Our Day Tours
All our outdoor adventure opportunities:
- are priced to be launched with a minimum of two adult clients. This means that one couple is enough to launch one of our guided tours, (and could) quite possibly end up with a “private” tour all to themselves.
- are designed to appeal to visitors with an interest in getting “off the beaten path”. They visit destinations that are personal favorites of our staff (with 25+ years of outdoor experience in the northern Highlands of Cape Breton Island);
- follow routes selected for their scenery, wildlife sighting opportunities (moose, eagles, whales,) suitability of terrain to client fitness levels, and, importantly, lack of crowds;
- include all equipment necessary, as well as water and on-trail snacks; (our clients provide their own lunches from the local deli);
- include a “photo memory file” of images shot emailed at the conclusion of the package;
- may be packaged with Top of the Island Bed and Breakfast accommodations
- include a free gift of Cape Breton pottery at our gallery partner, Arts North (www.arts-north.com)
Our offerings for 2010 include:
On Foot:
Half day guided ridgeline hike on “David’s Trail”:
This near-level hike follows a trail cut by “friends of Sea Spray” over the fall and winter of 2007-2008. Beginning with a van shuttle to the ridge top trailhead, we travel through moose country to a magnificent look off perched a thousand feet above the Atlantic waves. From here we search for whales, eagles and keep an watchful eye for glimpses of moose. Ideal for families with a sense of adventure, this tour combines moose sighting opportunities, whale sighting opportunities and incredible mountain-to-ocean vistas.
Half day “Northern Waterfalls” hike:
We’ve selected one of our waterfalls hikes and expanded it into a half-day outing. This gentle walk follows the base of the Aspy mountain ridge, and meanders through old farm sites and beautiful second-growth forests along the North Aspy river. It culminates at a beautiful waterfalls deep in a narrow valley. A unique feature of this hike is that its distance may be shortened to accommodate various abilities.
Half-day guided “Climb To The Blueberries” hike:
This tour, only available with blueberries from late July to late August, follows a steep walking trail to a small “mountain” at the northern tip of the island. (The drive to this location is one of the prettiest on the east coast.) At the top, vast expanses of blueberries barren greet hikers, and we spend our time enjoying these fresh, tasty treats. Photo ops of the mountains meeting the ocean abound as we take breaks to search for whales in the distance.
All-day guided hike to remote coastal meadows, lunch break, beach walking, whale/wildlife sighting:
This challenging and rewarding tour leaves begins and ends in Cape North.. Sea Spray guides transport guests to the trailhead and provides on-trail snacks. The route follows old roads and trails constructed by early highlands settlers. We walk over a ridge and descend to the ocean, and, while walking along the ocean, visit two coves originally used as “summer fishing residences” by the highlands Scots during their summer fishing excursions. Whales, seals, moose and eagle sighting opportunities abound, as does conversation relating to the history and traditions of the early settlers.…all while surrounded by the spectacular coastline beauty.
All-day “Plateau and Sea Coast” hike:
This combination of two half-day hikes features an excursion into the highland plateau, with its lakes, barrens and isolation, walking a trail that climbs 400 feet as it winds its way to a hilltop look off with a panoramic view of the island’s interior plateau. Upon return to the trailhead, we then undertake a second, flatter coastline hike on the Atlantic’s edge, where we watch for whales, sea and shorebirds, and our curious seals.
By Bike:
Half day guided educational mountain bike tour on level terrain, with a “learn about the fishery” component;
This tour leaves from Cape North and travels near-level dirt trails and paved back roads to arrive at the shoreline of the Atlantic, as well as the coasts of Dingwall and South Harbours. In the course of the tour visitors are able to observe fishing boats off-loading catch, mussel farming, lobster and crab traps and oyster farming. A guide offers explanations of the various fisheries, and a sampling of fresh oysters is available. Mountain bike rental is included. Combining lessons in history, local culture and fishing traditions, this is a truly wonderful family outdoor activity.
All-day guided road bike tour, with a shoreline walking exploration, lunch by the ocean, bike scenic terrain. All-day bike rental package is included.
Bike/Hike Combo:
All-day guided mountain bike-hiking or hiking adventure to a remote northern meadow;
This tour leaves from Cape North and involves auto transport to trail head. It offers off-road biking in rolling terrain along a mountaintop ridge to a trailhead above the ocean. At this point the bikes are left behind and the group begins a half-hour, 1,200 ft. descent on foot, arriving at sea level in a kilometers-long ocean-side pasture. After exploring the pasture the group takes a lunch break while watching sea birds (and often whales) from shore. After lunch the tour continues back along the coastal pasture to a lighthouse and then to the remains of a shipwreck. Our return route takes us back up the mountain to our bikes and our ride back out to our van. All-day bike rental package is included. Total biking time is approximately 3 hours in length, and total hiking time roughly the same. This tour is only for fit individuals as it involves steep, on-trail climbing.
On the Water:
Half-day introductory kayak tour;
This tour is an entry-level, sheltered kayak tour, complete with introductory or intermediate on-shore instruction, followed by stability exercises in knee-deep water. After instruction a tour commences, where paddling skills are practiced while underway in sheltered waters. The tour visits shorebird nesting areas, mussel and oyster farms, eagle perches and makes a mid-tour stop on a deserted island. Bird life and scenery abounds at every cove and beach, and glimpses of moose are occasionally possible. Intermediate tours take place along ocean cliffs and deserted beaches, where seabirds such as Guillemonts and Rasorbacks can be seen nesting in the cliffs. Whale sightings are possible on this tour. Kayak and gear rental is included.
Customized kayak tours:
We offer variations of our kayak tours, both in-harbour and on the ocean, paddling along the base of our cliffs. Contact us with your experience level, and let us put together a half-day or full-day outing, either in the harbours, on the ocean, or a combination of both.
Half-day whale watching tour:
Leaving from Bay St. Lawrence, on the northern tip of Cape Breton, this tour aboard a Cape Breton fishing boat, under a licensed skipper, journeys into the heart of the summer habitat of a number of whale species. Minke, Fin, Humpback and Pilot whales are frequently sighted. In fact, whales are sighted on 98% or more of tours. And if that’s not enough, the sheer beauty of the shoreline of northern Cape Breton makes the price of this tour more than a bargain!! We arrange this tour with our partners at Oshan Whale Cruise in Bay St. Lawrence.
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Our Northern Waterfalls Tours:
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A Round of Golf With Local Players:
This offering is for couples who wish to combine spectacular golf with exercise. Here’s an opportunity to join local couple familiar with the world famous Highlands Links, ranked Canada’s Top Public Course by Golf Digest in 2005 and 57th in the world by Golf Magazine in 1999. For walkers only, this five-hour round includes green fees and van transportation from accommodations north of the course. It also includes a guaranteed opportunity to make a foursome with two local golfers who can not only offer course-management suggestions, but also point out the spots where eagles and moose might be sighted during the round. Advance reservations are definitely required! Note again, this offer is only available to walkers.
Our bicycle rental packages from the only bike rental outlet on the Cabot Trail:
Rented from our outlet in Smelt Brook/Cape North, our bike packages rent by the 24 hour period. The packages include the following:
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Our staff can deliver our bike packages to any point on the Cabot Trail, and to the Sydney Airport,
for an additional fee.
Shuttles:
Our auto shuttles provide
increased flexibility for cycle touring- eliminate the need for out-and-back riding
- meet clients at their Top of the Island accommodations and transport them to distant tour starting points. Cyclists then spend the day exploring the route back to their lodging by bicycle
- an especially attractive service for cycling groups containing mixed abilities, since cyclists less interested in long distances or mountain climbs can avoid these terrain features, opting instead for a shorter, slower, more level ride with the rest of the group “catching up” along the way.
- shuttle prices are based upon the length of time the van and driver are on the road.
- contact us for per-hour pricing.
Trip Planning Service for self-guided cyclists:
Using our 25+ years of out-of-doors experience in northern Cape Breton, we prepare customized tour plans for clients wishing to ensure that their trip to Cape Breton leaves nothing out. We plan the trips based upon our clients’ priorities for outdoor activities and indoor attractions based upon the Client Assessment Form.
On the Snow:
Snow shoe and cross country ski touring: (snow guaranteed)
Our guided on-snow day trips, operated from Jan 15 through March 31, involve
guided groomed (on-track) cross country skiing, with “technique upgrades” provided;- back country skiing along spectacular level mountaintop routes;
- back country snow shoeing on both mountaintop and deep valley trails;
- all venues are in the northern reaches of Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the wilderness protected area north of the national park;
- customized to suit a variety of skiing or snow shoeing abilities and/or fitness levels;
- terrain ranges from (almost) absolutely flat to steeply rolling;
- tours focus on spectacular mountain wilderness scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities;
- prices include equipment rental;
- activity packages may be constructed with or without to all meals and accommodations.
We are open year-round, and will tour at just about any time, although reservations are required.
