Saint Margaret Village

Saint Margaret Village was built on the slopes of the Cape North Massif. Two views of the village connect the landscape with specific locations: the massif is visible from the churchyard of St Margaret’s of Scotland Church in the village; Deadmans Pond is in view from Bay St. Lawrence Road in Saint Margaret Village.

The Bay St. Lawrence Community Centre serves the social, health and recreational needs of the Bay St. Lawrence community. Free public washrooms are available there for the travelling public: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The centre’s role in the community and its public washroom service are two distinct aspects of this place.

Victoria County as the broader travel destination

Victoria County is located along the Cabot Trail; The Top of the Island is at the northernmost section of the route. Victoria County’s tourism offerings include outdoor, cultural, coastal and Bras d’Or Lake experiences, as well as culinary and winter experiences. Seafood is also part of the culinary offering.

At Cabots Landing, the broader travel area provides access to a three-kilometre beach trail. A cairn at the Cabots Landing National Historic Site commemorates the landing of explorer John Cabot. The Uisge Bàn Falls trail is a 2.6-kilometre round trip through deciduous forest, ending at a 15-metre waterfall and a granite gorge. The beach trail and round-trip hike thus differ both in distance and in the landscapes they describe.

Cape Smokey Provincial Park has a ten-kilometre trail with viewpoints along 275-metre-high granite cliffs. Bald eagles and various hawk species are often seen along the park’s cliff line. The trail and wildlife viewing offer different ways to experience this landscape in Victoria County.

Culture and history in Victoria County

The Great Hall of the Clans Museum uses eight interactive displays to explore the traditions of Scottish Highland settlers and how they developed over more than 200 years into a way of life in Cape Breton. Baile nan Gàidheal | Highland Village is a living history museum and folklore centre; it shares the history, language and living culture of Nova Scotia’s Gaels. The Gaelic College is located in the St. Ann’s Bay area of Victoria County.

At the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, the White Glove Tour offers a behind-the-scenes look and allows visitors to handle Alexander Graham Bell’s personal keepsakes and models. Dates and booking requirements may change; check both in advance if you plan to take the tour.

Discover more destinations: Baddeck, Kempt Head, Neils Harbour, Little Narrows, Big Bras d'Or, Ingonish, Victoria, Subd. B, Iona.

Go to the broader travel overview: Victoria County.