Mabou

I always love coming home. When you’re coming from the south, you cross the crest in South West Mabou and suddenly you see the hills of Mabou, with St. Mary’s Church steeple glistening white, nestled in the heart of the village. Or when you’re taking that last turn from the north, and rolling right into the village, where many of our businesses are—the street lights and sidewalk showcase the community beautifully, leading you down to the marina where the sunsets just can’t be beat. Flowers adorn the light posts, and benches invite you to sit back and relax, as the tunes float through town.

Where Culture Lives

In the summer and fall, there’s a square dance practically every night up and down Inverness County. Plus there’s suppertime music at The Red Shoe Pub, Tuesday night ceilidhs at the Mabou Hall, Mabou Ceilidh days, and the Ceilidh on the Wharf at the Mabou Coal Mines. More and more folks are taking a few days to bike the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail. It runs along Route 19 for much of the way, making it handy to pop back into the various villages to grab lunch or find a place to stay the night. In the winter, the walking trails are ideal for skidooing or cross-country skiing and get your snow shoes at the ready for Féis Fuar, a little winter festival in West Mabou. While there are a few establishments that are closed during the winter months, there’s always much to do, and you can still take in a ceilidh up the road at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique, or the West Mabou Square dance on Saturday night. There are various cultural classes offered at various points in the year and the winter months are a great time to hunker down and learn new tunes, songs, and steps.

Go for a drive and enjoy the view… 

If it’s scenery you’re after, take a drive up Mabou Ridge and turn at MacLeod’s Road where the pavement ends. You can see right down to the Mabou Harbour breakwater from there, and then as you come down the ridge, take in the entire village in one beautiful breath. It’s gorgeous in the brightness of day, or coziness of night.  Go for a spin down West Mabou Road. From the water inlet at the start of the drive, it takes you down to Little Mabou. There are some gorgeous vistas as you work your way down to the ocean views of the West Mabou Beach. Or go down the road on the other side of the inlet and catch a sunset at the lighthouse at the Mabou Harbour. Beaches both here and in West Mabou offer a sandy warm water experience.

Hike, Bike or Take in Some Tunes

You can bike, walk, or ride the extensive trail system in Mabou or kayak to your heart’s desire. Mabou is a village of inlets and has quick access to the sea via various points. Drop in on a ceilidh where the locals make you feel like you’ve been a part of the community from day one, take in some of the magical ceilidhs and information sessions that pop up at the Mabou Gaelic and Historical Building—An Drochaid, throughout the year. Square dancing is the way to getting great exercise, making social connections, and celebrating culture all in one go. There are dances year-round but especially in the summer months—you can attend a dance almost every night of the week in July and August!

Support local

Our local businesses showcase our local people in a cultural context, juxtaposed against our shining waters. Have a delicious craft coffee made especially for you at Beaton’s Delight Espresso or visit with Ann Schroeder at her scarf dyeing studio in Mabou Harbour. E-bike rentals are available at the Zutphen Crossing on the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail, or take a Celtic Trail Tour in a sport side by side.

Where to Stay and Eat

We have some great hotels and B&Bs in the area, like the Glenora Inn & Distillery that offers so many amenities and a cozy place to lay your head. The Mabou River Inn serves fresh, great-tasting food for all desires. A one-stop shop, it offers accommodations, a restaurant, and hair styling all in the heart of the village. If you’re looking for a little dessert, Beaton’s Delight Espresso is offering ice cream. Lots of locals and visitors alike take to the Mabou Farmers’ Market where the incredible smells of local vendors offering a plethora of meals and delicacies should calm any hunger pangs.

Picture this…

You drive into Mabou right at 11am on a bright, Sunday morning. It’s a glorious summer day—not too hot, not too cold, the weather is just right. You take the road down by the church and head to the rink for the Mabou Farmers’ Market. Get a great cup of coffee to start your day and walk around to all of the vendors, striking up conversation as you go. When you start to get hungry, try some multi-cultural foods for lunch and sit down at the picnic tables inside while you listen to a local singer songwriter perform all three hours. The kids can go on the slide on the playground outside or take them up the road to Beaton’s Delight Espresso for some ice cream for a treat. The Red Shoe gets going at 4pm, so you’ll want to go a bit earlier to get a seat, and look over the menu for supper. Toe-tapping fiddle tunes are on the go from 4-7pm and complement the many local craft beers on tap, and the local seafood caught fresh just down the road that day. If you time it right, there’s bound to be a community concert starting at 7:30pm, either at the Mabou Hall, right across from the Shoe, or over at Strathspey Performing Arts Centre.  And if you really time it right, you should be able to take off to Glencoe Mills for the hallowed square dance, 9-midnight.  If you have time in between that, go for a stroll in town, or take a dip at the beach to keep your energy up.