Heart Of The Island

OVERVIEW

Browse the only living history museum for the Gaelic culture in North America, a setting that captures the spirit of the pioneering Scottish Gaels. The unique Highland Village Museum sprawls across 43 acres in the Bras d’Or Lakes region in the center of Cape Breton Island. You will be free to explore this fascinating folklore center independently, which will allow you to concentrate on the attractions that you find most appealing. The 11 buildings include 18th- and 19th-century farmouses, a period wooden church, a shingle mill and a forge. Costumed guides are in each one, eager to explain the joys and challenges of life for the early Gaelic settlers and how the culture changed over the years. You might watch them weaving, dying wool and working with traditional livestock such as long-haired Highland cattle and rare Soay sheep. The guides will also be happy to teach you some Gaelic phrases.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Get a glimpse of the island’s early Gaelic culture at the outdoor Highland Village Museum.
• Explore independently and focus on the attractions that sound most interesting to you.
• Browse historical buildings with period furnishings for a look at the early Gaelic lifestyle.
• Watch costumed guides perform traditional chores such as tending livestock.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.