Pollett's Cove Hike
When: Aug 10, 2008
Who: Me, Tony and Steve
Weather: 16-18 degrees Celcelus, overcast
Distance: approx 16 kilometers return
Trail: Very hilly and challenging.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Starting Location: Pleasent Bay, Cape Breton. Drive into Pleasent Bay, follow the main road until it becomes a dirt road. Follow the dirt road to the end, past a Buddist Monestary. Trip starts at end of dirt Road.
Trail Description: Old road leading to farms long abadoned. Trail now is a very easy to follow but narrow foot path. Could not be easily biked. Trail starts by an older cottage and you cross wide bridge at the beginning. You start climbing almost immediately. This first climb is steep and long then you head down the other side of the first mountian, do this again at the next hill and you come out to small cove that has grassland that the forest has yet to claim and a small brook running thru it. This is Otter cove.
Continue on your hike and over another hill or two (seems like more but its not) and you will come out of the woods to one of the most beutiful views on the island. Polletts cove. This is another cove but much larger than Otter cove with more extensive grass lands and a much larger brook. This is about 3-4 or more hours in depending on your speed and stops along the way.
Side trip to this trail is up the plateau on the far side of Pollett's cove this is a 400 meter plateau without a clearly definded path, but if you can find the Moose trail that leads up the far side of the hill to the top it is well worth the hike expect this to take at least 2 hours return to the cove.
Hike Highlights: This is one of the best hikes you can find for sights, wildlife, hiking, plants, birds etc etc. We seen moose, whales, seals, eagles, gull, northern gannets, cows, horses, rabbits, and a fox. The scenery is just breathtaking at some spots and it is so unsoiled by modern man it is like stepping back in time.
There where at least 3 sets of campers at the cove. We found out that the cows and horses are brought out each year in early spring and taken back in the late fall.
We did the walk up to the plateau, it was very challenging as we did not find the full trail and descided to head strait up. This was very difficult as we had to deal with the steepness and alot of scrub spruce. But the view from the top was magnificant. There was also a very strong wind blowing that at times stopped out progress at the top so we could brace ourselfs agains it. The way back down was much better as we found the Moose trail and followed it to be rewarded with seeing two Moose when we where almost at the bottom again.
The sites and small hikes you can have once you get there are vast. I will be going back to spend a few days camping and exploring the area.
Below are just some of the sites you can see.