticamp, NS, 1-877-224-1777, www.seagolfchalets.com, bilingual service
380 Esplanade St., Sydney, NS, 1-888-41SUITE (417-8483,) www.cambridgesuitessydney.com
Baddeck, NS, www.capebretonresorts.com, Lakeside Dining, Pub, Spa, Fitness Room & Pool
Dundee Resort & Golf Club (Open May-Oct) 1-800-565-5660
West Bay, NS, http://www.capebretonresorts.com/, On the Bras d’Or Lakes, Cottages, Pool, Spa & Pub
24 Philpott St., Port Hawkesbury, NS; 1-877-625-1146; www.bbcanada.com/9467.html; Stay tax free
Hunter’s Mountain Chalets (Open May-Oct) 902-295-3392
562 Cabot Trail, Hunter’s Mountain, NS, 1-800-996-3392, http://www.huntersmountainchalets.com/
Owners speak German and English…and are bikers too! They have a nice website with some cool reading and photos of the area.
Inverary Resort Only waterside resort in Baddeck (Open April-Dec) 1-800-565-5660
Baddeck, NS, http://www.capebretonresorts.com/, Drive-up Rooms & Cottages, Lakeside Dining, Pub & Spa
Keltic Lodge Resort and Spa (Open June 5-October 23) 902-285-2880
Middle Head Peninsula, Ingonish Beach, NS, full range of services, 1-800-565-0444, http://www.kelticlodge.ca/
L’Auberge Acadienne Inn (Open Year Round) 902-226-2200
Hwy #206, 2375 High Road, Arichat, NS, 1-877-787-2200, http://www.acadienne.com/, dining room & lounge
Laurie’s Motor Inn 56 A/C Motel units (Open Apr 1-Oct 31) 902-224-2400
15456 Laurie Rd, Cheticamp, NS, 1-800-959-4253, http://www.lauries.com/, Breakfast Dining Room
Lynwood Inn & Restaurant (Open Year Round) 902-295-1995 We have rooms year round but our restaurant is seasonal (mid-June to late-October). Restaurant has live music nightly by local singer/guitarist Warren MacIntyre
441 Shore Road, Baddeck, NS, 1-877-666-1995,
http://www.lynwoodinn.com/, lynwood@baddeck.com Luxury suites & cottages
Pavement? Lots of paved parking
Wi-Fi? Wireless in Heritage Building and Highspeed (hardwired, ethernet cable in room) in Donald MacDermid Building
Guaranteed available covered and locked storage for Bikes? No
Wash Stations Available (access to garden hose)? Yes & old towels in laundry room for people to help themselves to
Liscenced? Yes
Distance to Liquor Store? 1 block
Distance to Grocery items/convenience? Grocery – 1 block / Convenience – next door
Price $100 – $150 for rooms (most with 2 queen size beds and all with private bath) / Lynwood Cottage $150 & Bay Cottage $230 (+ HST) Discounts: Motorcycle Touring Program Members 10% off rooms / all others discount depends on availability–please call
# Rooms available 32 rooms and 2 cottages
At the exits to the Cabot Trail (Baddeck) 10 min. drive to Cabot Trail exits 7 (Clockwise) or 11 (Counter-clockwise) / 15 min. to exit 12 (Counter-clockwise via Englishtown Ferry)
MacNeil House (Open May 15-Oct 15) 1-888-662-7484
Shore Rd, Baddeck, NS, http://www.maritimeinns.com/, 6 Suites adjacent to Silver Dart Lodge
McIntyre’s Housekeeping Cottages (Open Year Round) 902-295-1133
8908 Hwy 105, Baddeck, NS, 1-866-566-1133, http://www.mcintyrescottages.com/, 1 & 2 bedroom units
Owners are bikers too!
Pavement? Most Cottages
Wi-Fi? Yes
Guaranteed available covered and locked storage for Bikes? No
Wash Stations Available? Yes
Licensed? No
Distance to Liquor Store? 3 miles
Distance to Grocery items/convenience? 3 miles
Price? $120 – $350
8 Cottages and a 3 bedroom Guesthouse (This is awesome for 3 couples – $350/night and a deal for a week…check the website) On the entrance to Cabot Trail (Baddeck)
Maritime Inn Port Hawkesbury (Open Year Round) 1-888-662-7484
717 Reeves St, Port Hawkesbury, NS, http://www.maritimeinns.com/,
Pavement? Yes
Wi-Fi? Yes
Guaranteed available covered and locked storage for Bikes? No
Wash Stations Available? No
Licensed? Yes – Pub and Restaurant
Distance to Liquor Store? Across the road
Distance to Grocery items/convenience? Across the road
Price?
MidTrail Motel & Inn & Fully Licensed Restaurant 902-224-2529
On the Cabot Trail (Pleasant Bay) http://www.midtrail.com/, 1-800-215-0411 (Open May 15) Trail, Pleasant Bay, This place is also known as the ‘Pink Place where the whale watching tours leave from that is right on the ocean’. Owner is a biker.
Pavement? Main Driveway
Wi-Fi? Yes
Guaranteed available covered and locked storage for Bikes? No, but working on it 
Wash Stations Available? Yes
Licensed? Yes
Distance to Liquor Store? 40 minutes
Distance to Grocery items/convenience? 1/2 mile
Price? $99.99 – 119.99 Off season – $79.99 – $99.99 Discounts: Motorcycle Tour Guide Nova Scotia Biker Card Discount 10% off
20 Units
Ocean View Motel & Chalets (May 1-Oct 15) 902-224-2313
15569 Cabot Trail, Cheticamp, NS, 1-877-743-4404, http://www.oceanviewchalets.com/
Pavement? No
Wi-Fi? Yes
Guaranteed available covered and locked storage for Bikes? outside, covered
Wash Stations Available? No, but provide wash rags for bikers
Licensed? No, but restaurant next door
Distance to Liquor Store? 5 minutes
Distance to Grocery items/convenience? 1/2 mile
Price? $125 – $200 Off season - about 20%off Discounts: Motorcycle Tour Guide Nova Scotia Biker Card Discount 10% off
18 Units
Silver Dart Lodge (Open May 15-Oct 15) 1-888-662-7484
Shore Rd, Baddeck, NS, http://www.maritimeinns.com/, Overlooking the magnificent Bras D’Or Lakes
Telegraph House & Motel Since 1860 (Open Year Round) 902-295-1100
479 Chebucto St, Baddeck, NS, 1-888-263-9840, www.baddeck.com/telegraph, Licensed Dining
The Cove Motel, Restaurant & Gift Shop 30 A/C Units (Open May 1-Oct 31) 902-747-2700
Hwy #104, near the Canso Causeway, Auld’s Cove, http://www.covemotel.com/, Specializing in Seafood
The Water’s Edge Inn & Gallery (Open early June – late Oct) 902-295-3600
22 Water St., Baddeck, NS, 1-866-439-2528, http://www.thewatersedgeinn.com/, Bikers Breakfast included
Trailsman Motel 1km from Cabot Trail (Open May 1-Oct 30) 1-888-245-LAKE(5253)
10003 TCH#105, Baddeck, NS, http://www.baddeckinn-trailsman.com/, Drive-up rooms on the Bras D’Or Lake, See photo below
McArras Brook, Along the Sunrise Trail (2 hours from Trail)
This is Anna In front of the Red Roof Inn. This place is Brand Spanking new, and gorgeous. Awesome Balcony overlooking the Northumberland Strait. Have a coffee while enjoying PEI in the horizon. Click on photo to view website...
Do you recommend any particular tent campgrounds nearby with hot showers and restroom facilities?
Whidden’s in Antigonish is very nice. MacKinnon’s in Lake Ainsle. Sunset Sands in Mabou. You have all your provincial and national park sites as well. I’ll need other riders to comment and help with that question as I personally haven’t camped much besides Whidden’s. I will post campgrounds in the ‘Accommodations on the Cabot Trail’ Section in the future for sure.
Thanks. I did some research and I may stay at Meat Campground or The Hideaway Campground both on the north west tip of the island. Other than the restaurant to pick up t-shirts, can you recommend a place before arriving at either of these campgrounds where I can pick up some sandwiches and beer?
Hey Rob,
I checked out the Meat Cove situation and the Chowder Hut sells beer, but you have to order food at the same time because they only have a restaurant license, not a pub license. So you’re all set when you get there. If you want a drink back at the campsite, pick up a bottle of Jack at the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission(NSLC) in Ingonish (it is one of the first businesses as you enter Ingonish), or, if you’re traveling clockwise, hit the NSLC in Cheticamp.
Meat Cove Camping & Chowder Hut Restaurant
25 campsites, 4 camp cabins, hiking, kayaking, Beach.
24′ deck, friendly service, full menu & whale sightings.
Address: Meat Cove, Off Bay.St.Lawrence Highway
Phone: 902 383 2379
Have fun! Daniel