If you take the road from Orangedale to Valley Mills, you can then follow the shore of Whycocomagh Bay through Malagawatch until you arrive at Marble Mountain, where you will find one of the most spectacular scenic views in the province of Nova Scotia.



From the look-off below the abandoned quarry, you enjoy a panoramic scene that takes in the full immensity of West Bay, and its many little islands. These appear as idyllic green sanctuaries, set against the deep blue of the surrounding water, and at least one is reputed to be the site of pirate treasure, buried by none other than the infamous Captain Kidd himself.



Off to the right, across the bay, the carefully manicured greens of the golf course at the Dundee Resort stand out vividly from the surrounding forest cover. On the left, you can plainly see down the full expanse of the "Big Lake" into the far reaches of East Bay. The beach below this look-off is made up of hundreds of thousands of marble chips, all that remains of a once thriving industrial operation.



The marble quarry opened in 1869 and closed in 1921. During that 52-year period, what had previously been a sleepy little settlement on the north shore of West Bay was transformed into a major industrial site that by 1900 employed well over 1,000 men. This marble was shipped to markets in eastern Canada and the Boston States (New England). A short walk uphill from the look-off will take you to the abandoned quarry. The year-round population of Marble Mountain today is about 75.



There is a delightful little museum, not always open, that is located in the village's original one-room school. It contains a wealth of fascinating information on the settlement, along with intriguing pictures of the village and the quarry. It gives a wonderful look at the major industrial complex that existed here in the years before the First World War.



West Bay, the large body of water from which the next community takes its name, forms the western extremity of the Bras D'Or Lakes. It is rectangular in shape, 12 miles long and five miles wide, and is enclosed on both sides by high hills or mountains that reach a height of more than 750 feet.



From West Bay you can turn left, for about one-half mile, to a small T junction, where you turn left again, and head for the resort and marina at Dundee, just a few miles up the road. After a few miles in the woods, you find yourself back close to the shoreline, with wonderful sweeping views out across the island dotted waters of West Bay.



Just before a one-lane bridge, a sheltered little cove on the left is home to Dundee Marine, a nice place to stop for a picnic, or perhaps enjoy a meal of local seafood at the rustic restaurant located on site.



A little further on is the full-service Dundee Golf Resort, offering a championship 18-hole golf course, and premier accommodation consisting of 38 charming cottages, along with 60 traditional hotel rooms. With a public dining room, and on-site pub, this secluded resort is a perfect place to spend a few days, or just catch a quick game of golf, with a backdrop of some of the finest scenery in all of Nova Scotia. Next week: St. Peters and Chapel Island