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Our Journey

Discover Who We Are

Cabot Shores is a part of us. It is a reflection of who we are, what we stand for, and what we believe in as people. Come and enjoy it with us. We surround our guests with amazing people who share our love of life. Here are some of the wonderful people you’ll meet at Cabot Shores.

The Owners

Hi, I’m Paul. My wife, Barbara, and I own Cabot Shores Wilderness Resort and Retreat. We created our little oasis in Cape Breton as a getaway for adventurers, because we’re adventurers ourselves. This is our playground, and we invite like-minded people of all ages to come enjoy it.

Years ago, we were visiting friends in the area and they took us on a hiking trek through the wilderness to Indian Brook Falls. If you haven’t experienced them, it’s a must-see. As we stood on the rocks above the falls and listened to the cascading water, we knew we had found our home.

Our Humble Beginning

It wasn’t long before we were standing among the trees of 55 acres right on the water of St. Ann’s Bay. We built Whiff’s Lodge (named after my father) as a home for people with a true sense of adventure. From there, we built our beautiful chalets and slowly added the yurts and domes.

Every day, we love when our guests wake up to watch the sun rise over the Bird Islands, and gasp when bald eagles fly overhead to hunt for fish off Eagle Feather beach. Or they see a log in the river suddenly move only to realize it’s our resident beaver.

Our Purpose

For many, Cabot Shores becomes a home base on Cape Breton and a way to connect with each other and with nature. It is a way for guests to get off the grid, disconnect from technology, and recharge their batteries. The mission of Cabot Shores is to help guests, staff, partners and the greater community to create and to experience outstanding adventures along the Cabot Trail and around Cape Breton.

Because Barbara and I are very active people, we have filled Cabot Shores with the things we enjoy most. Kayaking and canoeing are a must for us, so we have plenty of them here ready to go for anyone who wants to use them. A guest introduced us to Stand Up Paddling (SUP) on a Yolo board. We fell in love with it and bought a couple so everyone can discover the same excitement. We’ve cleared many hiking trails to some very exotic locations you just can’t find anywhere else. A word to the wise: keep an eye out for moose. They’re amazing to see, but please keep your distance.

Our Team

None of this would be possible without an amazing team to support it all. At Cabot Shores, we make sure to surround ourselves with amazing people to work with. Each staff member gives her or his best to make sure guests have a rewarding experience at Cabot Shores and around Cape Breton Island.

Want to be part of the Cabot Shores Experience? We are always seeking for people to join our wonderful team.

Cosmo, Official Greeter

Once you meet our official four-legged greeter, you’ll have a best friend for life. Cosmo is more than happy to join you on a hike, a swim in the river, or paddle on a Yolo board or canoe. He’s also the reason we’re a pet-friendly resort. Because it’s not really a vacation if you have to leave a member of the family behind!

Rated One of the Coolest Places to Go Glamping in Canada

"From fully furnished chalets to geodesic domes and yurts, there is an accommodation for every type of camper here. But one of the coolest on offer? The Treetop Village, which is composed of geodesic domes on high stilts so you can sleep among the trees. Each dome offers something different — breathtaking views of the Atlantic, famous views of the full moon and stars. Don’t forget to visit the private beach while you’re there, too."

~ Chatelaine

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"Our Stay Was Excellent"

Paul, our host was in contact with us right after booking to inform us the dome maybe too cold for the time that we were visiting and quickly moved us to a Yurt. On arrival the staff were all friendly and had numerous suggestions on things to do and see in the area.

~ Manvir, Vancouver

"Wonderful Stay!"

Such a beautiful location. The staff were extremely kind and accommodating and helped us plan our day trips. Definitely returning!

~ Emma, Halifax

"Very Cool Accommodations"

Paul and his staff are very committed to your happiness. We loved Paul and he made our trip. He is genuinely interested in his guests. I would definitely recommend staying with Paul.

~ Alex, Massachusetts

"Very Unique Experience"

Had a jam on stage and sang a few tunes, and also got to hear Paul and his wife play a few songs as well which was great! Very unique experience, oh and the chef is amazzzzzzinng!

~ Holly, Hamilton



Good
Based on 298 reviews
MacKenzie Cutcliffe
MacKenzie Cutcliffe
February 17, 2024.
We had an excellent stay! We stayed in the tiny house and got the hot tub as an addition - the house was an adorable little cabin, very clean and had everything we needed (mini fridge, microwave and more!). The hot tub was worth the addition! Paul and the staff were so considerate, he even called me before we arrived and let me know how the roads were and to make sure I knew how to get to the tiny house since we were probably arriving after dark. I can’t say enough good things! We will definitely be back!
Alexis Helena
Alexis Helena
February 16, 2024.
It was a great space, the manager was very helpful and answered all our questions. Will definitely be coming back
Katie Crossley
Katie Crossley
January 25, 2024.
My husband and I got married at Cabot Shores last October, after staying there multiple times in the past and falling in love with the scenery and food!! Paul was amazing to deal with leading up to the wedding! I was definitely a needy bride lol and he was always so patient and helpful with everything. The whole thing went off without any issues at all and my guests had a great time and raved on and on about the food! We are huge out door people and loved the whole vibe ! We can’t wait to go back again soon and make more wonderful memories at this slice of heaven in our favourite place in the world, Cape Breton !!
‍하준수(교원-영상디자인학과)
‍하준수(교원-영상디자인학과)
January 10, 2024.
An unforgettable experience for a family trip. A yurt experience is more than just lodging, especially if you have young children. What is most impressive of all is the owner and his wife, who are so kind and affectionate.
Karleigh Johnstone
Karleigh Johnstone
January 8, 2024.
Stayed in the Phoenix Dome for 2 nights and had the most wonderful experience. The dome was lovely and stayed warm through the night. The highlight of our stay was the food. My husband has been a chef for 20+ years and was blown away by the quality of the food. We had dinner one evening and the salmon was absolute perfection. We were lucky enough to be the only guests for breakfast so they cooked us a few items instead of the buffet and we enjoyed every bite. Hands down the best scrambled eggs I have ever eaten! The staff were so wonderful, kind and accommodating. We would love to return and spend more time here exploring the trails and relaxing on the beach. Thank you to everyone at Cabot Trail for such a wonderful experience!
Bobbi Zahra
Bobbi Zahra
January 1, 2024.
Hot tubs were great, overlooking the gorgeous water view. Yurt was super comfortable, very spacious, and even when the fire died while we were sleeping, we stayed cozy and warm - the bedding was superb. Recommendation for Red River Trail was great, and we enjoyed the hike very much.
Sandy Mackley
Sandy Mackley
November 27, 2023.
The staff at Cabot Shores actively took opportunities to make our stay relaxing and enjoyable. Our Mongolian Yurt was comfortable with the wood stove and outside hot tub. Would strongly recommend calling these fine folks and discussing your stay with them.

Good
Based on 51 reviews
Lukas
Lukas
September 21, 2022.
Verified
Very nice people and a place full of joy ! Stayed 2 nights in the „Eagle dome“ which was really comfy and clean!Had really delicous dinner at the main lodge where paul played some music just for us and had nice conversations whith him and the other staffmembers.Also booked the hot tub at our dome for our last night from where we had a great view on the campfire.Lovely place where you see how much effort they put in every detail.
Nicole
Nicole
August 22, 2022.
Verified
Amazing adventure! Lots of fun sleeping underneath the stars!
Ryan
Ryan
August 14, 2022.
Verified
Relaxing
Nigel
Nigel
July 25, 2022.
Verified
Beautiful place and very friendly staff. Perfect location if you’re travelling along the Cabot Trail, I highly recommend checking this place out! Would definitely stay here again. Thanks for a fantastic experience.
Anooj
Anooj
October 25, 2021.
Verified
This was our first time staying in the Eagle Dome and we absolutely fell in love with this beautiful place. Super clean place to stay!
Redwan
Redwan
October 17, 2021.
Verified
Very nice place to spend a couple of nights in the nature! My wife and I enjoyed our stay.It might be a good idea to install a heater in the dome as it can get chilly at night.
Brooke
Brooke
October 1, 2021.
Verified
Beautiful, quaint place to stay! So unique and off grid. We loved staying at the dome!
Madison
Madison
September 9, 2021.
Verified
We had a great stay in the Eagle Dome! We loved watching the sunset and sunrise, and being able to hear the waves from the ocean. Next time we would stay a few more days and prepare a bit better - we weren’t packed for off grid but we made it work. Outhouse was a few steps away, shower and toilet a short walk. We didn’t get the hot tub or use the sauna/other amenities but would certainly consider it next time.

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