The best farm glamping near Baddeck, Nova Scotia

In the heart of Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island is the quaint village of Baddeck. It marks both the beginning and end of the scenic Cabot Trail. The natural scenery is a quintessential representation of Atlantic Canada, with Acadian forest, rugged highlands, and the brackish waters of Bras d’Or Lake serving as a home for mollusks, ospreys, moose, and lynx. Camping at Cape Breton Highlands National Park offers a great opportunity to drive the iconic 298-kilometre Cabot Trail, soaking in coastal views and highland scenery. Or, enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and fishing on Bras d’Or Lake from Battery Provincial Park. Then visit Nova Scotia’s only totem pole at Whycocomagh Provincial Park. With a range of backcountry campsites and well-equipped campgrounds in the region, camping near Baddeck has something for everyone.

94% (55) • 3 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Baddeck

1. Live Life In Tents Campground

99%

(61)

38km from Baddeck · 15 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

This was one of the original homesteads in the Margarees. There was an old sawmill on site which was used to build the house and barn. It was sold to a man who started renovations for a summer house but ended up listing it for sale. I purchased it and completely renovated the 100-year-old house. Shortly after, my brother and I started an outfitting company with no plan of building a campground, but in 2017 we saw a great opportunity for building something unique. We wanted to keep a backwoods camping feel, but yet create it around a hostel-inspired environment. We launched June 1, 2018 and are in full swing now. We look forward to meeting you and will help you out in any way to make your trip here something to remember. Adventure awaits at this eco-camping hostel offering a natural setting, overlooking a picturesque valley. This location offers close to off-grid camping with a twist of comfort; furnished Glamping tents, sleeping up to 4 people per tent on a queen bed with twin camping beds for extra guests. Cooking gear, bedding, and towels are provided. Each tent, located at this eco-hostel, has its own campfire pit, with a solar outdoor shower on site and beautiful views of the river valley.

2. Fainne Crann Camping

88%

(4)

14km from Baddeck · 5 sites · Tents, Lodging

Step off the beaten path! Fainne Crann (Celtic Ring of Trees) is a gorgeous, remote 58-acre off-grid destination featuring 25 acres of conserved field and wetland, an apple orchard, and stunning western views—all tucked into the Middle River Wilderness Highlands. Come make this very private and serene property your base camp, surrounded by wild and cultivated beauty. We’re just a 4 km drive up a dirt road from the Cabot Trail, with no nearby neighbors, yet centrally located to explore all the beauty and adventure Cape Breton has to offer—20 minutes from Baddeck and 50 minutes from Inverness. Some locals affectionately call our historic farm “beyond the beyond.” Enjoy a complementary glass of our own farm-pressed apple cider upon arrival! Tent campers can choose their site in mowed areas of the field or apple orchard. Sites are car-accessible. We can currently host up to four groups of campers, with a maximum of 12 campers total at any time. (Coming soon! A glamping option with a 5 m bell tent, queen airbed, and linens.) We provide a hot shower, potable water, outdoor picnic or spindle tables, and an outhouse. Special Feature: Guests also have access to a generous indoor space in the refurbished barn—perfect for inclement weather, shade on a hot day, or evening games. The barn is accessible through the greenhouse and is set up with dining and seating areas plus a selection of games and puzzles. Enjoy a peaceful interlude in the farm’s own Fainne Crann, a Celtic tree circle of massive old maples tied to Cape Breton’s Gaelic history. Or start your morning with a walk along adjacent trails and quiet lanes before heading out to explore the island. If you’re curious about off-grid living, conservation, or agroecology, there’s much to discover here. Nearby (10–15 minutes): Big Spruce Brewery, Dancing Goat Café, Herring Choker Café, Lake O’Law, Margaree River, and access to the Highlands interior and Cape Clear via Hunter Mountain’s Crowdis Mountain Road. Pets are welcome on leash. Follow us on instagram https://www.instagram.com/fainne_crann?igsh=czg1NDB4NjVjZmxm

In the heart of Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island is the quaint village of Baddeck. It marks both the beginning and end of the scenic Cabot Trail. The natural scenery is a quintessential representation of Atlantic Canada, with Acadian forest, rugged highlands, and the brackish waters of Bras d’Or Lake serving as a home for mollusks, ospreys, moose, and lynx. Camping at Cape Breton Highlands National Park offers a great opportunity to drive the iconic 298-kilometre Cabot Trail, soaking in coastal views and highland scenery. Or, enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and fishing on Bras d’Or Lake from Battery Provincial Park. Then visit Nova Scotia’s only totem pole at Whycocomagh Provincial Park. With a range of backcountry campsites and well-equipped campgrounds in the region, camping near Baddeck has something for everyone.

94% (55) • 3 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Baddeck

1. Live Life In Tents Campground

99%

(61)

38km from Baddeck · 15 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

This was one of the original homesteads in the Margarees. There was an old sawmill on site which was used to build the house and barn. It was sold to a man who started renovations for a summer house but ended up listing it for sale. I purchased it and completely renovated the 100-year-old house. Shortly after, my brother and I started an outfitting company with no plan of building a campground, but in 2017 we saw a great opportunity for building something unique. We wanted to keep a backwoods camping feel, but yet create it around a hostel-inspired environment. We launched June 1, 2018 and are in full swing now. We look forward to meeting you and will help you out in any way to make your trip here something to remember. Adventure awaits at this eco-camping hostel offering a natural setting, overlooking a picturesque valley. This location offers close to off-grid camping with a twist of comfort; furnished Glamping tents, sleeping up to 4 people per tent on a queen bed with twin camping beds for extra guests. Cooking gear, bedding, and towels are provided. Each tent, located at this eco-hostel, has its own campfire pit, with a solar outdoor shower on site and beautiful views of the river valley.

2. Fainne Crann Camping

88%

(4)

14km from Baddeck · 5 sites · Tents, Lodging

Step off the beaten path! Fainne Crann (Celtic Ring of Trees) is a gorgeous, remote 58-acre off-grid destination featuring 25 acres of conserved field and wetland, an apple orchard, and stunning western views—all tucked into the Middle River Wilderness Highlands. Come make this very private and serene property your base camp, surrounded by wild and cultivated beauty. We’re just a 4 km drive up a dirt road from the Cabot Trail, with no nearby neighbors, yet centrally located to explore all the beauty and adventure Cape Breton has to offer—20 minutes from Baddeck and 50 minutes from Inverness. Some locals affectionately call our historic farm “beyond the beyond.” Enjoy a complementary glass of our own farm-pressed apple cider upon arrival! Tent campers can choose their site in mowed areas of the field or apple orchard. Sites are car-accessible. We can currently host up to four groups of campers, with a maximum of 12 campers total at any time. (Coming soon! A glamping option with a 5 m bell tent, queen airbed, and linens.) We provide a hot shower, potable water, outdoor picnic or spindle tables, and an outhouse. Special Feature: Guests also have access to a generous indoor space in the refurbished barn—perfect for inclement weather, shade on a hot day, or evening games. The barn is accessible through the greenhouse and is set up with dining and seating areas plus a selection of games and puzzles. Enjoy a peaceful interlude in the farm’s own Fainne Crann, a Celtic tree circle of massive old maples tied to Cape Breton’s Gaelic history. Or start your morning with a walk along adjacent trails and quiet lanes before heading out to explore the island. If you’re curious about off-grid living, conservation, or agroecology, there’s much to discover here. Nearby (10–15 minutes): Big Spruce Brewery, Dancing Goat Café, Herring Choker Café, Lake O’Law, Margaree River, and access to the Highlands interior and Cape Clear via Hunter Mountain’s Crowdis Mountain Road. Pets are welcome on leash. Follow us on instagram https://www.instagram.com/fainne_crann?igsh=czg1NDB4NjVjZmxm

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best farm glamping near Baddeck guide

Where to go

Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Covering nearly 1,000 square kilometres, Cape Breton Highlands National Park protects about 20 percent of northern Cape Breton. One of 26 trails in the park, the 8.2-kilometre Skyline Trail loop leads to an eagle’s eye view of the Cabot Trail. Look for birds, moose, and bears along the way. The park boasts multiple campgrounds, from Broad Cove with over 200 campsites and hot showers to the backcountry campsites at Fishing Cove, once the site of a Scottish fishing community.

Battery Provincial Park

On the other side of Bras d’Or Lake, Battery Provincial Park is a terrific destination for campers who love water-based activities. Take in sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean from the hilltop campground, which features wooded and open campsites with a universal family restroom. Some campsites are equipped with hookups for drinking water and 30-amp electricity. Unsupervised swimming is available on St. Peter’s Bay, or go angling for Atlantic salmon, gaspereau, brook trout with a valid sportfishing license.

Whycocomagh Provincial Park

Up on a hillside overlooking the western shore of Bras d’Or Lake is Whycocomagh Provincial Park. It’s home to Nova Scotia’s only totem pole. Gifted in 1971 by British Columbia, the totem pole was carved by Patterson McKay, a member of the Greenville Band—part of Tsimshian First Nation. Today, the totem pole lays on its side to “return to the earth” on the McQueen Trail. The on-site campground loop offers showers, fire rings, and electrical and water hookups for RVers, but be mindful of the rough roads leading in and around the park. Yurts with bunk beds are also available for a comfortable stay.

When to go

The most pleasant time of year to go camping in and around Baddeck is from late spring to early fall. Some public campgrounds are only open from May to October to coincide with warmer weather. Prepare for precipitation year-round on Cape Breton Island. Daytime temperatures approach 15–20℃ by May, heating up to the mid-20s during sunnier summer months. Enjoy stunning colourful foliage and peak apple picking in early fall.