KEWSTOKE BROOK FALLS
Kewstoke, Inverness County
45° N 58.285 061° W 14.472
UTM:  20T  E 636245 N 5092926

RIVER: Kewstoke Brook
WATERSHED: Indian River->Skye River
CLASS:  tiered plunge
SIZE: 20'
RATING: average (***) 

TRAIL: roadside
DISTANCE: 25m
HIKING TIME: 2 minutes
CONDITIONS: moderate

GEOCACHE: none

NS Atlas Page: 
NS topo map: 011F14 (Whycocomagh)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: from the Canso Causeway in Port Hastings, proceed to the roundabout and take HWY19 (the Ceilidh Trail) northwest for 32.1km, then turn right onto Rear Intervale Road, just past the vilage of Judique. Follow this dirt road for 9.8km, and turn right on Glencoe Road. Continue 7.0km along this road thru Glencoe Valley and turn right onto Whycocomagh-Port Hood Road. Follow this road 7.0km to a sharp left hand turn at the bottom of a long hill. The falls are visible dropping off the ridge above into Kewstoke Brook just upstream from the bridge. 

CAMPBELL BROOK FALLS
Glengarry, Inverness County
46° N 02.181 061° W 28.484
UTM:  20T  E 618027 N 5099217

RIVER: Campbell Brook
WATERSHED: Southwest Mabou River
CLASS:  steep cascades
SIZE: 10', 10', 12'
RATING: average (***) 

TRAIL: bushwhacking
DISTANCE: 600m
HIKING TIME: 30 minutes
CONDITIONS: moderate, off-trail

GEOCACHE: none

NS Atlas Page: 12/V5
NS topo map: 011K03 (Lake Ainslie)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: from Port Hastings, at the Canso Causeway, follow the roundbout onto HWY19 (the Ceilidh Trail). Follow this road northwest for 49km and turn left onto Hunters Road, a few kilometers past the village of Port Hood. Continue up this dirt road for 2.6km, where there is a nice pull-out spot on the left side of the road (the upstream side of the road). Park here. Google Maps estimates this to be a 46 minute trip.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: hike back down Hunters Road about 100m and hike upstream along the main branch of Campbell Brook. The hike will require simply hopping back and forth across the brook where the easiest path presents itself. 

There are three distinct falls along this brook, each of between 10 to 12 feet in height, overall. The lower set (pictured second) are set in an open valley with a nice series of low cascades extending for some distance below. They are located about 300m up the brook. The middle set of falls (pictured above) are about the same height as the first set, dropping oround a right hand turn in the brook. The upper falls (pictured at the top of this article) are also the highest, but still below 15feet total drop in its setting.

These are a pretty set of falls, and are found on the lands originally granted to John Larraby, one of the earliest Loyalist pioneers in Cape Breton, arriving in 1788 and settling on his original grant, which he called Hill Row, an 84-acre parcel along with Larraby's Island, at the mouth of the Southwest Mabou River (This island is known called Nicholsons Island). By 1824, he sold the land to Archibald McDonald as he was already in residence on his lands here, which he had been granted in 1809.

Mr. Larraby, a cooper by trade, had his homestead downstream from the road, which traces can still be seen today by the depressions in the ground near where both branches of Campbell Brook meet. He was born 1764 in Carroll County, New Hampshire and was married to Elizabeth Hawley. He arrived in Cape Breton with his whole family, including 6 sons and 4 daughters. 

The brook is named for John Campbell ("Iain Chambiel"), who held the land surrounding the headwaters of Campbell Brook on Rocky Ridge Road. 

NORTH BRANCH CAMPBELL BROOK FALLS
Glengarry, Inverness County
46° N 02.565 061° W 27.992
UTM:  20T  E 618648 N 5099940

RIVER: Campbell Brook (North Branch) 
WATERSHED: Southwest Mabou River
CLASS:  steep cascades
SIZE: 10'
RATING: average (***) 

TRAIL: bushwhacking
DISTANCE: 550m
HIKING TIME: 30 minutes
CONDITIONS: moderate, off-trail

GEOCACHE: none

NS Atlas Page: 12/V5
NS topo map: 011K03 (Lake Ainslie)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: from Port Hastings, at the Canso Causeway, follow the roundbout onto HWY19 (the Ceilidh Trail). Follow this road northwest for 49km and turn left onto Hunters Road, a few kilometers past the village of Port Hood. Continue up this dirt road for 2.6km, where there is a nice pull-out spot on the left side of the road (the upstream side of the road). Park here. Google Maps estimates this to be a 46 minute trip.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: an old trail, recognized on my GPS topo map as an 'abandoned railline' makes a more or less undergrowth and snaggle free hike for more or less the entire hike to these falls. There are several spots along the low-lying portion of this brook that you have to jump over the stream, but it isn't a very wide watercourse. The LONG abandoned rail line eventually follows the second tributary of the North Branch of Campbell Brook, the main brook continues straight along the valley bottom. Along this tributary, at the head of the small valley, is where you will find these small, but charming, falls.

The valley is quite wide and shallow above the falls, with barrens surrounding the upper slopes, with an open and airy overstory, light penetrates these south-facing falls. Found on the lands of grantee John Hammond, a Loyalist settler for whom nearby Hammond Brook Falls is named. 

DRYERS BROOK FALLS
Glengarry, Inverness County
46° N 02.502 061° W 28.010
UTM:  20T  E 618627 N 5099823

 

RIVER: Dryers Brook 
WATERSHED: Southwest Mabou River
CLASS:  cascades
SIZE: 4', 8'
RATING: average (***) 

TRAIL: bushwhacking
DISTANCE: 400m
HIKING TIME: 20 minutes
CONDITIONS: moderate, off-trail

GEOCACHE: none

NS Atlas Page: 12/V5
NS topo map: 011K03 (Lake Ainslie)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: from Port Hastings, at the Canso Causeway, follow the roundbout onto HWY19 (the Ceilidh Trail). Follow this road northwest for 49km and turn left onto Hunters Road, a few kilometers past the village of Port Hood. Continue up this dirt road for 2.6km, where there is a nice pull-out spot on the left side of the road (the upstream side of the road). Park here. Google Maps estimates this to be a 46 minute trip.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: an old trail, recognized on my GPS topo map as an 'abandoned railline' makes a more or less undergrowth and snaggle free hike for the first 250m. There are several spots along the low-lying portion of this brook that you have to jump over the stream, but it isn't a very wide watercourse. 

The first tributary into this brook, joining into North Branch Campbell Brook from the left is Dryers Brook. turn up into the low, open valley this brook occupies. The brook turns to the left with a small 4foot cascade which leads to the larger fall, approximately 8feet high, a short distance upstream.

Named for Ann Dryer, the land grantee. I wasnt able to find much information regarding this individual, although an Ann Dryer, born abt. 1821 in Cape Breton was recorded to be living in Essex, Massachusetts during the 1865 census. Early land grant petitions in this area recorded William Dryer Jr seeking the lot adjoining his fathers (William Dryer Sr.) in this area during 1807, but had "removed to Mabou"  unable to make a living on these lands. Loyalist grants were granted in 1785 and 1790 to two separate individuals bearing the name William Dryer in Guysborough County, so it is possible they arrived to this area along the same narrative as John Hammond, their neighbour and fellow Loyalist, whose story is told on the page for Hammond Brook Falls. 

HAMMONDS BROOK FALLS
Glengarry, Inverness County
46° N 02.281 061° W 27.400
UTM:  20T  E 619421 N 5099430

RIVER: Hammonds Brook (seasonal)
WATERSHED: Southwest Mabou River
CLASS: steep cascades
SIZE: 8', 6', 8', 20'
RATING: below average (**) seasonal flow

TRAIL: improved trail, bushwhacking
DISTANCE: 4.15km
HIKING TIME: 1hr
CONDITIONS: moderate

GEOCACHE: GC2EX6J 

NS Atlas Page: 12/V5
NS topo map: 011K03 (Lake Ainslie)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: From the Canso Causeway, take the exit for HWY19 off the roundabout. Follow this highway north for 56.1km, approaching the village of Mabou. Turn left onto Little Mabou Rd. and pull into the parking area for the Celtic Shores Trail (part of the Trans Canada Trail) 40m on your right.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: cross the road and hike along the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail for approximately 4km, to a small bridge over Hammonds Brook, a seasonal stream. (My visit, in mid-May, the brook was already quite dry, but I will return after a good rainstorm to get better photographs)

Head upstream about 350m to the main falls. There are smaller falls along the way upstream, but the highest falls, pictured below, are the furthest upstream and are much more geologically diverse than the lower falls, which tend to be still actively eroding sites of friable and greatly fractured slate. The upper falls drop over a flat slab of stone approximately 8feet high before becoming a steep cascade over the fractured slates found further downstream for the rest of its course.

Named for the original grant holder, John Hammond, one of Cape Breton's Loyalist pioneers. Mr. Hammond arrived in the area in 1793, having found his original grant at Manchester, Guysborough County to be poor land for farming. 

He served with the 40th British Regiment during the latter days of the American Revolution and originally immigrated from the Parish of Currin, County Monaghan, Ireland. He remained listed as a 'Servicable' milita member under Captain Hugh Watts' Company in the 2nd Regiment of the Cape Breton Militia in 1813.

This hike will take you long the shores of the Southwest Mabou River, which rises in the Creignish Hills to the east of Judique. A popular eagle nesting area, keep your eyes out for these and other predatory birds along your hike, as well as the seasonal flocks of Canada geese that nest near Nicholson Island, at the mouth of the river.

DUNCANS FALLS
Glengarry, Inverness County
46° N 02.451 061° W 27.100
UTM:  20T  E 619802 N 5099752

RIVER: Isabellas Brook
CLASS: steep cascades
SIZE: 5', 6', 20', 6'
RATING: average (***)

TRAIL: improved trail, bushwhacking
DISTANCE: 3.75km
HIKING TIME: 1hr
CONDITIONS: moderate

GEOCACHE: none

NS Atlas Page: 12/V5
NS topo map: 011K03 (Lake Ainslie)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: From the Canso Causeway, take the exit for HWY19 off the roundabout. Follow this highway north for 56.1km, approaching the village of Mabou. Turn left onto Little Mabou Rd. and pull into the parking area for the Celtic Shores Trail (part of the Trans Canada Trail) 40m on your right. 

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: cross the road and hike along the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail for approximately 3.5km, to a small bridge over Isabelles Brook, a seasonal stream. Head upstream about 350m to the falls. This hike will take you long the shores of the Southwest Mabou River, which rises in the Creignish Hills to the east of Judique. A popular eagle nesting area, keep your eyes out for these and other predatory birds along your hike, as well as the seasonal flocks of Canada geese that nest near Nicholson Island, at the mouth of the river.

There are numerous cascades in this small ravine, and with higher water, and a cloudy day, be a photographers dream. The main falls, the main section pictured above, are quite beautiful, the brook cascading down the actively eroding shale until it reaches the more resistant stone below, sliding across its mossy surface. 

Found just off the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail, a portion of the Trans Canada Trail, which starts in Port Hastings and follows the abandoned, and improved, rail line to Inverness. This multi-use trail covers 92km along the western shore of Cape Breton Island. This section of trail runs between Port Hood and Little Mabou Rd. More info on this wonderfully kept hiking area can be found at http://www.celticshores.ca/

Located on the lands originally granted to Donald McDonald, in 1804. In 1818 his widow, Isabella applied for the grant title of these lands, for whom I've designated the brook's name. She was born in Invernessshire, Scotland and immigrated to Nova Scotia with her children in 1807. 

I've given them the name Duncans Falls in honour of my neighbour, whose lands the brook runs across presently. Duncan was born on this property, has lived his entire life here, and resides here still. So please practice a "pack it in pack it out" attitude here.