Le Chemin du Buttereau

Le chemin du Buttereau is an old trail that connected the community of Le Buttereau to the neighboring village of Chéticamp from the late 1700s until the Cabot Trail opened in the 1930s. At 4.6 kilometres return, it's not an overly long hike and makes a nice walk on a hot day if you wish you spend some time out of direct sunlight. It rises from 25 to 65 m (80 to 215 feet), so it's not the steepest trail, though there's one a small climb in sections. The term "buttereau" actually means small hill, and this slight rise will take you above the Cheticamp River and Gulf of St. Lawrence for some nice views. The trail is self-guilding, winding through mixed Acadian forest and around old foundation ruins. Beginning at its southern end or first entrance, you'll feel at first as though you're heading back towards Cheticamp, only to begin curving to the north right away. 

 

The remains of old foundations that you pass belonged to the families who lived here, including David à Sambo and Rose Chiasson (and their 10 kids), Georges à Cacoune and Josephine LeBrun (and their 10 kids), Séverin à Édouard and Nélée LeBlanc (and their 10 kids), Joseph à Cacoune and Marie Deveau (and their 11 kids), and Auguste à Édouard and Hélène LeBlanc (and their 9 kids). The names following the husbands are those of their fathers. After a few old remains, you'll notice the covering to an old well to the left.

 

When you reach an intersection where you can go left or right, you have reached Le Buttereau, the loop part of the trail. It's well worth it to catch the views from these look-offs. During the fishing season, you can see boats out here. An informative panel along the trail tells us that the original inhabitants of Le Buttereau would head to La Bloque or Chéticamp Harbour to meet with the boats, and stay for the week before returning home. At 50 cents for 100 lobsters, they were only eking out a living for themselves.

Though you can loop around Le Buttereau, finishing it til its end will you give you the following views. When you get to the opposite end of the trail, you'll be looking at the Grand Falaise (the Big Cliffs).

The parking area at the Grand Falaise is where you might wish to begin another excursion that I discussed on another day, a waterfall that is very rewarding if you're careful to get there--Righwash Brook Falls.