meat cove

Face1234

We drove to Meat Cove and hiked from the beach on a boardwalk trail and then walked back to Meat Cove (end of road). Nothing was open in September.....but this didn't hinder our enjoyment of the view of the coast.At the end of the road, there is a campground on a hill overlooking the ocean.Really enjoyed our drive and the hike.

108jilliang

Drove the cabot trail last summer and was surprised by home much i enjoyed Meat Cove. Spent a night in the campsite and the staff there were so great! Very helpful and made our visit so enjoyable! I was surprised again that there was dinner served (i think it was $5) but was awesome homemade chowder. The views were something else! The staff even pointed out good hiking trials for us! We got there a little late in the day so only did the short one but were lucky enough that when we got to the top, a pod of about 20 pilot whales were rounding the cove! It was something else. Also, did not notice it to be too windy like other places, and the beach below was quite warm considering how north you are! Also, though not necessary the campsite had wifi which was nice as I didn't have service for a day or so before this!Would definitely recommend to anyone who had the time to drive up there!

Alleycat427

You feel like you are at the end of the world- beautiful, magnificent, ,and mysterious! we wished we had binoculars and we didn't go for a hike here. We stayed once at the Markham but ti was in off season and cloudy.Not much food choice around here!

ICH126

Once again, locals & tourist information offices told us Meat Cove was a "must" see. First, the all weather road for most part is good, but the lack of guard rails, and winding/switchback sections made it a hairy drive. And there was construction. If you don't like to see steep drop-offs don't go. When we, and five other cars, finally got to there (end of the road) it was CLOSED! Not much room to turn around or park! There is a picnic area that extends out to the cliffs - it was roped off and posted "No Trespassing' and the cafe/store was closed. There was a guy in a shed apparently renting kyacks - but he didn't seem to want business. After leaving and heading in the direction of Ingonish, we saw scenery just as spectacular. Anyone we met later who had gone there was disappointed, as were we. A waste of time!

Victoria477

It was worth the drive over the rough road..right at the most Northern Park of Cape Breton...Spectacular view...

mamalowe

We had no idea where we where going, but you leave the pavement and end up on a basically a one lane dirt road. You need to watch for traffic but you just keep driving till the road ends. When you finally stop there is a few homes, chalets too stay in and a camp ground on this bluff. It is just unbelievable, there is are two restaurants, we had mussels and a bear at the top bluff sitting on a picnic table over looking the ocean. All I can say is WOW! If you like is kayak rentals at the camp ground. Don't miss the drive or the view if you are in the area. You will know when you arrive, the road just stops, so great.

50Continental_Drift

The drive out to Meat Cove is on paved road for a while and then goes to gravel road. The views are good, but, you can get similar views without the long drive.

Becky053

We got a tip from a local in Cheticamp to make sure to see this area. You do have to drive down a dirt road for a while, but don't just stop at the privately owned campground. Instead, park at the campground and walk up the hill just a bit and you will see a trail just opposite of a wooden telephone/electric pole. That trail will take you through some wooded undergrowth to a ridge hike that takes you way above the level of the campground for the best views around. But don't just stop at the top. If you walk along further down the ridge to the very end, there are even better views to the west that you cannot experience until you get out there. We sat and had a wonderful lunch at the private and quiet spot. Since my husband is a photographer, he took the opportunity to capture some incredible shots. One of my favorites on the island. It look us about 2 hours round trip, including the time to sit and eat a casual lunch. Not the place for small children, though. Steep inclines on either side require attention and care.

983stephaniet

On our second trip to Pleasant Bay and the Cabot Trail we decided to take the trip to Meat Cove. The drive there is not for the arm chair traveler. The end of the trip is 20 km of unpaved road that is like nothing I have traveled on in the US, but it was well worth it. Meat Cove is breathtaking. We refer to it as Big Sur on steroids. The views are amazing and even though it was cool and misty turning to a light drizzle it was heard to tear ourselves away. If you're up for the true wilderness experience you don't ant to miss Meat Cove.

johnmO7185QL

The drive from St. Margaret's Bay / Bay St. Lawrence to Meat Cove is exciting. Paved and unpaved roads take you from one view to the next - all very good and many brilliant. We saw several Bald Eagles in flight close to the shore. Journey's end is Meat Cove with its river, beach, cliffs and rock formations. A thoroughly worthwhile trip!

lisahN477VQ

We were on a 10 day road trip of Nova Scotia with the Cabot Trail being the focus of our journey so time was an issue. After reading about Meat Cove on Trip Advisor, we decided to take the extra few hours to check it out. It was most definitely worth the effort! Beautiful views traveling the dirt road to get there, equally as beautiful as parts of the Cabot Trail. The best seafood chowder I had the entire trip was at Seafood Hut. I only regret not spending a night there camping and checking out the hiking trails. If ever I get to Nova Scotia again, I will plan on camping at Meat Cove. I would suggest not going if the weather is bad. Good trek just to see it and have lunch, but I think it would be better to experience it by camping and hiking there too.

TOwriter

People have been telling me for years that you cannot go to the Cabot Trail without a side trip to Meat Cove, so we included this in recent travel plans. As others have noted, you get there via a winding dirt road that requires a good car and a steady hand. We were fortunate that the weather was perfect; not sure I would want to do it in the rain. Once there, the views are quite spectacular, although somewhat spoiled by a campground with tents, trailers, motor cycles, etc. between you and the view (and no trespassing). I'm glad we did the trip once, but not sure I would do it again.

djne11026

It's well worth the additional drive to Meat Cove and although the maps say unpaved road our basic hire car was fine with care. The views are stunning as is the ice cream but the many notices warning off trespassers from the headland campsite ( though understandable) and the litter in the beach below do spoil the experience . Shame.

847fredm

The road is gravel/dirt for the last 7-8 kilometers, and includes a couple of tight hairpin curves and some 11-12% grades, but is still doable for all but the weakest vehicles. The view at the end, Meat Cove, is worth it. Beautiful day when we went up, and the vistas of the north end of Cape Breton are incredible. Small campsite with roughly 20-30 spaces, mostly tents and a few small campers. Camped 10 feet from the edge of the cliffs. Hope they don't sleepwalk. Plenty of hiking in the surrounding area. Very much worth the trip.

BethanyD223

It is worth the trip way out to Meat Cove just to see the views! The last 8 miles are dirt, very steep, with beautiful views. You can camp on the cliffs on the waters edge, have a rustic cabin or enjoy chowder at the hut.