You will never find a more historical hike then the Lighthouse Trail. The present day lighthouse is actually the fourth to be built on this point, the original being the first built inCanada, in 1734. Lighthouse point was the sight of the English attack onBattery Island which guards the entrance to Louisbourg Harbour. Battery point was a first deference for the Fortress of Louisbourg, the largest historical reconstruction inNorth America. About one hour down the trail you will find Wolfe's cove, the actual site where the English landed with their canons. As you walk, think of the English troops dragging six cannons along these cliffs and bogs to the lighthouse. According to one British soldier when the fortress surrendered a British platoon came across a French boat landed in the cove here. They tracked down a group of French soldiers in the woods. They attacked and when the smoke cleared one French soldier remained alive. He told the soldiers if they saved his life He would give them a kings fortune. But he died before he could tell them where. There is a legend of a huge fortune missing from the Fortress. The trail starts at the Louisbourg lighthouse and continues on to Big Lorraine, located about 7 km away. Lorraine Head, the sight of a 1900's Irish immigrant shipwreck, The Astrea, is located two hours into the trail. You should be careful on this hike, there are many areas near cliffs and spots where the trail disappears and you are forced to follow the rugged coast. There is a well documented report that during the siege of 1745 a band of Indians attacked and killed a New England army group in the woods here and there are 40 or 50 graves in here somewhere. There is also one of Wolfes Redoubts (small fort) in here someplace. It is much over grown but local kids played in it. You will find many quaint coves and knolls on this hike. You will also notice many bogs and sinkholes along the way (careful around these, I sunk up to my knee in one). There are many opportunities to take pictures along the way and you will find much plant life and wildlife to keep you interested. One of the most unusual things about the plant life is the spongy feeling you get underfoot as you walk. These areas are all rock, with very little drainage; the vegetation grows on top of this terrain and therefore forms almost a waterbed affect. CAUTION: The weather in this area, like most of Cape Breton, can change quickly and the rocks can become very slippery when the weather gets bad. Also storms can produce very heavy surf and dangerous waves.

The trail starts at the Louisbourg lighthouse and continues on to Big Lorraine, located about 7 km away. Lorraine Head, the sight of a 1900's Irish immigrant shipwreck, The Astrea, is located two hours into the trail.  You should be careful on this hike, there are many areas near cliffs and spots where the trail disappears and you are forced to follow the rugged coast.
There is a well documented report that during the siege of 1745 a band of Indians attacked and killed a New England army group in the woods here and there are 40 or 50 graves in here somewhere.
There is also one of Wolfes Redoubts (small fort) in here someplace. It is much over grown but local kids played in it.
You will find many quaint coves and knolls on this hike. You will also notice many bogs and sinkholes along the way (careful around these, I sunk up to my knee in one). There are many opportunities to take pictures along the way and you will find much plant life and wildlife to keep you interested. One of the most unusual things about the plant life is the spongy feeling you get underfoot as you walk. These areas are all rock, with very little drainage; the vegetation grows on top of this terrain and therefore forms almost a waterbed affect.


CAUTION: The weather in this area, like most of Cape Breton, can change quickly  and the rocks can become very slippery when the weather gets bad. Also storms can produce very heavy surf and dangerous waves.