Grand Narrows

Grand Narrows[3] (Scottish Gaelic: An Caolas Mór) (2001 population 15) is a community in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The community is the birthplace of the longest serving Premier of Nova Scotia, George Henry Murray.

[2] The community came to prominence during the 1880s after the Intercolonial Railway built its line from the Strait of Canso to Sydney, crossing the Barra Strait between Iona and Grand Narrows with the Grand Narrows Bridge, still in use, which is the longest railway bridge in Nova Scotia.

A hotel was constructed and became a popular resting spot, Canada's first prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald was among its guests.

There is but one route of travel through Grand Narrows; a gravel road called "Derby Point" which runs along the shoreline for approximately 3 kilometers.

Grand Narrows, looking towards Iona. The Grand Narrows Bridge of the Intercolonial Railway at the centre of the photo, with swing span open to permit shipping to transit the Barra Strait.
Grand Narrows. The large building is the Grand Narrows Hotel, still standing and appearing much like this and used now as a Bed & Breakfast (in 2018). The Hotel was located here as the Intercolonial Railway crossed the Grand Narrows of the Bras d'Or lake at this location so many passengers transferred between the railway and passenger steamers on the lake here.