Discover Craigmore

Craigmore is best understood through its local history, Christy’s Lookoff and the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail, which runs through the community. These highlights give you concrete points to consider when weighing the destination for a stay: place names tell of its Scottish Gaelic heritage, while the coastal views and multi-use trail reveal other facets of the community. Broader routes and natural areas belong to the wider Inverness County and should be considered separately as regional context.

Place Name and Cultural Heritage

Craigmore is named after Craigmore in Perthshire, Scotland. The community’s Gaelic name is A’ Chreag Mhór, which means “the great rock” in English. Along the Ceilidh Trail, place names reflect the region’s strong Scottish cultural heritage; Craigmore is among them. The local history is thus evident both in the name Craigmore and in the wider regional pattern of place names.

Christy’s Lookoff: Views Across St. George’s Bay

Christy’s Lookoff is named after local Gaelic woman Christie “Cooper” MacEachern. From here, panoramic views extend across St. George’s Bay; on clear days, Cape George in Antigonish County can be seen. The spot is well suited to sunset photography, and visitors can watch for groups of pilot whales and seals. The coastal view is the lookoff’s defining landscape feature, while wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. If you plan to visit the viewpoint, check current access conditions in advance.

The Coastal Trail Through Craigmore

The Celtic Shores Coastal Trail runs through Craigmore and forms a 92-kilometre multi-use section of the Trans Canada Trail on the west coast of Cape Breton. It is open to hikers, cyclists, off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles. The section through Craigmore offers views across St. George’s Bay, as well as fishing boats and occasional sailboats. Coastal scenery and views of marine traffic come together here; the trail is not limited to walking or cycling.

A local activity guide from 2022 lists Christy’s Lookoff as the trail’s starting point and parking directly off Route 19. Check current conditions before your visit. The viewpoint and the trail offer different perspectives on the coast: at the lookoff, the focus is on panoramic views and possible wildlife sightings, while the trail section showcases the bay and boats along the route.

Inverness County as the Wider Context

Other routes and landscapes can be considered within the wider destination of Inverness County. The Celtic Shores Coastal Trail extends there from Port Hastings to the community of Inverness; there are more than 30 starting points and access points along the way. The Ceilidh Trail is another regional route: it follows the coast on the west side of Cape Breton for 107 kilometres (67 miles), from the Canso Causeway to the Cabot Trail. The west coast of Inverness County also includes the Cabot Trail. Highway 105 connects the county and provides a direct route between the Canso Causeway and the Town of Sydney.

The cultural and natural landscape of Inverness County also extends beyond Craigmore. The county’s communities are connected by musical traditions. Black River Bog Nature Reserve lies beside Lake Ainslie and includes a rare alkaline fen and a delta wetland; at least 13 rare plant species can be found there. Inverness Beach offers another coastal attraction: the sandy beach is 1.5 kilometres long and has a boardwalk above the beach. Together, these destinations give an overview of the wider travel region’s diversity, while Christy’s Lookoff and the trail section mark Craigmore’s local highlights.

Discover more destinations: Saint Joseph Du Moine, Petit Étang, Margaree Forks, Whycocomagh, Orangedale, Troy, Margaree Centre, Craggie

For the wider travel overview: Inverness County.