Moving farther south, Baddeck is another convenient stopover showcasing shops, restaurants, a few nearby attractions, and of course, music. While I enjoyed a homemade berry cobbler at the High Wheeler Cafe, a man dressed in full Scottish garb played bagpipes and wandered aimlessly down the road.

Inventor Alexander Graham Bell spent time at his Baddeck estate during his last 40 years of life and a national historic site now highlights his inventions and humanitarian work. Bell’s love of the area is well known. He once said, “I have travelled the globe. I have seen the Canadian and American Rockies, the Andes and the Alps and the highlands of Scotland, but for simple beauty, Cape Breton outrivals them all.”

Just north of town, visitors to Uisge Ban Falls Provincial Park can hike 2.4 miles to a 50-foot-high waterfall. And the nearby Gaelic College celebrates the songs, music, dance and storytelling that have always been important parts of Gaelic society. Attend a ceilidh — a social gathering with music — to get a true taste of Cape Breton nightlife.

The road to Margaree Harbour travels through the peaceful Margaree River Valley and then back to Cheticamp, the starting point for my journey.

The Cabot Trail is named for explorer John Cabot, who sailed to North America in 1497. Cabot’s exact landing spot is debatable, but his spirit of discovery lives on in travellers who take the journey along his remote namesake road. They will be rewarded with solitude and scenery that’s unattainable on more popular scenic drives.

Is the Cabot Trail the most scenic drive in the world? Well, that’s for you to decide. But with all that it has to offer, does it really matter?

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