Location: Chimney Corner, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada (15 minutes to Inverness, 1 1/2 hours to Sydney)
Accommodations: Cottage, Studio + Convertible bed(s), 1 Bath (Sleeps 4)
Keywords: Vacation Cottage
This stunning cottage is located in Chimney Corner on a 14-acre oceanfront property, close to Margaree Harbour and five minutes from the Cabot Trail. It’s a gem which has been featured in Canadian House & Home and Victoria Magazines.
If you stay here, you’ll come to enjoy the fresh ocean air, and the sound of waves rolling in on the rocks below and the beach nearby. This is a perfect place to unwind, with easy access to most of the things you might like to see on Cape Breton. Although the west side of the island is incredibly scenic and inspiring, you can also use the cottage as base for striking out to parts of the Island further afield.
Our Cape Breton cottage was built on a bluff over the ocean in 1994-97 with a lot of thought and care. This architect-designed building was designed as our summer cottage. The idea of its design was to recall the best aspects of Maritime architecture and tradition, but modernize them a bit with an open-concept interior. It’s design makes it best suited for couples who do not need walled-off bedrooms, although the second floor loft offers decent separation from the living room and kitchen.
This cottage has an airy, summery feeling, with a vaulting 27-foot-high pine tongue-and-groove cathedral ceiling, and walls finished with horizontal boards and fresh white paint, in true Maritime style.
The floors are gorgeous 150-year-old pine boards of a width you rarely see today. There are lots of windows/skylights and ventilation and ceiling fans for when the winds don’t blow. There is a wood stove and electric heat if it gets chilly in autumn. There’s also a large new deck outside that offers space and privacy for BBQs, relaxing and taking it all in.
Our sunsets and skies will knock your socks off. The whole north-western corner of the building is windows. It is no exaggeration to say the views over the ocean, Chimney Corner cove and the beach are breathtaking. It is only two minutes to the beach itself, probably the best one on the west side of Cape Breton; clean and, because it’s not visible from the road, often empty, even on summer weekdays. As day turns to evening, and you can relax inside, listen to music and catch up on things you never have time for in the city. In the evening, if you look out the window, you’ll be reassured by the steady cadence of Margaree Island lighthouse blinking offshore.
For those who find their desired vacation dates filled, I other private cottages available on adjacent, private properties, which have all of the great attributes this cottage has. Ask us about them, or check our ad on VRBO when it is listed later this winter.
Wake up in the morning to lobster boats and fishers hauling in their catch directly in front of the cottage, or to an eagle settling on a tree yards away. Deer and foxes visit from time to time, as do moose. Whales pass by in front most of the year; there’s salmon and trout fishing on the world-renowned Margaree River, just minutes away. Of course there’s lots more to do elsewhere on the Island, from local music and Ceilidhs, to museums, golf, craft galleries, and good eating.
Cape Breton was noted by Conde Nast Traveller magazine as the #1 Beautiful island and #2nd Most Friendly People. In 2005, National Geographic called Cape Breton Highlands National Park the #2 best national park in North America. Cape Breton was recently voted the Number 2 destination world-wide by National Geographic Traveller Magazine (March 2004). It was singled out by Travel and Leisure Magazine in 2006 as one of the “World’s Best Islands” (one of four)
Changeovers occur on Saturdays only. For shorter stays (3 days minimum), we have another property listed #236435 in Margaree Valley, Cape Breton.
The Celtic Colours International Music Festival runs October 5th-13th, 2012
The bathroom is quaint with a generous shower area and heated tile floors. The kitchen is fully equipped with new stainless Frigidaire refridgerator and stove.
*No Smoking inside please.
We offer week-long stays, or longer.
You will have a lovely stay here!
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking
- Wood Stove : -also electric baseboards and efficient/quiet oil heater
- Beds
- Queen Bed
- Double Bed : futon/frame
- Entertainment
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library : CD's and mini-stereo system supplied.
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen : New stainless Frigidaire refridgerator and stove
- Cooking Utensils Provided : Full equipment.
- Refrigerator : Frigidaire stainless
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio : Large new deck added this spring-offers privacy and lots of space.
- View/Location
- Beach View : visible directly across the water- no obstacles.
- Oceanfront : incredible panoramic views of ocean, beach and island
- Mountain View : Mountains about 1000 feet behind cottage.
- Communications
- Telephone
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- ceiling fans, firewood, local activities guide, books.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly : Younger kids only-adult couple travelling with 2 two kids, the kids would have to share a bed.
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Boating
- Swimming
- Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Horseback Riding
- Shelling
- Hiking
- Restaurants
- Museums
Rate Details (In Canadian Dollars)
$1650/wk. + tax May-October; Weekly minimum.
50% deposit at time of booking by credit card.
Balance due on card 30 days before arrival.
Full refund less $100 for cancellation up to 8 weeks prior, up to June.
No refund if cancelling after June. Changeovers on Saturday of each week.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
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Credit Cards Accepted:
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Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 1994
Bell grew up in Margaree Valley, about twenty minutes from here, while I grew up in Toronto. After graduating in law there, I changed course and headed to art school in Halifax, where I met Bell in my first painting class. The first time I visited Cape Breton with her, I fell in love with it, especially the west coast of the island, so being here makes a lot of sense for us. We lived and worked in New York City for some years, but eventually opened Cape Breton Clay, our pottery business here, in 1996 and we've been busy here ever since, with three galleries on Cape Breton. I am also a filmmaker and a photographer, and Bell is also a painter.
Why the Owner Chose Chimney Corner
Bell and I built the cottage in 1994 as a summer house when we hadn't yet settled permanently in Cape Breton. We are both artists, and when we decided to live here all year 'round, in 1997, we needed more room–we built another building to contain studio and production space and commuted between the buildings every day. Eventually, over the years, we migrated to the larger building permanently, and used the cottage for studio space and for guests. So, the cottage is a special place for us, and we laboured for years to make it right.
The Unique Benefits of this Cottage
Cape Breton is a spectacular place, and the scenery on this stretch of coast is particularly striking; it can also be dramatic, with 130 kph winds at many points of the year. One must keep a clean yard in such conditions! There is such a rich culture here, historically and musically, and life unwinds at its own special pace. We see some of the most dramatic sunsets anywhere, watch whales play in our front yard, and fishermen haul their lobster traps every year. Moose, eagles, deer and foxes are regulars. It's easy to meet people, and the daily rhythm here is slower than in most cities; we visit neighbors and friends whenever we can, as we are busy in the summer months. It's also nice to be in a place where you don't need air-conditioning; Cape Breton summers are warm-to-hot in the day, but perfect in the evening, and at the shore there are breezes to keep any bugs at bay. Chimney Corner beach is one of the finest on the island, but because it is not visible from the road, it's usually unoccupied during the week– we love to take our dog Ryder there for a good run.
Property Photos
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- Our Cottage overlooking Chimney Corner beach and the ocean. - Cape Breton Island Vacation Cottage
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- Kitchen and sitting area with great views of ocean and beach - Cape Breton Island Vacation Cottage
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- sleeping area on second floor - Cape Breton Island Vacation Cottage
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- visit by a friend
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- large deck with fabulous views
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- swim and picnic at beach just minutes away...
Traveler Reviews (28)
Beautiful Place
Guest: Curt H.
Date of Stay: 08/20/11
Review Submitted: 09/13/11
It's almost misleading for me to review this cottage, because our time was so great and the weather was absolutely perfect. Cape Bretonites tell me the weather isn't always so good. Our luggage was lost, and we were without it for two days. Stewart was most helpful, and improvised a sign for American Airlines so that they wouldn't miss the driveway. And by the way, you won't go wrong following any of Stewart's suggestions for places to visit and things to see. The property was clean and well-maintained. The view and surroundings are so aesthetically pleasing and relaxing that we didn't feel that much like traveling. It was always a pleasure to return to the cabin, and gaze out over the sea, with its interesting beach and island on the south side of your view. I highly recommend this place, except someone who would have problems with an upstairs bedroom coupled with a downstairs bathroom might not like it.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.
An amazing spot!
Guest: Mark C.
(Oshawa, Ontario)
Date of Stay: 08/13/11
Review Submitted: 09/04/11
We spent the third week of August of 2011 in this great cottage. The view from the deck is amazing. The cottage is well designed with comfortable touches including heated floors in the bathroom and comfortable beds. We were fortunate to have an excellent spell of hot weather during our stay. We spent our days exploring all the local beaches. Flying a kite on a cliff overlooking the Whale Cove beach is something that will be difficult to top! The cottage is close enough drive to explore the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. We spent a few days exploring the park and taking in moose, bear, heron, pilot whales, dolphins, eels, cormorants, bald eagles, and foxes. Stewart and Bell were away the week we visited but able to be contacted if required. You can leave your worries behind when renting this beautiful cottage overlooking the ocean!
Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+.
Awe Inspiring!
Guest: Gary C.
(Scotia, New York)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11
Review Submitted: 07/31/11
This was our first time visiting Cape Breton, and will not be our last! And we won't look for any where else to stay when we come back, because no place can be as lovely as Stewart & Bell's cottages at Chimney Corner! We spend two weeks in Cape Cod every September, and wanted to try something different. Always thought Scotland would be a beautiful place to visit, and a friend said try Cape Breton, very similar and a lot closer. We had the week after Connie & Galen, and the weather turned a bit, windy, rainy and in the mid 50's a few days, but it made absolutely no difference! Actually enhanced the magic, it was exciting to see the ocean whipped up, the cottage surrounded in mist, and having a lovely fire in the wood stove. The cottage itself is just lovely! Two sides of the main room are glass windows & doors overlooking the beach, a cozy loft above to sleep in, with skylights that open to hear the wind, and look at the stars. It's a just perfect combination of traditional & modern, I could live in the cottage! (My wide especially loved the heated bathroom tile floor.) The island itself is incredible, what breathtaking scenery! Everyone is so, so friendly, they make you feel like a neighbor rather than just a tourist. We loved going out to hear and see fiddle music at the Red Shoe Pub, the concert in the Barn at the Normaway Inn, and the dance afterwards. Great food & drink everywhere, the Dancing Goat was a favorite. We did a tour of the Glenora Distillery, and tromped around a bit in Margaree Valley, just a gorgeous place. We love to hike, and having Cape Breton National Park so close by was a huge plus! Great hiking trails, breathtaking scenery. We ran into a Momma moose & her baby, saw a mother bear & her three cubs, eagles perched across the bay, marsh hawks hunting around the cottage daily. And our hosts couldn't have been any sweeter. Stewart & Bell are beautiful, charming people who will go out of their way to accommodate you. Stewart was busy working on a third cottage that just opened up, and still had time to visit, chat with us, even took us up to the new cottage for a tour. And Bell is wonderful, we visited her pottery shop in Baddeck, what gorgeous pieces of art! Barb & I immediately fell in love with this wonderful couple.. :) Again, what a wonderful week, we can't wait for a return visit!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.
Returning Clients
Guest: Connie and Galen
(Kansas City)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11
Review Submitted: 07/18/11
Chimney Corner, on the western side of Cape Breton, is most beautiful. My friends and I chose this wonderful location for an encore visit. Our original visit, in June 2010, was so satisfying we wanted to return. This year, we lucked into a stretch of wonderful weather. The sunsets and stars were riveting. One clear night during our week, the view the Milky Way was amazing… it was unsullied by light pollution. The view of the night sky led me to reminisce about a starry night experienced during to my girlhood at my grandmother's farm in Gem, Kansas, circa 1965. When we come to Stewart and Bell’s cottage, we like to relax, listen to music, read, cook, visit the perfect beach nearby and take pleasant day trips around the area. This year, we discovered Sharon, the local lobster chef, at the Belle Cote Bistro. We would like to come back again.
Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway.
Heaven!
Guest: Patty and Nick
(New York City)
Date of Stay: 07/07/10
Review Submitted: 03/19/11
We visited last July and couldn't believe our luck in finding this place. The views and sunsets were magnificent, and the cabin was completely charming, a carefully designed place with a light, airy feel to it. There's terrific hiking on the Cabot Trail nearby-also whalewatching, moose, local color, tons of lobster-but you'll be tempted to just sit on the deck, listen to the waves, and stare at the ocean, which stretches more than 180 degrees in front of the cabin. It's one of the most serene places we've ever been, and Stewart is a good host - there when you want him, not when you don't.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.
Magical Week
Guest: Hazlett
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/15/09
Review Submitted: 01/22/11
"Our time here in the Chimney Corner cottage has been truly uplifting. We went hiking nearly every day, took our kayaks out an a couple of different bodies of water, visited the Inverness Centre for the Arts, played with our son Grady (our two-year old) on the beach, relaxed while my husband painted a sea turtle on my ever-growing belly (at six-months pregnant), and a strawberry on Grady's, went whale watching, read good books, played Dominoes, took fabulous naps, made simple meals and ate out one evening at the Glenora Distillery... Yum! It was a perfect week...Thank you once again for such a magical week."
Recommended for:
Loved every minute.
Guest: Dick and Jayne
(Savannah, GA)
Date of Stay: 08/13/10
Review Submitted: 09/11/10
Chimney Corner far exceded our expectations. The location is quiet and peaceful, yet close enough to explore the entire Cape Breton area. The cottage is charming, very well equipped, and clean. We booked for two weeks in August to escape to hot Georgia summer. Everyday was a treat. Eagles perched on a rock across the Bay greeted us each morning. We hiked in the National Park. Be sure to do the Sky Line Hike, as well as some lovely waterfalls. We played golf. Picked blueberries. Searched for sea glass. And, listened to music. Even the occassional rainy and windy weather was OK for reading all day. Bell and Stewart could not have been more helpful in steering us around the Island attractions. I don't think we missed a thing. The deck outside of the cottage is just wonderful. A sky show everynight at sunset. The perfect get away yet close to everything. We recommend this cottage to anyone.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, age 55+.
A piece of heaven
Guest: Satisfaction guaranteed
(Toronto)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10
Review Submitted: 09/07/10
Stewart and Belle's cottage is set in one of the most beautiful locations in Canada and possibly the world. I grew up in Cape Breton and I think Chimney corner is definitely the nicest beach on the Island. You're guaranteed to fall madly in love with the person you bring there.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway.
The Most Beautiful Place on Earth!
Guest: John and Rachal
(Moravia, NY, USA)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10
Review Submitted: 09/05/10
Imagine the most beautiful place on earth, waves crashing against rocks, bald eagles soaring, seals playing, hills and grassy meadows, meandering brooks… Now open your eyes, if you are lucky enough to have reserved a stay at Chimney Corner you are witnessing what I have just described. The cottage at Chimney Corner has an unobstructed view of the ocean; pictures cannot properly convey the beauty. During our stay we witnessed more nature than we could have imagined. The cottage itself is great, with a loft bedroom, fully equipped kitchen and plenty of natural light. The food in the area was wonderful, but due to the access to a good kitchen, we spent a lot of time cooking ourselves! Stewart and Bell go out of their way to make your stay wonderful, from a full range of music (now I am a huge Lucinda Williams fan!) to a varied collection of books. Stewart and Bell were on an adventure of their own while we were visiting, but still had the time to email us on a daily basis to make sure that we were enjoying our stay. Their graciousness as hosts was evident even though they were away. The cottage is a great place to stay while exploring the entirety of Cape Breton or if you are looking for a quiet getaway to read and relax. We brought a lot of books and spent a great deal of time just enjoying the view from the deck. When we ventured out into the community, we found everyone to be really friendly. Places to visit include Inverness (best lobster roll at the beach), Margaree (go to the Dancing Goat and visit Bell’s studio), Cheticamp (for a taste of Acadian fare) and don’t miss out on whale watching in Pleasant Bay. If you enjoy hiking, go to the Skyline trail. We saw a bear, two moose and observed a pod of one hundred whales from the top of Skyline trail! There was a lot to do and see, but we loved returning to the cottage, sipping a drink of choice and looking out at the sunset each night. We can’t recommend the cottage enough; we hope to return some day!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.
Return visit just as great as the first!
Guest: Lane
(Mechanicsburg, PA)
Date of Stay: 07/17/10
Review Submitted: 08/05/10
I not only thought about returning – like many reviewers have mentioned – I actually did so. It was the very first time in nearly 30 years of travel and vacations I chose to stay in the exact same place, and July 2010 was just as wonderful as July 2009. I’m usually skeptical of camera angles and superlative reviews, but the instant I stepped out of the car, I realized that the only thing better than Stewart’s pictures of the cottage, locale, and island, is actually being there. Stewart and Bell are exceedingly gracious hosts, the cottage and the views from the deck are outstanding, there is ready access to other spectacular scenery without the typical beach and vacationing crowds, wildlife galore (sighted eagles, seals, whales, fox, bear, hawk, moose, and a few harmless snakes), music (Normaway, Red Shoe Pub, etc), and the local folks are great. If you like hiking, the well-known Skyline trail is reasonably close, but I’d highly recommend going to the NE end of the island where there’s a trail that starts just as the road that goes into White Point ends (don’t just go to the point – continue along the trail as it hugs the shore going south for another mile or two). And make certain you stop at Bell’s place in Baddeck, and the Dancing Goat. Relax and enjoy!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.
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