Description
- Background
- The Skye River is a small, narrow stream that rises in Centreville and flows through Skye Glen, Stewartdale, Churchview, and Waycobah, emptying into Whycocomagh Bay. Even though it be very small, it has nevertheless nourished the rich farmlands of Skye Glen, where numerous dairy farms flourish, one of the handful of agricultural strongholds remaining on Cape Breton Island.
- Google Maps Name
- East Skye Glen Road
- Local Usage
- East Skye Glen Road; the western portion is also known as the Centreville Road
- Direction
- Southeast to Northwest
- Start Point
- 46°00.620′N 61°08.822′W, at its junction with Highway 395
- End Point
- 46°03.104'N 61°15.882'W, at its junction with Highway 252
- Length
- 12.2 km (7⅗ mi)
- Classification
- Local Road
- Surface
- Mostly gravel; a short, badly potholed, paved section exists near the East Skye Glen Crossing Road
- Condition
- The gravel road is generally good to very good; the short paved section is poor to fair
- Route Description
- This route traverses the east side of the Skye River Valley, more or less parallel to Highway 252 on the west side of the valley. It passes below the highlands that separate Skye Glen from Lake Ainslie through rich land actively being farmed. Just after turning off Highway 395, the southeasternmost section passes over wooded foothills of the aforementioned highlands, with occasional spots where one has good views of Campbells Mountain across the Skye River Valley; a backward look will show a small piece of Whycocomagh Mountain. This area of the road is quite colourful in the fall and worth a trip for that alone. Further on, the road levels out and begins to offer views of the farms along Highway 252 in Skye Glen. Not long after, you will see the first dairy farm in East Skye Glen as the Skye River Valley plains come into view. At 5.4 km (3⅜ mi), you reach the East Skye Glen Crossing Road, which crosses the Skye River and connects with Highway 252 in Skye Glen. For the next good stretch, you will pass through rich farmland actively exploited, past cornfields and hayfields through scenes of bucolic beauty and tranquillity with the surrounding highlands as a backdrop. Backwards looks will reveal more of Whycocomagh Mountain rising above the southeastern end of Skye Glen, including profile views of its distinctive vertical cliff. At 8.2 km (5.1 mi), you pass the MacLellan Road, which climbs up into the highlands and dead ends there, offering good views of the Skye River Valley on the way up. Just before the MacLellan Road, you will cross a small stream that is one of the sources of the Skye River coming down from the highlands. 400 m (¼ mi) past the MacLellan Road, you will pass a small building on the right, the old Centreville school house. At this point, the terrain at the left has become forest, though open farmlands continue on the right side of the road for some distance further. After passing one final farm, the terrain becomes forested on both sides of the road and continues thus to its end on Highway 252. Not far before reaching Highway 252, you will cross another small stream; this is Sheas Brook, which crosses Highway 252 in Brook Village.
- Vic’s Scenic Rating
- ☆☆☆☆
- Comments
- This road has much less traffic than the more heavily travelled Highway 252; I take it fairly often whenever I have the time to savour its lovely scenery. If you are not already familiar with it, it is definitely worth exploring.
