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DISCOVERY TRAIL 2019 VISITOR GUIDE NEWFOUNDLAND LABRADOR • CANADA
SAVOUR
Our Beautiful Discovery Trail
BOOK
an Excursion of a Lifetime Trek & Picnic on
100+ KM of Trails
Amble Through
HISTORY
ASTONISHING
Scenery at Every Turn
A JAUNT
Birds, Fish, Whales, Bergs and
Worth Every Step
MORE!
Have your camera ready…
PICTURES = TREASURED MEMORIES!
3 HOUR TOUR – SAILS 3 TIMES DAILY 9:00 A.M. 1:00 P.M. 5:00 P.M.
7786271
Adults $90 + tax Children $60 + tax 12 Ash’s Lane, Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada (709) 464-2200 – (709) 427-1217 – seaofwhales.com
DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 1
Table of Contents A1 AREA 1 • Chapel Arm ~ Chance Cove.......................... 5 Chapel Arm, Norman’s Cove, Long Cove, Thornlea, Bellevue Beach, Chance Cove
A2 AREA 2 • Southern Harbour ~ Goobies....................... 7 Southern Harbour, Arnold’s Cove, Come By Chance, Sunnyside, Goobies
A3 AREA 3 • Clarenville ~ Random Island.................... 11
South West Arm, HIllview, Hatchet Cove and St. Jones, Adeytown and Deep Bight, Clarenville, Random Island, George’s Brook, Monroe, Harcourt, Gin Cove and Burgoyne’s Cove
A4 AREA 4 • Port Blandford ~ Sweet Bay....................... 17 Port Blandford, Musgravetown, Lethbridge, Winter Brook, Charleston and Sweet Bay
A5 AREA 5 • Trinity & Area (Trinity Bight).................... 33 Trinity, Goose Cove, Dunfield, Trouty, Old Bonaventure, New Bonaventure, Port Rexton, Trinity East, Champney’s East, Champney’s West, Champney’s Arm, English Harbour
A6 AREA 6 • Port Union ~ Little Catalina...................... 39 Port Union (National Historic District of Canada), Melrose, Catalina, Little Catalina
A7 AREA 7 • Maberly ~ Elliston ~ Bonavista................ 43 Maberly, Elliston, Spillars Cove, Bonavista, Cape Bonavista
A8 AREA 8 • Birchy Cove ~ Southern Bay...................... 49 King’s Cove, Duntara, Open Hall, Red Cliff and Tickle Cove, Plate Cove East and Plate Cove West, Summerville, Princeton, Southern Bay
WELCOME TO THE DISCOERY TRAIL...........................................3-4 WHAT WAS RESETTLEMENT?............................................................ 6 DISCOVER GEOLOGY...................................................................... 19 DISCOVER HIKING ..................................................................20-21 DISCOVER BIRD WATCHING....................................................22-23 ATTRACTIONS & HISTORICAL DESTINATIONS ......................24-25 AREA MAP.................................................................................26-27 FESTIVALS & EVENTS...............................................................28-29 DISCOVER ARTS & CULTURE...................................................30-31 WHALE WATCHING ......................................................................... 32 DISCOVER CRAFTING..................................................................... 41 THE 1914 SEALING DISASTER ...................................................... 42 NL FUN FACTS................................................................................. 47 DISCOVER TRADITIONAL NL MUSIC............................................. 48 NEWFOUNDLAND SLANG/SHORELINE TERMS EXPLAINED......... 51 DISCOVER WINTER........................................................................ 52 A1
Packet
Published By: THE PACKET The 709-466-2243 Editor: Barbara Dean-Simmons Advertising Sales: Janey Coish Graphic Designer: James Williams Ad Design: The Western Star MPC
No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions that may occur. ©2019
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EMERGENCY NUMBERS RCMP Bonavista (709)468-7333 RCMP Clarenville (709)466-3211 or 1-800-709-RCMP(7267) (709)468-7881 Bonavista Hospital Ambulance (709)468-2112 Clarenville Hospital (709)466-5555 Ambulance (709)466-9911
Cover Photo: Shawna & Kris Prince - Sea of Whales Adventures Photo Credits: Barbara Dean Simmons, Janey Coish, Bonnie Goodyear, Jonathan Parsons, Paul Tilley, Chandler Coish, Cody Avery, Shawna & Kris Prince- Sea of Whales Adventures, Jackie Keats, Robert Bartlett-Trinity Eco Tours, Bonnie McGrath, Jonathan Joy, Bob Currie-Discovery Sea Adventures, Trinity Historical Society, Andrea Sharpe, Town of Clarenville, Town of Arnold’s Cove, Roxanne Wareham, Catherine Beaudette
Welcome to the
Discovery Trail
DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 3
Welcome
to the Discovery Trail, on Newfoundland and Labrador’s Eastern shore. Aptly named, the Discovery Trail because this is where John Cabot is reported to have first made landfall in 1497, and where you’ll find endless opportunities for learning and adventure.
The Discovery Trail is easy to find. While John Cabot had to rely on the sun and the night sky to guide him, you need only turn your car West from St. John’s (Take Hwy 1, or the Trans Canada Highway West of the capital city. To come from Port Aux Basques, Corner Brook, or Central Newfoundland, take Hwy 1 East). You’ll want to have your camera charged and at the ready – the Discovery Trail is a veritable photographer’s paradise, from gorgeous scenery to natural wildlife, not to mention the colourful characters and architecture you’ll encounter along the way. If you love to hike, you are coming to the right place. The Discovery Trail offers hundreds of kilometres of trails to experience. In just about every small town there will be Civic celebrations held during the summer, on top of that, there are numerous festivals and events that run year round, so there’s always something to hold your interest on the Discovery Trail. 4 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
All of the photographs you take, will not only commemorate your time here, they will give you years of memories to cherish your trip traveling the Discovery Trail.
y
Tickle Bay
Southern Harbour
Chance Cove 201
Bellevue Beach
Little Harbour East
Chapel Arm to Chance Cove
Bellevue
Area 1
Thornlea Long Cove
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201 203
Fairhaven
1
Norman’s Cove Chapel Arm 80 202
TCH East to St. John’s
Area 1 of the Discovery Trail is perhaps the leasttravelled, but deserves a place on your Must See list. The TCH (Route 1) will take you over the isthmus – the narrow bridge of land that connects the Avalon Peninsula with the rest of Newfoundland. For a brief moment on the highway you can see both Placentia and Trinity Bays. Taking an exit either left or right from the TCH will reward you with equally picturesque communities. On the shores of Trinity Bay, you’ll find Chapel Arm (Route 201), Norman’s Cove-Long Cove, Thornlea, Bellevue, Bellevue Beach and Chance Cove. The towering headlands above Chapel Arm offer the tiny town protection from wind and waves. Fishing is the mainstay in Norman’s Cove-Long Cove, and it’s here you’ll get your first glimpse of colourful fishing vessels and gear. Norman’s Cove-Long Cove is also a great place to step out of the car and stretch your legs. Several hikes leave from town and offer vistas and picnic sites. Find the head of Plumby Cove Trail at Long Rocks Road and follow it to the old Plumby Cove Municipal Park. Lookout Trail leaves from the elementary school and takes you to a viewpoint above town.
Seaview Trail follows the headland of Chapel Head jutting into the bay. Find the trailhead at the two cemeteries. The towering cliffs often host eagles, osprey and cormorants, while the waters below are home to humpback and pothead whales, who feed on the abundant caplin in the spring and early summer. If the weather is fine, (or even if it’s not) you’ll want to make a stop at Bellevue Beach, two kilometers of Sandy Beach in the bottom of Trinity Bay it is a popular picnicking spot for visitors and residents alike. The lengthy beach is a nice place to while away an afternoon birdwatching or building sandcastles. If you’re camping, there are places to pitch and tent or park your RV, though reservations are recommended, especially during the popular summer weekends. There is an unsupervised swimming area if you want to take a refreshing dip. Keep driving, and you’ll find yourself in Chance Cove. This outport will offer fishing vessels and stages – wharves – lined up at the waterline. But what’s the moonscape on the surrounding hills? The Doe Hills are of geological interest. Bare hills dotted with erratics left behind by glaciers are great for exploring on foot, and you’re bound to be rewarded with breathtaking views. Across the TCH and on the shores of Placentia Bay, Fairhaven and Little Harbour East are small towns with big views. It’s worth branching off the main highway to these rural outports to see what you may find at the end of the road. DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 5
What was...
Resettlement?
In the 1950s and 1960s the population and economy of Newfoundland and Labrador was changing. Several communities had been abandoned when residents all moved to larger centres and in 1954 the government began what became known as the Resettlement Program.
residents of tiny towns in other parts of the province. As recently as 2013, two towns with a combined population of 96 were seriously considering a move. Financial assistance for each household offered in 2013 was $270,000, a significant increase over the scant $150 in 1954.
The resettlement program saw several modifications over the years and by 1975 some 27,500 people from more than 260 communities had been relocated.
2016 marked the 50th Anniversary of the start of the Resettlement program of the Smallwood Government. There were a lot of other towns around this area who had to deal with issues relating to the Resettlement but Arnold’s Cove was affected the most. Arnold’s Cove was originally a town of 200 people and that population grew to an overwhelming1200 in only a matter of a couple of years.
When people did move from the islands of Placentia Bay to places like Arnold’s Cove during the Smallwood Government’s resettlement program of the 1960’s, some of them brought their homes with them, floating them across the water to be set up in their new locations. To this day the idea of resettlement still conjures a heart-wrenching era for older Newfoundlanders. The stigma of forced relocation is what spurred the government to adopt a mandatory high-consent policy for any community that wanted to resettle. However despite this policy there have been many cases where there has been a lot of resistance and disagreements between families and their neighbours. Back in the day in order to qualify for the rather modest sum of $150, the entire community had to agree to move. These days, resettlement is still on the minds of 6 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
Caplin Cove
Long Beach
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t Current
Trinity
Bay Harbour to Goobies Southern
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Area 2 Come Visit Arnold’s Cov Sunnyside
Come By Chance
rm ll A Bu
Harbour, Arnold’s Cove or Come By Chance.
If the rocks could talk, they’d have many tales to share from that time of houses being floated across the bay and families carrying all their worldly possessions aboard their boats to their new homes.
Tickle Bay
Southern Harbour
Chance Cove 201
Bellevue Beach
Little
Visit the Paddy Miller House Resettlement Museum in Southern Harbour to learn more about this interesting and controversial time in the Province’s history.
Bellevue
Area 2 of the DiscoveryHarbour Trail boasts East five busy towns. Thornlea
Southern Harbour
Arnold’s Cove
Long Cove
201 Fishing is still the mainstay in Southern Harbour, but the active community also has203 walking andNorman’s hiking Cove Fairhaven trails.
1
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With a population of over 1,200, Arnold’s Cove is the service hub of this area.
Its Chapel Arm
While the resettlement program of the 1950s and 202 1960s affected the entire Province, perhaps none felt the move so acutely as the tiny communities on the islands of Placentia Bay. Many residents of these islands and surrounding coves moved to Southern
hiking trails are not to be missed. The Bordeaux trail is a804-km trek that will lead you in the footsteps of the early French settlers. FoundationsTCHofEast the early homes remain, as well as a to St. John’s cemetery dating back to the early 1800s. It’s an easy
Come Visit Arnold’s Cove Come learn about the resettlement of the Placentia Bay islands in Arnold’s Cove.
Come Visit Arnold’s Cove
You can take part in Resettlement Week July 8-14, visit the resettled Drake House or hike our coastal “Bordeaux Trail.” Download the “Arnold’s Cove Resettlement Walk” mobile app for free at Apple’s App Store and on Google Play for Android and Blackberry users. Take a stroll through our community and experience the stories of resettlement through a self-guided tour.
Stories to Tell. Songs to Sing.
7785788
Placentia Bay
Arnold’s Cove
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walk with your choice of picnic sites, and well worth the hike. During the Second World War, Arnold’s Cove hosted American servicemen. The War Path trail, a onekilometer hike overlooking Placentia Bay, traces their footsteps as they patrolled the shoreline on the lookout for enemies in the bay. Both trails are well maintained by the town and are worth your time. For the more athletic, Arnold’s Cove hosts the Fog Trot, a 10-km run each September. Arnold’s Cove is also home to a bird sanctuary, where many migrating birds visit each year. Canada geese, pie ducks, mallards, ruddy turnstones, spoked sandpipers, twillicks, mergansers, plomers, gulls and black ducks make regular appearances. You can also see ptarmigans, cormorants, osprey and bald eagles. 2016 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Resettlement program that was initiated by the Liberal Government of Joseph R. Smallwood. The program saw close to 1000 families who lived
in outport communities “Resettled”. For some of them, they simply packed up all of their belongings on boats and left the only home they had ever known abandoned. They chose to settle in homes built in their chosen new locations, for others they packed up their belongings in their boats and floated their homes across the bay, setting up their moved house in a new place. Some welcomed the move, eager to leave the isolation of the small coves and harbours for larger towns and easier access to jobs and medical services. For others, it was heartbreaking to have to leave and still to this day if you were to ask them they would call “Home” their original communities. The Drake House is the oldest house standing in Arnold’s Cove, but it wasn’t built there. It’s an example of one of the outport homes that was floated from the community of Haystack to Arnold’s Cove in the 1970s. It is a Registered Heritage Structure.
Come By Chance
This small town is not dominated by the salt water as most coastal communities are in Newfoundland and
Hike Centre Hill—the highest peak in eastern
www.sunnysidenl.com www.sunnysidenl.ca 11km kmfrom fromTrans TransCanada Canada
◆ Hike Centre Hill - the highest peak in Eastern NL Newfoundland See Hebron Oil Platform in ◆ Visit the Truce Sound Lookout our harbour Visit Truce Sound Lookout ◆ HikeTruce the Truce Sound Coastal Trailtotohistoric historic Hike sound Coastal Trail Frenchmen’s Island Frenchmen’s Island
7785791
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Sunnyside
Don’t overlook Sunnyside. As the name suggests, it’s a welcoming spot. In 1612, Governor John Guy and English colonists greeted the Beothuks, Newfoundland’s Aboriginal people, at Frenchman’s Island. The two groups exchanged gifts and shared a meal and, in honour of the peaceful meeting, Guy named the area Truce Sound. The town of Sunnyside itself is beautiful, laid out like a ribbon along the water’s edge.
The beach in Come By Chance has four fire pits, so it’s a great spot for a picnic or campfire sing-a-long. While cod and lobster and other species of fish are still pursued in Placentia Bay, its waters are also plied by ocean-going oil tankers. Come By Chance is home to a deep-water port and an oil refinery. A transhipment terminal also draws international boating traffic, so the fishers of Placentia Bay now share their waters with some of the largest vessels in the world.
Welcome to the town of
Following the road to the very end of town, you’ll find the Centre Hill trailhead. This spectacular hike will take you through marshland and wooded areas, before completing a 400-meter climb to the top of Centre Hill. Centre Hill is the highest point in Eastern Newfoundland, and the views from the top are breathtaking in all directions. If you’re up for the challenge (it’s a 10-km trek in total), it is not to be missed. The area formerly known as Truce Sound , now called Bull Arm, is well known for the construction facility of the same name, that builds offshore oil platforms. The building location for this dry dock and fabrication facility was chosen for the steep hills that shelter the site so well and the near shore deep water construction site. Bull Arm was originally constructed to build the Hibernia Oil Platform in 1990. The site features the
Come By Chance
Whether you visit by chance or by choice, we hope you’ll enjoy your stay!
Town of Come By Chance, 111 Main Road, Box 89, Come By Chance, NL A0B 1N0 Tel: 709-542-3240 | Email: townofcbc@eastlink.ca | Website: www.townofcomebychance.com
7785793
Labrador. Come By Chance is built along Come By Chance River, a licensed salmon river. Its biggest claim to fame is the oil refinery, which employs hundreds of people from the region. Come By Chance is also known for being the site of one of the Cottage Hospitals developed by the administration of Premier Joey Smallwood in the years after the 1949 Confederation with Canada. The hospital was built in the late 1930s, servicing many towns in Placentia and Trinity Bays. Today it is a town hall and community centre, but the birth certificates of many people in the region say they were born at Come By Chance.
Be sure to stop at the Peace Garden, a memorial site to the English and Beothuk meeting over 400 years ago. The Garden and associated Coastal Trail are on Frenchman’s Island, connected to the mainland by a sandspit. While the trail is well maintained, wear footwear that won’t mind getting wet.
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largest rebar shop in North America, office buildings, pipe shops, a concrete batch plant and other various cutting and carpentry shops. Construction for the Hibernia Platform began in 1991. The completed platform left Bull Arm in May of 1997 and was affixed into its new permanent location a mere 13 days later. In 2017 the Hebron Platform was towed from the sheltered waters of Bull Arm, for its permanent oil production site in the Jean D’Arc Basin 350 miles away. The platform took 5 years to construct, houses approximately 220 workers on rotating schedules and is capable of producing 150,000 barrels of oil per day at peak rates.
Goobies
Right off the TCH you’ll find Goobies. The roadside town used to be a busy railroad station, but now serves as a pit stop for many travellers and the gateway to the Burin Peninsula. The giant moose sculpture at the Irving gas station is a popular photo opportunity for families. (There is a twin statue in Deer Lake on the West Coast of Newfoundland). The Burin Peninsula’s Heritage Run is another premier tourist destination and you can find more information at the Visitor Information Centre in Goobies.
ADVERTISER’S LOCATOR LEGEND Places to Stop • Town of Arnold’s Cove • 709-463-2323 • www.townofarnoldscove.ca • Town of Sunnyside • 709-472-4506 • www.sunnysidenl.com • Town of Come By Chance • 709-542-3240 • www.townofcombychance.com Please refer to area map for location reference
Hike The Isthmus Of Avalon 6 breathtaking trails to hike with over 30+ km to challenge you! www.townofarnoldscove.ca 709-463-2323
www.sunnysidenl.com 709-472-4506
www.townofcomebychance.com 709-542-3240 7785790
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Port Blandford
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5 George’s Brook Barton Dunfield Trouty
230
Morley’s Siding
232
Monroe Milton Waterville Old Bonaventure Harcourt Shoal Hr 230 New Burnt Clifton Cove George’s Brook Ireland’s Gin Cove 232 Barton Eye Random Monroe Milton Waterville Harcourt Heights Shoal Hr New Burnt Aspen Bk Clifton Cove Gin Cove Clarenville Random Snooks Hr Petley Heights Aspen Bk Lower Lance Cove Clarenville Elliott’s Cove Snooks Hr Petley Lower Lance Cove Britannia Elliott’s Cove Britannia Robinson’s Weybridge Weybridge Robinson’s Random Island Bight 231 Bight 231 Hickman’s Harbour Deep Bight Hickman’s Harbour Deep Bight Lady Cove New Bonaventure
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North West Brook Clarenvile - Random Island
Irela Ey
Area 3 Random Island
Random Sound
Adeytown Ivany’s Cove
a
Queen’s Cove
Goobie’s 210
Southport Gooseberry Cove Butter Cove Hodge’s Little Heart’s Ease 204 Long Beach Cove Caplin Cove
Ivany’s Cove
North West Brook
Trinity Bay
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Goobie’s
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Clarenville has all you need by way of hospital, banks, Arnold’s Current Cove shopping, fuel,Swift restaurants, hotels, a police station, Placentia Tickle Bayand health Bay care professionals. This attractive town Southern Harbour Chance Cove right on the shores of beautiful Trinity BayBy has an Bellevue Come Beach Bellevue the Chance Events CenterLittlewhere you’ll find home hockey Harbour East team, the Caribous, playing throughout the winter on Thornlea the Senior Hockey League circuit. Long Cove 201
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Hodge’s Cove, Caplin Cove, Little Heart’s Ease, Butter Cove, Sunnyside Gooseberry Cove and Southport are yours to discover as you continue on route 204.
Fishing in Little Heart’s Ease dates back to the 1600s, when colonists first arrived from Poole, England. rm
Chapel Arm
Placentia Bay
Trinity Bay
ll A
Norman’s Cove
side of Southwest Arm. You’ll pass through North West Brook, Queen’s Cove and Long Beach on the southern side of the arm, where in June the caplin runs draw crowds to the beaches.
Bu
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201
1
Southport
Gooseberry Cove 205 Southwest Arm Communities Butter Cove
Your source for history, pirates and even a
Sunnyside
203
Hillview Hatchet Cove
Hodge’s Little Heart’s Ease Queen’s 204 golf Cove round of Long Beach Cove Caplin Cove drives along either Route 204 and 205 are picturesque
Come By In this Chance part of the region you’ll find the main service Burin centre on the Discovery Trail. Peninsula
Fairhaven
TheLady centre, Cove which also houses a 200-seat theatre, welcomes festivals, trade shows and performing artists St. Jones Random Sound throughout the year. Within
Adeytown
205
North West Brook
Discover
80
Arnold’s Cove
202
TCH East to St. John’s
Southern Harbour
Tickle Clarenville in 2019 Bay Clarenville, your destination hub, when visiting Chance Cove the Discovery Trail! Bellevue
Clarenville prides201 itself on combining small-town character with Beach the amenties of a larger community. We offer breathtaking Bellevue scenery, Little a large interconnected network of hiking and biking trails, a link to the Provincial Trailway, great shopping and some Harbour of the bestEast weather on the east coast. Clarenville has something for everyone. Thornlea Check out our Events Centre Theatre for some great summertime Longour Cove shows. Hike or bike the Town’s many trails, visit expanded Elizabeth Swan Park-the kids will love the splash pad and on Thursday evenings during July and 201 August you can enjoy some Norman’s great live entertainment at “Arts Under the Stars”. On Saturdays, 203 be sure to experience the Clarenville Farm and Market, where Cove Fairhaven you can purchase unique handmade products and locally grown produce from local artisans and farmers.
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You’re invited to join us for Clarenville Days from July Chapel Arm15-21, with special events planned on July 17, it’s a fun-filled week of 80 festivities celebrating our Town! 202
TCH Ea to St. Jo
www.clarenville.ca | 709.466-7937
it’s how we live our
life.
7631644
ift Current
St. Jones Within Hillview Hatchet Cove
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St. Alban the Martyr Anglican Church in Gooseberry Cove has been standing for over 80 years. The wooden structure has a commanding view of the cove, and is the pride of many still living in the community. At the end of the road, Southport often plays host to icebergs in the spring and early summer. The small town was bustling in summer 2009 when Come Home Year celebrations drew many people and their descendants back to their hometown. Hillview, Hatchet Cove and St. Jones Within are your rewards for travelling Route 205. There are some family farms in this area and you can buy fresh produce from roadside stands in season. If you’re itching to swing your clubs, Hatchet Cove is home to Brookside Golf and RV Park, a nine-hole course with plenty of amenities and an RV park, which would require reservations during the busy summer weekends. St. Jones Within is a sheltered cove used as a haven by fishing vessels and pleasure boats. Lore has
Celebrating serving Clarenville and surrounding area for over 40 years!
7785796
Tel: (709) 466-2671 Cell: (709) 427-7474 Email: crsales@clarenvillerealty.com
Adeytown and Deep Bight
Adeytown and Deep Bight are connected via a lesstravelled road that runs parallel to the TCH. Once home to many sawmills, Adeytown and Deep Bight are quiet communities these days. Ask a local for directions to the swimming hole on a warm summer’s day.
Clarenville
Historically this area was actually five small towns in the bottom of Random Sound. As the railway was built and the forestry industry expanded, the towns grew together into what is now known as Clarenville. Shoal Harbour amalgamated in 1994. Clarenville has also been home to a shipyard since 1942. The Splinter Fleet - a fleet of coastal boats built for the coastal trade - took shape here.
YOUR 4-STAR HOTEL IN CLARENVILLE, NL
373 Memorial Drive Clarenville, NL A5A 1R9 Fax: (709) 466-7260
it that pirates also found safe haven here during the 1700s.
BROKER Neil Norcott
www.clarenvillerealty.com 12 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
134 Trans Canada Highway | www.clarenvilleinn.ca 7785798
Reservations: 877-466-7911
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Clarenville has long been an economic hub, and even hosted the very first Trans-Atlantic telephone cable in 1955. A monument to this stands on Cormack Drive. A museum operated by the Clarenville Heritage Society is housed in the old Railway station on Masonic Terrace. It is operated seasonally - you can find more information and directions on their website, www. clarenvilleheritage.ca. Recreation opportunities abound in Clarenville. There are plenty of well-maintained trails to stretch your legs. Take the family for a hike on Bare Mountain for exceptional views of Random Island, and Smith and Random Sounds. The trailhead is behind the Medical Arts building on Manitoba Drive. The Shoal Harbour Causeway Trail connects near the summit, and will take you to a viewpoint overlooking Shoal Harbour. Osprey and Eagles are often spotted from the trail. The Rotary Trail has several access points, from Elizabeth Swan Park and from the Memorial Drive Bridge. This easy walk follows the Lower Shoal Harbour River before meandering through the treed areas of town.
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Aside from the Events Center attractions, New Curtain Theatre offers professional theatrical productions throughout the year. Clarenville also hosts an outdoor evening music series at Elizabeth Swan Park. The series takes place all summer and features the best of local and provincial entertainers. Take the family for a day of relaxation and enjoyment at Elizabeth Swan Park. Bring all the fixings with you for a BBQ lunch and utilize the new cookhouse, the kids can play and have fun at the splash pad and playground. Shoal Harbour abuts Milton; a roadside town where William Epps Cormack embarked on the first crossNewfoundland exploration by a European, with his Native guide Sylvester Joe. It’s also here where you can cross the causeway to Random Island.
Random Island (Route 231)
The Hefferton Causeway was built in 1954, connecting Random Island to mainland Newfoundland. Eleven communities are home to the people of Random Island. Plan at least half a day to explore the island, and more if you plan to do some beachcombing and hiking in Britannia. Random Heights and Elliot’s Cove are the first two communities you’ll pass through. The road forks at Elliot’s Cove to Snook’s Harbour and Aspey Brook, or you can continue on to explore the rest of the island.
George’s Brook, Monroe, Harcourt, Gin Cove and Burgoyne’s Cove
Route 232 branches off the 235 at George’s Brook. This road will take you down Smith Sound as far as Burgoyne’s Cove, where a slate quarry used to ship the blue and purple stone worldwide. PROMOTIONS
Stay & Sail Packages Explore the North East Coast on a half day or full day fishing excursion.
Icebergs of Newfoundland
Seasonal Fishing & Iceberg Guided Tours arranged directly from your room.
262 Memorial Drive, Clarenville
Boat Tour Packages Take a trip with us.
Galley Restaurant
7788106
Serving all Day Breakfast, Jiggs Dinner Thursdays, & Wild Game.
For Reservations Call 1 (800) 205-3993
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Wheelhouse Pub
Open Mic Thursdays, Live Music Fridays & Karaoke Saturdays.
and much more!!!
www.restlandmotel.ca • info@restlandmotel.ca
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A hike leaves Burgoyne’s Cove near the former slate quarry; the trail will take you to the site of a 1953 airplane crash. An American B36 Peacemaker airplane met its tragic end on the hills above the community. All
23 military personnel on board were killed, including Brigadier General Richard Ellsworth. The remains of the airplane are still littered over the hills. The trail, built by the local air cadet squadron, is a short but steep hike. You’ll be rewarded with a view of Smith Sound, as well as a striking propeller monument erected in memory of the deceased.
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Located at the Intersection Route 204/TCH just West of Goobies or 15 Minutes East of Clarenville Tel: (709) 546-2288 Email: Crossroadscrafts@hotmail.com
210 Marine Drive, Clarenville, NL
665
5 FULLY EQUIPPED UNITS
7785800
Look across the water and you’ll see the north side of Random Island, and maybe some seabirds or whales taking advantage of the abundant waters of Smith Sound.
DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 15
A 3 ADVERTISER’S LOCATOR LEGEND Places to Stay • Crossroads Cottages • Intersection of TCH & Route 204 • 709-546-2288 • Clarenville Inn • 1-877-466-7911 • www.clarenvilleinn.ca • Quality Hotel • 709-466-1717 • www.choicehotels.ca/en/quality-hotel-clarenville-hotel-cnb35 • Lakeside at Thorburn •1-877-330-3319 • Restland Motel • 709-466-7636 Places to Eat • Galley Restaurant and Wheelhouse Pub • 709-466-7636 • www.restlandmotel.ca • Stellar Bistro & Lounge • Clarenville Inn • 1-877-466-7911 • www.clarenvilleinn.ca • Dustabella’s Dining Room • Quality Hotel • 1-877-466-1717 Tours • Eastern Edge Boat Tours • 709-466-7636 • www.restlandmotel.ca Places to Shop • Crossroads Crafts & NL Liquor Agency • North West Brook • 709-546-2288 • Mercer’s Marine • 709-466-7430 • Cormack Realty • 709-466-2671/7474 • www.cormackrealty.com • Lakeside at Thorburn • 1-877-330-3319 Places to Stop • Town of Clarenville • 709-466-7937 • www.clarenville.net Golf Resort • Brookside Golf Resort • Hatchet Cove • 1-877-778-2230 / 709-546-2777 • www.brooksidegolf.ca Associations • Clarenville Area Recreation Association • 709-466-7937 • www.clarenville.net/cara/ Trailer Park • Lakeside at Thorburn • 1-877-330-3319 • Brookside RV & Golf Resort • 1-877-778-2230/709-546-2777 • www.brooksidegolf.ca Publications • The Packet Newspaper • Clarenville • 709-466-2243 • www.thepacket.ca Please refer to area map for location reference
16 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
m
New
Tickle Cove Red Cliff Open Hall
Terra Nova National Park
Plate Cove West
Keels Duntara King’s Cove
Blackhead Bay
Cove
235 Stock Cove Knights Plate Cove East Cove
Port Blandford, Musgravetown, 8 Winter Lethbridge, Brook, 6 Charleston and Sweet Bay Plate Cove
d
Clo
d unCannings
o eS
Jamestown
Musgravetown
234
Bloomfield
4
Charleston
Brooklyn
Bunyan’s Cove
Area 4 Port Rexton
Lockston
Trinity
5
230
Morley’s Siding
230
Champney’s English Harbour
Trinity East Dunfield Trouty
New Bonaventure
George’s Brook 232 Barton
Milton Shoal Hr
Lockston Path Provincial Park
Goose Cove
Lethbridge
230
3
Summerville
Princeton Southern Bay
Portland
233
Port Blandford
Sweet Bay
Winter Brook
Cove
Newmans Cove Amherst Cove Little Catalina Upper Amherst 237 Cove Catalina Port Union Melrose
Monroe Waterville Harcourt New Burnt Clifton Cove Gin Cove
area, as there are three registered salmon rivers to Old Bonaventure choose from. You do however need a license to fish for Ireland’s salmon. Eye
Route 233 will take you through Bunyan’s Cove, and past Malcolm Brown Memorial Park in Musgravetown. Lower Lance Cove Britannia The park welcomes overnight campers, as well as a dayRandom Island Here you’ll find more agriculture than commercial Hickman’s Harbour use swimming and picnic area. Deep Bight fishing, as the warm, shelteredLadyarea, which is far from Cove d un Adeytown offer excellent the biting North Atlantic winds, growing St. Jones Random So Tour Cannings Cove, Musgravetown and Bloomfield, as Within Southport conditions. SeveralIvany’s family farmsHatchet inCove the area produce Cove Hillview Gooseberry Cove well as Lethbridge, and Morley’s Siding. Route 234 will North West Butter Cove eggs, dairy andBrook produce that supply grocery stores, Hodge’s Little Heart’s Ease reward you with Brooklyn, Portland, Jamestown and restaurants and, yes, evenQueen’s roadsideLongvegetable Cove Caplin Beach Cove stands. Winter Brook. Random Heights
Aspen Bk Snooks Hr Petley Elliott’s Cove Weybridge Robinson’s Bight 231
Clarenville
205
204
Cove
On the TCH, Port Blandford is where you’ll find the Brooklyn is home to St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Goobie’s Terra Nova Golf Resort (currently not open). It is also Trinity standing since 1879. The William Pye House in Brooklyn Bay Swift Current the gateway to Terra Nova National Park. Winter months and the John Hancock House in Portland are authentic bring many snowmobilers to the area, not to mention examples of late 19th century and early 20th century Sunnyside Come By folks wanting toChance try their luck with a little ice fishing. architecture in the area. Summer months bring fly-fishing enthusiasts to the
Burin Peninsula
2
210
rm
ll A
Bu
Placentia Bay
Arnold’s Cove
Tickle Bay
Southern Harbour
Chance Cove 201
Bellevue Beach
Little Harbour East
Bellevue Thornlea Long Cove
73
201 203
Fairhaven
1
Norman’s Cove Chapel Arm 80 202
Town of
usgravetown
Come visit & enjoy our beautiful
MALCOLM BROWN MEMORIAL PARK A quiet place to camp, fish, swim or just relax! us grav etow n for camping and an There are non-serviced sites excellent play area for children. Seasonal sites and trailer dumping services available. On Route 233 off the Discovery Trail
Cook Outdoors in our Chalet!
709-467-2726
7785802
TCH East to St. John’s
Aspen by the Sea Cottages
COME & ENJOY OUR OCEAN VIEW HOUSEKEEPING COTTAGES, 1 & 2 BEDROOM
62 OCEAN VIEW CRESCENT, BROOKLYN
467-5219
7785844
DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 17
ADVERTISER’S LOCATOR LEGEND Places to Stay • Aspen by the Sea Cottages • 709-467-5219 • By D’Bay Cabins • 709-543-2637 Trailer Park and Fun Park • Malcolm Brown Memorial Park • 709-467-2726 Service Stations • Corner Stop Irving & Kwik Way • Port Blandford • 709-543-2341 Places to Stop • Town of Musgravetown • 709-467-2726 Please refer to area map for location reference
Back on Route 230 heading East, you’ll come to Charleston, a small, picturesque community just off the main route. In 2010, the Barbour Bridge at Charleston was damaged by Hurricane Igor, severing road access to the rest of the Bonavista Peninsula. Take a side trip to Sweet Bay, where the road is built right at the water’s edge. There will be sure to be photographic opportunities along the way, so keep your camera at the ready.
The
Corner Stop
Convenience Store, Gasoline & Diesel, Coffee, Snacks, and Visitor Information. Take Out & Dairy Bar. Located at Port Blandford Intersection just East of Terra Nova National Park
Tel: (709) 543-2341
ATM Machine
Port Blandord
709-543-2637 The most “doggone” pet-friendly cabins in Newfoundland
18 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
7785804
A 4
Discover
GEOLOGY A trip around the Discovery Trail provides you with a unique opportunity to learn about the history of planet Earth. The sea cliffs and barrens around Bonavista Bay expose bedrock formed more than half a billion years ago. It will soon become a designated Geopark. Hiking along the coastal trails allows you a glimpse of nature’s earliest fossil organisms. See relics of ancient volcanoes and witness the results of recent ice ages and the erosive power of the North Atlantic. The bedrock of the Bonavista Peninsula and the adjoining Avalon Isthmus is a truly remarkable, natural phenomenon. Geological events that formed the land began more than 750 million years ago, the result of processes much like those active on Earth today. The rocky hills and spectacular coastal cliffs hold the key to unlocking more than 400 million years of Earth history. A number of unique geological phenomena can be seen around the Discovery Region. Fossilized examples of Earth’s oldest multicellular organisms may be seen in coastal cliffs on the east side of the Bonavista Peninsula. These ancient fossils (protected by provincial laws) are flattened, low-relief impressions in bedrock surfaces. The unique forms were soft-bodied marine organisms that lived 565 million years ago and were buried by volcanic ash as it slowly settled. The ancient beds that formed hardened into rocks that today cover much of the eastern Bonavista Peninsula between Port Rexton and Spillars Cove. The low, rocky cliffs along the coastline between Bonavista and King’s Cove are made of layers of sandstone, more than 550 million years old, in which are large, exceptionally well-preserved fossilized ripples, like those forming on the sea bottom toady. Layer upon layer of red sedimentary rocks of similar ago are exposed in spectacular coastal cliffs between King’s Cove and Keels, west to Tickle Cove and from there to Plate Cove. Visitors to Keels will find white, quartz-rich sandstones that are fossilized remnants of well-washed sandy beaches formed 540 million years ago. The coastline from Plate Cove to Summerville contains layers of sediment that formed more than 600 million years ago in a deep ocean basin. Ancient layers or beds of red sand and conglomerates are prominent around Musgravetown and Port Blandford, formed in rivers and on the slopes of ancient volcanoes that were active at the time. Striking examples of the modern ocean’s erosive power can be seen along the coastline and many hiking trails in the region. In many places, steep coastal inlets, sea stacks and rock arches have been developed along fractures in the rocks. A unique undercutting effect of ocean waves in seen at the Dungeon, a spectacular coastal landform near Bonavista. Over the past 10,000 years, coastal erosion has produced sea caves in ancient bedrock. At the Dungeon, continued erosion has collapsed the cave’s roof. Stop and explore today! Make sure you have your camera ready!
DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 19
Discover HIKING
AREA 2
For more detailed information on trails in Area 2 listed visit: www.townofarnoldscove.ca www.townofsunnysidenl.com www.townofcomebychance. com
Bordeaux Trail During your hike along our famous Bordeaux Trail you can catch a glimpse of the magnificent coastal scenery and historical landmarks. This trail is 4.5 km (12 km return including loops) and is an easy to moderate hike. War Path/ Otter Rub Trail The American Military arrived in 1941 and set up anti-aircraft units and watch towers at this point and this is where the trail got its name. This trail is 1.0 km (2 km return) and is a moderate hike. Old Cabot Highway to Arthur’s Hill This Trail provides walkers and hikers with a special blend of wilderness adventure, outstanding natural beauty, wildlife and history. This trail is 2.0 km (4 km return) and is a moderate hike. Centre Hill Hiking Trail With an elevation of 384 metres, Centre Hill is the highest point in eastern Newfoundland and a great hike. This trail is 5.0 km (10 km return) and is a moderate hike. The trailhead is near the end of the main road in Sunnyside and is well marked. Truce Sound Coastal Hiking Trail A Peace Garden Memorial on the island is dedicated to the Ancients Peoples that once roamed our shores. This trail is 1.5 km (3 km return) and is an easy to moderate hike.
20 DISCOVERY DISCOVERYTRAIL TRAIL| |2019 2019Visitor VisitorGuide Guide 20
Cleary Walking Trail A spectacular view of our salmon river can be seen throughout the first section. This trail is 3.7 km (7.4 km return) and is a medium impact hike.
AREA 3
For more detailed information on trails in Area 3 listed visit: www.townofclarenville.ca Rotary Trail The Rotary Trail is unique as urban trails go. The degree of difficulty is low along both the Lower Shoal Harbour River and Dark Hole Brook but gets more moderate with the higher valley wall but there are steps to help. This is a 5 km loop trail. Bare Mountain Trail This 3 km loop through lush forests punctuated by rocky promontories. The best view of all is at the summit that is 157.2 metres above sea level. Shoal Harbour Causeway Trail This trail boasts two viewing decks overlooking Random Sound. It is an easy to moderate 2.5 km loop + 2 km for Causeway to Bare Mountain. Wellness Trail The Wellness Trail has no designated beginning or end. It is a pleasant wooded 3 km loop walk with exercise stations for those seeking a more strenuous workout. Nut Cove Trail This trail leads you up to the remains of an American B36 Peacemaker plane that crashed in 1953. All 23 airmen died in the crash. There is a monument at the top of Nut Cove Hill in memory of the men that died. It is a moderate to difficult 40 min climb to the top.
on the Discovery Trail
AREA 5
For more detailed information on trails in Area 5/6/7/8 listed visit: www.hikediscovery.com
Skerwink Trail This hiking jewel of the region, is internationally recognized. The trail is a 5.3 km coastal loop. Difficulty level is moderate to difficult. Gun Hill Trail This hiking trail consist of two short trails (Upper and Lower). The upper trail (1 km) takes you to the top of the central point of the Town of Trinity, Gun Hill. The lower trail (2 km) gives you a different view of Trinity. Parts of the trail are a little difficult but well worth the hike. Upper Gun Hill is moderate to difficult and Lower Gun Hill is easy to moderate. Murphy’s Cove-Lodge’s Pond Trail The 7.7 km coastal loop trail will take you through the abandoned community of Murphy’s Cove and overlooks the Green Island Lighthouse. It is a moderate hike. Little Catalina-Maberly Trail Located just south of Elliston, this rugged trail follows the coastline for the most par.t This trail offers stunning coastal scenery with opportunities to view icebergs, seabirds, whales, and a variety of barren-growing plant life. Klondike Trail The hike of 3 km takes you from forest to wetlands, heath lands to sea. Watch for our provincial bird, the Puffin. You may also see whales, kittiwakes and other sea life as well as spectacular coastal scenery. This in an easy to moderate hike. Cape Shore Trail This trail is a 3.5 km hike along the coastline the runs parallel to the main road from the Town of Bonavista to the Cape. This is an easy hike where you will enjoy the rugged coastline, keeping your eyes open for birds and whales (in season). Lighthouse Trail This trail path consists of a 1.7 km inner loop and a 3.5 km outer loop. The trails provide a stunning views of Bonavista Bay. The hike for the inside loop is easy and the outside loop is a moderate level of difficulty. Fox Island Trail This hiking trail is a 5.5 km hike. The trail has beautiful coastal scenery and surrounding communities. It is an easy to moderate hike.
HIKE LOCATIONS
Do you have a love and passion for the outdoors? Well you have certainly come to the right place! The Discovery Trail offers some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the Province. The trails vary in difficulty and in length from an easy 1km jaunt to an advanced 15 km return hike. Check out the websites for each town in each area for a more detailed description of each trail and where you will find the trail head for each of the trails listed below. Use the center Map in the guide to view all of the towns located in each area! Have fun exploring! AREA 1 – Chapel Arm – Chance Cove • Plumby Cove Trail • Lookout Trail • Sea View Trail AREA 2 – Southern Harbour - Goobies • Centre Hill Trail • War Path/Otter rub Trail • Old Cabot Highway to Arthur’s Hill • Truce Sound Coastal Hiking Trail • Cleary Hiking Trail • Bordeaux Hiking Trail AREA 3 – Southwest Arm – Burgoyne’s Cove • Bare Mountain Trail • Rotary Trail • Wellness Trail • Shoal Harbour Causeway Trail • Nut Cove Trail AREA 4 – Port Blandford – Sweet Bay • Terra Nova National Park-14 hiking/biking trails • Eagle Creek Trail AREA 5 – New Bonaventure – English Harbour • Skerwink Trail • Gun Hill Trail • Fox Island Trail AREA 6 – Melrose – Little Catalina • Murphy’s Cove-Lodge’s Pond Trail • Little Cataline-Maberly AREA 7 – Maberly - Bonavista • The Klondike Trail • Cape Shore Trail AREA 8 – Southern Bay – Birchy Cove • King’s Cove Lighthouse Trail • Tickle Cove Pond Trail
DISCOVERYTRAIL TRAIL| |2019 2019Visitor VisitorGuide Guide 21 21 DISCOVERY
Discover BIRD WATCHING In Newfoundland we have more than 225 species of nesting birds. The North Atlantic Ocean provides an ample supply of food while our rugged and rocky coastline provides lots of rocky crooks and crannies for the birds to nest. Take a stroll along any of our many hiking trails in the area and you will have prime viewing for many of these nesting sites. Why not take a boat, zodiac or kayaking tour and get to see many of these sea birds right in their own environments. Sea Birds like Common Tern, Gannets, Guillemots and Murres will amaze you with their diving abilities.
Atlantic Puffin
The Atlantic Puffin was named as Newfoundland’s Provincial bird in 1992. The Puffin nests on the islands and coast near Maberly and Elliston each spring. The puffin site, as it is known locally, is one of the premier places in the world to see these colourful beaked birds. First-time visitors are often surprised by how small the birds really are. Less than 30 cm long, these members of the auk family are better suited to swimming than flying. They live in large colonies and they spend most of the year at sea. They stay on land soles for breeding season. Their iconic brightly coloured, striped beak is only seen in breeding season. When the birds return to the open water, they will shed their colours for more muted shades. Adult puffins are burrowers, digging as much as two meters into the earth to lay their egg. When the chicks emerge, they are easy prey for gulls and other birds. The chicks that do survive take their first flight from the cliff tops down to the sea. The young will spend as many as five years offshore before returning to land to nest.
22 22 DISCOVERY DISCOVERY TRAIL TRAIL || 2019 2019 Visitor Visitor Guide Guide
They find their food underwater, and feast on the plentiful caplin that inhabit our waters each year.
Northern Gannets
Northern Gannets are one of the largest of the seabird family. It feeds mostly on small type fish such as caplin and herring. They dive headfirst into the sea from heights sometimes more than 90 feet. They have a wing span of aprox 60- 70 inches. You will find these birds on rocky cliffs by the sea.
Gray Jay “Whiskey Jack”
The Gray Jay has such a sweet, irresistible face. Which is why it has been recently been named as the National bird of Canada. It is a friendly bird that can rarely been found outside of Canada. They have been known to feed right out of your hand. It is smaller than its cousin the Blue Jay. The colouring is gray and black and white. These birds can be seen in the forest and love the evergreen trees for nesting.
Osprey
Bellevue Beach and Shoal Harbour are both home to a large population of Osprey. This bird of prey feed mainly on fish, and are known locally as fish hawks. Their sharp eyesight affords them a clear view of underwater prey. They can be observed hovering over estuaries and shallow waters, sizing up their meal, before plunging feet-first to snatch a fish with their sharp talons.
Canada Geese
Canada Geese are frequent visitors at sanctuaries located in Port Blandford and Clarenville. They have an average life span of approximately 24 years and can weigh as much as 20 pounds when fully grown. They are a large bird with black heads and necks with white areas on their face. Their bodies are brown. After the goslings hatch like most babies they basically only eat and sleep. They stay with their parents for their first year of life.
Feathered Friends Horned Lark Bald Eagles and other species
There are also plenty of bald eagles in the region, and you’ll be fortunate to catch a glimpse of one soaring over the waves, or perched atop a tree. Common Goldeneyes, Greater Scaups, Sanderlings and Mergansers frequent the shoreline, while a stroll on any of our forested trails may reward you with sightings of, Boreal Chickadee, Pine Grosbeak and warblers.
Common Tern
This bird is a medium sized waterbird. The wings are white with dark tips and they have a long tail with many feathers their bill and feet are bright orange. They are great fishers and can often be seen plunging from high above the sea into the water to catch little fish like caplin.
Common Murre/Guillemot
They are a small songbird with short necks and rounded heads. Their feathers on the top of their heads sometimes breaks into two making them look like horns. This is a very social bird, they can be found in large flocks. They look for small seeds and bugs.
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
These beautiful birds of mixed charcoal grays, bright white and yellow with markings of black travel in huge flocks. They have a very unique chirp that is sharp in pitch.
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owls love open areas. They spend a lot of time over water like the Atlantic Ocean on ice floes. They can weigh up to almost 7 pounds, their wingspan can be somewhere around 120-145 cm. They nest on the ground, paying close attention to an area free from snow for easier access to prey. They breed between May and June and can lay as many as 11 eggs. They feed on mostly small rodents and small mammals.
These birds live in very large colonies. The Murre/Guillemot dives sometimes more than 550 feet for food and can swim underwater for long distances of up to 100 feet. They are however not great fliers. They are not as agile as some of the other sea birds around this area. When the female lays her eggs, they are not laid in nests like most other birds. The eggs laid and incubated directly on the rocky cliffs that they live on.
DISCOVERY DISCOVERY TRAIL TRAIL || 2019 2019 Visitor Visitor Guide Guide 23 23
Attractions and Historical Destinations
ARNOLD’S COVE Drake Heritage House Located on the Main Road in Arnold’s Cove, is open for the summer tourist season from June 24 until Sept. 4. The Drake House was built in the 1890s in Haystack, Placentia Bay. This house was one of those that was floated from the Merasheen Islands to new locations during the Resettlement program of the 1960s, that saw entire communities in isolated areas uprooted and moved to larger centres on the island of Newfoundland. SUNNYSIDE Truce Sound Lookout About one km off the Trans Canada Highway you will find Truce Sound Lookout, a viewing platform, with storyboards, they tell the history of this area. Peace Garden Memorial Unveiled in 2012, the Peace Garden Memorial commemorates the meeting of John Guy and the Beothuk on Nov. 6, 1612. Centre Hill Trail A five-km hike to the highest point of land in Eastern Newfoundland. From the top you can see Trinity, Placentia and Bonavista Bays and part of the Burin Peninsula. COME BY CHANCE War Memorial In honour of Private Alexander Gilbert, killed during the First World War, a memorial was constructed on Jimmy Gilbert’s meadow. In 2009 the memorial was moved and placed next to the Come By Chance Anglican/United Church, where it still stands today.
Bird Estuary The estuary is listed as one of the top 10 bird watching sites in the province.
Salmon River The Come By Chance River is a prime spot for Atlantic salmon. Easily accessible via the Come By chance beach, it is a fast and efficient way to enjoy the art of fly-fishing as well as the enjoyment of the outdoors. CLARENVILLE Marina Sail into beautiful Random Sound and dock at our Marina, located on Marine Drive. The Marina was created thanks to the efforts of the Clarenville Rotary Club. Transatlantic Cable Monument The Transatlantic Cable Monument on Cormack Drive was erected in the summer of 2005 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the landing of the first Transatlantic Telephone Cable connecting North America to Europe. Next to the cable monument are two interpretive signs containing information about early communications history. War Memorial Located on Pleasant Street across from the Town Hall is the War Memorial that honours people from the area who lost their lives in World Wars I, II and the Korean War. Clarenville Heritage Society Museum The museum on Masonic Terraace off Marine Drive is housed in a building that was the former train station. The museum includes a number of collections about Clarenville’s history. Call 709-466-7489 or visit www.clarenvilleheritage.ca for details.
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Canada Goose Sanctuary At the Lower Shoal Harbour River, near Cormack Drive, or near the United Church in Shoal Harbour, just past the ClarenvilleShoal Harbour causeway are great spots to watch or get photos of Canada Geese, ducks and other waterfowl. Wiseman’s Mill Wiseman’s Mill located on Balbo Drive is the site in which four brothers, Gordon, George, Ernest and Alison Wiseman, operated a Saw Log Mill between 1918 and 1949. TRINITY For more information on the historic sites in Trinity that are under the Trinity Historical Society all open mid-May and are open until mid-October. Admission fee is charged and hours of operation are seven days-a-week from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. For more information please email: info@ trinityhistoricalsociety.com or visit our website: www.trinityhistoricalsociety.com. Green Family Forge This site is fully operational as a living history museum. Drop in to see what our blacksmith may be making today and purchase some of his wares. The Cooperage Transportation and storage of fish and other goods was a crucial part of living in outports during the early years. It would be the local cooper’s skilled hands to make casks and tubs for this essential task. Trinity Museum Built in the 1880s in saltbox style by the DeGrish family, the building was acquired by the Trinity Historical Society and used as a museum since 1967.
on the Discovery Trail Lester-Garland House Reconstructed in 1996-97 to the design, structure and architectural details of the house first built in the 1760s and refurbished in 1819, this Georgian style house was the first structure of its kind in the province. Used today as a museum, learning centre and home of the archival collection of the Trinity Historical Society. St. Paul’s Anglican Church Neo-Gothic wooden church built in 1894, featuring arched windows and a tower with a spire in the Gothic Revival architectural style. Self- guided tours. Trinity Mortuary Chapel A wooden, Gothic Revival church built in the 1880s. Deeply pitched gable roof, arched windows, and stained glass memorials in honour of local men who fell in the First World War. Hiscock House Provincial Historic Site The home of Emma Hiscock (circa 1910). Guides in period costumes performing everyday chores. Open daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from late spring to early fall. Call (709) 464-2042. Roman Catholic Church of the Most Holy Trinity Self guided tours of this Wooden, Gothic Revival Style church built in 1833, with tower being added in 1880. Rising Tide Theatre A full season of plays, dinner theatres, and special events produced by Trinity’s professional theatre company. The New Founde Land Historical Pageant and guided walk. Call (709) 464-3232 for show schedules.
PORT UNION The Factory Guided tours offered daily at the Factory, on the Port Union waterfront. Factory open 9 a.m. - 10 p.m., May to September. Call (709) 469-2207.
The Garrick Theatre Located on Church Street, Bonavista. For information on upcoming events at the Garrick, visit their website at garrickboxoffice@aibn.com or call 709468-5777.
The Bungalow The home of Sir William Coaker sits on a hill opposite the Factory. Guided tours of the Bungalow are offered weekdays.
Mockbeggar Plantation Provincial Historic Site 19th century house and grounds which served as a salt fish store, salmon packing house, barter shop, temporary Methodist Church, Salvation Army Corps headquarters, and of course, home residence of Frederick Gordon Bradley. Open daily, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. from late spring to early fall. Call (709) 468-7300.
ELLISTON Sealers Interpretation Centre Home from the Sea: Through interpretation including artifacts, art and multimedia you will experience a sealers world. Call (709) 476-3003 or email info@homefrom thesea. ca or visit the web site homefromthesea.ca. Root Cellars 135 traditional root cellars built into the grassy hills of Elliston. The Bird Island Puffin Festival takes place in this “root cellar capital of the world” in mid-July. James Ryan Shop: A restored shop designed by prominent merchant James Ryan that operated as a mercantile premises from circa 1900 to 1978. BONAVISTA Ryan Premises National Historic of Canada Site This site commemorates the 500 year history of the fishery along the East Coast of Canada. For details, please call (709) 468-1600. Ye Matthew Legacy A magnificent full-scale 65-foot replica of John Cabot’s Matthew. Call (709) 468-1493.
Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site A guided tour of a restored late mid-19th century lighthouse with living quarters furnished and decorated as they would have been in the 1870 period. Open daily, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. from May to October. Call (709) 468-7444. Memorial United Church The largest wooden church in Eastern Canada, constructed in 1918 in the Classical Revival style. The Dungeon On the road between Lance Cove and Bonavista you’ll find one of nature’s carvings - the Dungeon. It is a circular opening in the cliff with two seaward-side channels where the sea roars through. It is approximately 300 feet across and 15 metres deep. Tidal action has created a natural beach. You can swim or go through the channels in a small punt.
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26 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
3
Thorburn Lake
233
Lady Cove Random Sound
Open Hall
Red Cliff
230/235 Junction
5
Old Bonaventure
Ireland’s Eye
New Bonaventure
230
6
235
238
7
Maberly
Elliston 230
Spillar’s Cove
Newmans Cove Amherst Cove Little Catalina Upper Amherst 237 Cove Catalina Port Union Melrose
Birchy Cove
H
Bonavista
Champney’s English Harbour
Port Rexton
8 Trinity East Dunfield Trouty
Trinity
Lockston Goose Cove
Summerville
Princeton Southern Bay
Lockston Path Provincial Park
Plate Cove
Stock Cove Knights Plate Cove East Cove 235
Keels Duntara 235-20 Blackhead King’s Cove Bay
235-19
Tickle Cove
Plate Cove West
Random Island
Charleston
230-14
Sweet Bay
Long Islands
Burgoyne’s Monroe Waterville New Cove Harcourt Burnt Clifton Cove Gin Cove Random Heights Sm Aspen Bk ith Sound Snooks Hr Petley Lower Lance Cove Elliott’s Cove Britannia Weybridge Robinson’s Bight 231 Hickman’s Harbour
Morley’s Siding
Brooklyn
234
Portland
Winter Brook
Jamestown
Lethbridge
George’s Brook 232 Barton
Deep Bight
H
Clarenville
Milton Shoal Hr
230
4
Bloomfield 230
Musgravetown
Cannings Cove
d oun
nd
ou an S
m
New Terra Nova National Park
eS
d
Clo
Bunyan’s Cove
Port Blandford
TCH West to Gander
Bonavista Bay
Cape Bonavista Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Dungeon Provincial Historic Site Provincial Park
Southern Harbour
Arnold’s Cove
rm 203
201
Tickle Bay
S
1
Bellevue Beach
Chance Cove
Sunnyside
Little Harbour East
2
Queen’s Cove
205
Arm
202
Chapel Arm
Norman’s Cove
201
Long Cove
Thornlea
Bellevue
80
73
Gander
St. John’s
201
H
Hospital
Map Concept/Design © Randy Musseau
Route #
National Historic Site
National Park
Airport
Trans Canada Highway
Highway
Community
LEGEND
ISLAND OF NEWFOUNDLAND Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
Grand Bank
Corner Grand FallsWindsor Brook
St. Anthony
Discovery Trail
Port aux Basques
TCH East to St. John’s
Trinity Bay
Southport Gooseberry Cove Butter Cove Hodge’s Little Heart’s Ease 204 Long Beach Cove Caplin Cove
est
w outh
St. Jones Within Hillview Hatchet Cove
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Fairhaven
Goobie’s
Come By Chance
210
Placentia Bay
Woody Island
Swift Current
Burin Peninsula
North West Brook
Ivany’s Cove
Adeytown
Bu
DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 27
Festivals
APRIL TO OCTOBER
The New Curtain Theatre offers a variety of productions throughout the year. Their home is at the former Milton-George’s Brook United Church in Milton; it is a unique performing space and worth a visit. On the first Saturday of each month the Milton-George’s Brook Community Cultural Centre also has Community Market, featuring local and visiting vendors who sell their wares. While you are at the Market stop by the Curtain Call Market Café for a quick bite to eat. For more information please contact – communitylegacyfoundation@gmail.com or call 709-466-7490.
JUNE
Drake Heritage House in Arnold’s Cove opens for the tourist season June 24 to September 4. The craft shop will also be open.
JULY 1 - SEPTEMBER 18
Honouring Our Own WWI exhibit featuring local people who served. Exhibit is in Trinity at the Lester Garland House on the second floor.
JULY 8 - 14
Arnold’s Cove Resettlement Week Arnolds Cove Resettlement Week has many activities that the whole family will enjoy! For more details contact www.townofarnoldscove.ca or call 463-2323.
MAY TO OCTOBER
Music lovers get ready! The Garrick Theatre in Bonavista hosts a music festival each summer called the Saturday Summer Music Series. On Saturday nights, from May to October, the Garrick will stage some of Newfoundland’s finest musicians. It will be a multi-genre festival with music of all types and something for everyone. For more information, call or visit online on Facebook and Twitter. Tickets can be purchased online at www.garricktheatre.ca or contact the box office.
JUNE TO AUGUST
Thursday Nights Clarenville Arts Under the Stars offers free series of entertainment performances on Thursday nights at 7 p.m. at the Elizabeth Swan Park throughout the summer. In case of rain, events are held in the Eastlink Events Centre. Contact Clarenville Town Hall at 709-466-7937.
JUNE TO SEPTEMBER
The Seasons in the Bight Theatre Festival features Rising Tide’s award-winning blend of history, drama, and culture, set amidst the magnificent backdrop of historic Trinity with some of the province’s finest professional artists offstage and on. Box office opens mid-April. T: (709) 464 3232 TF: (888) 464 3377 Email risingtide@nf.aibn. com Website: www.risingtidetheatre.com
• Town of Clarenville - Visit www.clarenville.ca or call 466-7937. • Town of Port Blandford - Visit www. portblandford.com or call 543-2170. • Town of Musgravetown - Contact 467-2726 • Town of Trinity Bay North - Visit www. trinitybaynorth.com or call 469-2571. • Town of Trinity – Visit www.townoftrinity.com or call 464-3836. • Town of Bonavista - Visit www.townofbonavista. com or call 468-7747.
JULY 14 - 21
JULY 1
Memorial Day (Beaumont Hamel) ceremonies at War Memorials in Clarenville and Bonavista and elsewhere in the region. In remembrance of the First Newfoundland Regiment soldiers who fell at the Battle of Beaumont Hamel, France, on July 1, 1916. Services begin at noon in most locations. Check with local Town Halls for details. Canada Commemorates its Birthday with Celebrations • Town of Arnold’s Cove – Visit www. townofarnoldscove.ca or call 463-2323. • Town of Sunnyside - Visit www.sunnysidenl. com or call 472-4506. • Town of Come By Chance - Visit www. townofcomebychance.com or call 542-3240.
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Elliston Bird Island Puffin Festival An event featuring live local entertainment and traditional meals including a Jiggs Dinner cooked with vegetables stored over the winter in a root cellar. The festival also promotes up and coming talent through the Peninsula Idol. Other events include beach barbecue, motorcade and a hike.
JULY 15 - 21 (Clarenville Day is July 17)
Clarenville Days Celebrations Activities will include kitchen party, folk festival, pancake breakfast, fish and brewis, community barbeque, kiddy bike parade, pet show, fireworks, boat parade, dances, games and fun. Activities will be held at various locations in the community along with Fun Day at the Elizabeth Swan Park on Wednesday, Contact the Town of Clarenville at 709-466-7937 or visit their website for the most up to date information www.clarenville.ca
and
DATE - TBD
Events
Port Rexton Festival For details, please contact the town hall at 4642006.
JULY 26 - 29
Bonavista Day Celebrations The schedule is jam-packed! With events for children, seniors and everyone in between, there is something for all ages. The town celebrate this multiple-day event with food, fun, games of chance, a garden party, live entertainment and of course fireworks. Come out and enjoy the celebrations. You will have a chance to visit old friends and to meet new ones. For more information, visit www.townofbonavista.com or call the Town Office at 468-7747.
DATE - TBD
2019 Vista Regional Summer Games Young athletes from Clarenville and surrounding areas will take part in a variety of different sporting events. Possible events are ball hockey, basketball, bowling, track and field and more. Contact the Town of Clarenville at 466-7937 for more information.
AUGUST 9 - 11
Fish and Berry Festival Trinity Bay North hosts their annual community festival. Featuring plenty of things to keep your family entertained! For more information please contact the town at 709-469-2571.
DATE - TBD
Sunnyside Soiree Activities include a traditional dinner and kitchen party, kids events and activities, a dance and a folk festival. To be held at Badger Brook walking track and/or Sunnyside Lions Club. For more information contact the Town office at 709-472-4506.
AUGUST 16
JULY 30 - AUGUST 4
Bonavista, Church Street Festival The Church Street Festival is a cultural event designed to revitalize the main street in Bonavista from Ryan Premises to Swyers Store. Few old main streets have survived in Newfoundland, especially in the outports where they have been left to decay in favor of suburban style development out on the highroads. Watch for daily activities along Church Street during the festival. For more information, call 468-5777 or 468-2880.
The 19th Annual Trinity Historical Society Auction and Garden Party Starts at 2:30 p.m. at the Trinity Museum Garden, Church Road. Handcrafted items available from our Cooperage and Forge; furniture; accommodation, golf and restaurant packages and so much more! For more information contact 709-464-3599 or info@ trinityhistoricalsociety.com
AUGUST 17-18
Trinity Festival Weekend Come join us for a weekend of full of activities and fun – games of chance; beach volleyball tournament; BBQ; horseshoe tournament; live entertainment; dance; walk the plank event and fireworks on Sunday evening at dusk in the historic Town. For more information contact 709-464-3836 or counciltrinity@netscape.net
AUGUST 17 - SEPTEMBER 17
Bonavista Biennale Artworks by 20 Indigenous, Canadian and International artists at 20 indoor and outdoor sites around the Bonavista Peninsula. All sites open daily. Check website for exhibition map and details on workshops and other events. bonavistabiennale.com.
AUGUST. 24 - 25
Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25 - Cultural Craft Weekend, The Factory Interpretation Centre, Port Union For more information check the website - www. culturalcraft.com or culturalcraftplanner@ gmail.com
SEPTEMBER 20 - 21
Elliston Roots, Rants and Roars Festival A regional celebration of the natural gifts of Newfoundland & Labrador Food, Culture, Land and Sea.
*PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME OF THESE DATES AT THE TIME OF PRINT WERE TENTITIVE OR NOT AVAILABLE. For more information please contact the communities for confirmation of dates.
DISCOVERY TRAIL TRAIL || 2019 2019 Visitor Visitor Guide Guide 29 29 DISCOVERY
Discover Taking a cultural tour of Newfoundland’s East Coast is easy. Just set your sights on The Discovery Trail, where arts and cultural experiences abound. On the Discovery Trail there are many little artisan shops, featuring arts and crafts, jewelry, rug hooking and pottery. In Clarenville, the Annual Arts Under the Stars concert series is known for attracting high-caliber performers from across the province. The Thursday night shows are held under open skies in Elizabeth Swan Park and are attended by entire families. Keep an eye out for the posted schedule, and plan to attend you won’t be disappointed. Clarenville also has the Eastlink Events Centre which is host to sporting and cultural events at the stadium and adjacent theatre. New Curtain Theatre Company is located in the Clarenville area and operates out of a number of locations throughout the four towns of Clarenville, Shoal Harbour, Milton and George’s Brook. Now into its 13th year NCT offers high quality professional theatre on a year-round basis, as well as local amateur productions and youth and adult acting camps and studios throughout the year. Its Main Stage shows are presented out of the Eastlink Events Centre with its smaller events like its Harbourside Coffee Houses on the shores of Smith Sound in Milton at The Harbourside Eatery (58 Trinity Drive). Currently the company is preparing to renovate and take occupancy of the
30 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
Old Milton Schoolhouse in 2020 at 80 Trinity Drive in Milton. Check out their FACEBOOK page for more information. In Clarenville visit the Farmer’s Market on the weekend. The market is located off of the TCH by the Clarenville Inn. The Market features many local farmers produce and artisan’s wares. Meanwhile, community and church groups in almost every small town host annual variety shows. You may not catch all the jokes, but you’ll appreciate the humour and enjoy the opportunity to see local undiscovered talent. Rising Tide Theatre is a professional theatre company based in Trinity. The Theatre offers a full catalogue of productions each year. Some of the productions carry on into September. Naturally, the Trinity Pageant offers many tableaus of life in outport Newfoundland before modern conveniences came to our shores and will give you the broadest idea of Newfoundland of yesteryear, but any play by this award-winning company will leave you feeling full of love and emotion for this place. In Trinity and area, for movie buffs, Newfoundland’s stark landscape has served as the backdrop to many silver screen productions. Kevin Spacey and Jullianne Moore starred in The Shipping News, which was filmed in and around Trinity as well as Maudie starring Ethan Hawke and Sally Hawkins.
ARTS & CULTURE
You can visit the set of the film adaptation of Random Passage by Bernice Morgan at New Bonaventure. In 2013, an English remake of The Grand Seduction was filmed in Champney’s. The Grand Seduction featured actors Gordon Pinsent, Taylor Kitsch and Brendan Gleeson and also many locals. As for home-grown culture, people who call the Bonavista Peninsula their home are living it every day. Salt air and hard work are as much a part of life here as you may expect. That is, ever-present and all-encompassing. Bonavista has hosted film crews for everything from documentaries to music videos. Don’t forget your camera! Also in Bonavista, the newly-restored Garrick Theatre is a multipurpose performance space for theatrical productions, as well as hosting dance and speaking tours, and even the latest cinematic blockbuster. Route 235 from Bonavista to Southern Bay is less trodden by tourists, but the arts are thriving here just as well. In Duntara, visit the 2 Rooms Contemporary Art Projects historical saltbox house which was hand built in 1881, it was used originally as a fisherman’s house. The home is now
renovated and used as a gallery and museum. Many more local artists and craftspeople make their homes and art with vistas of the Atlantic Ocean for inspiration. Starting on August 17th, you will be able to view Artworks by 20 Indigenous, Canadian and International artists at 20 indoor and outdoor sites around the Bonavista Peninsula. All sites open daily. Check website for exhibition map and details on workshops and other events. bonavistabiennale.com. Visit the Factory Interpretation Centre in Port Union on August 24th/25th for a Cultural Craft Weekend. For more information on this visit www.culturalcraft.com or email culturalcraftplanner@gmail.com. Try a cup of culture for yourself. A ‘boil up’ is the local term for a picnic. Boil the kettle over a small fire in the woods or down on the landwash and enjoy your cup of tea with only the sound of waves and gulls to keep you company. While you take in the cultural attractions and hike spectacular trails, take the time to read the storyboards to learn about local legends and lore. But best of all, take the time to engage in conversation with the shopkeepers and hikers you meet along the way. You never know when your next inspiration will strike.
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There she Blows! WHALE WATCHING ON THE DISCOVERY TRAIL
The HUMPBACK WHALE is perhaps the region’s most visible whale. These immense mammals return from their breeding and calving grounds in the Caribbean. They are identified by their humped dorsal fin and huge tail, which they display only on deep dives. Did you know the white markings on the humpback whale’s tail are similar to your fingerprint? Each one is unique to that whale, and serves to identify each animal for whale researchers and scientists alike. Their blow, or spray, is balloon-shaped. Scan the horizon for these telltale mists to see a humpback at play.
FIN WHALES are the largest of the whales you’ll spy in
Newfoundland waters. These can measure up to 20 meters in length! They are less demonstrating than the humpback, but you’ll still be most impressed with their sheer size if you are lucky enough to see one.
SPERM WHALES have only recently been recorded in
the area. Shawna and Kris Prince of Sea of Whales Adventures have identified several retuning to the area each year. These are not normally seen from land, as they prefer much deeper waters typically found offshore. However, Bonavista Bay has some deep channels that have made a few Sperm Whales accessible to whale-watching tours.
MINKE WHALES are shy creatures. They will normally steer clear of fishing vessels and tour boats, but these have been spotted in Summerville Arm. And Southern Bay, Just don’t blink! These whales move quite quickly, and only surface for a moment at a time.
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PILOT or POTHEAD WHALES are toothed whales that travel in large groups. It is not unheard of to see 100 or more at once! These used to be very a common sight in Trinity and Bonavista Bays. ORCAS OR KILLER WHALES
Better known on Canada’s West coast, Orcas do live in the North Atlantic as well. It is rare to see a pod of these black and white creatures, but there are generally a few sightings every year by fishermen or tour boats. Maybe you’ll be one of the lucky ones this year!
WHITE BEAKED DOLPHINS, WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS, and HARBOUR PORPOISES
Visitors are often surprised to hear there are dolphins in these cold northern waters, but there are – and many of them at that! It is not unusual to see a superpod of hundreds of dolphins congregate in the fall of the year. White sided dolphins are known locally as squid-hounds for their appetite for squid. Bob from Trinity Eco Tours has had many great encounters with these amazing creatures.
BELUGA WHALES are not habitual inhabitants on Newfoundland’s east coast, but the odd young white whale has been known to wander from their pod and end up around the bays and wharves of the Discovery Trail. If seeing Whales is in your travel plans, there are several Tour Operators in the Area that can help you cross seeing them up close and personal off your “Bucket List”.
Sweet Bay
Summerville
Lockston Path Provincial Park
Princeton Southern Bay
on
Port Rexton Lockston
Trinity
Goose Cove
5
230
Trinity, Goose Cove, Dunfield, Trouty, Old Bonaventure, New Bonaventure, Port Rexton, Trinity East, Champney’s West, Champney’s East, and English Harbour
Champney’s English Harbour
Trinity East Dunfield Trouty
Area 5
New Bonaventure Old Bonaventure
Ireland’s Eye
New Burnt Cove
of interest, including the Lester Garland Premises, the Cooperage, the Green Family Forge, the Court House, Gaol and General Building, Fort Point Military Site and the Trinity Archives and Museum, all owned and operated by the Trinity Historical Society. There’s also the Hiscock House Provincial historic site, as well as the impressive Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Trinity Mortuary Chapel.
Trinity dom Island
ower Lance Cove nia Where to begin?
n’s Harbour
The tiny town of Trinity comes alive in the summer months. Tourists flock to the area, and many people d Soun Randomfrom this Province and beyond have summer residences here. Much of the town has been preserved, and the best Southport Gooseberry Coveit all is on foot. way to see
Equally visible in town is the Rising Tide Theatre Company. This professional troupe offers dozens of productions each summer and fall, including the longrunning New Founde Lande Pageant, a historical jaunt around town with jovial actors and somber scenes highlighting the highs and lows of the early years in Trinity. It, and Rising Tide’s other impressive offerings, are not to be missed.
Butter Cove Little Heart’s Ease The Trinity n
Historical Society will celebrate its 55th Anniversary in 2019, and the work they’ve done over five decades is admirable.
Trinity Bay Experience the Historic Charm,
The colourful town is home to several historic points
ExpEriEncE culturE and History
Heritage & Hospitality of Trinity.
Trinity Historical Society P.O. Box 42 CouncilTrinity@netscape.net Trinity, NL www.townoftrinity.com A0C 2S0 (709) 464-3836
7785805
Discover the Trinity Experience www.trinityhistoricalsociety.com 709•464•3599
7785806
ue
ornlea Long Cove
73
man’s
Trinity, NL
Fresh Seafood • Traditional Dishes • Casual Cusine Newfoundland Art & Photograhs • Quality Handicrafts Sails, Whales, Birds & Bergs
Chapel Arm 80
dockmarina@hotmail.com • www.dockmarina.com
TCH East to St. John’s
7785820
709-464-2133 • 709-464-2596 (off season)
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A popular tourism hub, this is the place to seek out whale watching tours, sea kayaking adventures, and guided walks around town, as well as quaint shops offering lots of homemade Newfoundland treasures for sale. The movie “Maudie” starring Ethan Hawke and Sally Hawkins was partially filmed in Trinity and other small communities in the area. If you have seen the movie you will have to watch it again to see if you can spot the areas used for filming.
Goose Cove, Dunfield, Trouty, Old Bonaventure & New Bonaventure
Route 239 continues through the communities of Goose Cove, Dunfield, Trouty, Old Bonaventure and New Bonaventure. This area was hit hard by Hurricane Igor in 2010, and debris and rock that were carried downstream by rushing floodwaters are still visible in the area, particularly in Trouty. Dunfield’s Admiral’s Fort Point was integral to the defense of Trinity in the 1700s. The gravel road to the point has some sharp turns and steep inclines, but is worth it for a step back in time to early military operations in Newfoundland.
Filming of the movie “The Grand Seduction,” took place in this area in the summer of 2012. Scenes were shot in a number of small communities in the area of Trinity Bight such as Champney’s, Bonaventure and English Harbour. One of the many scenes from the movie took place at “Joes Place” which is bar that was constructed for the film and then gifted to the community. “Joes Place” is located in the community of New Bonaventure, stop by for a great photo opportunity! The Grand Seduction cast included renowned Newfoundland actors Gordon Pinsent, Cathy Jones, and Mark Critch. Taylor Kitsch (star of the Hollywood film Battleship) and Irish actor Brendan Gleeson were also big names on the cast as well as a number of locally talented actors. The film is a remake of the successful 2003 Quebec film “Seducing Doctor Lewis” better known by the original French title “La Grande Séduction”. This movie sees Pinsent playing the role of an old timer in a dying small town. Together with the mayor, played by Brendan Gleeson, and the bank manager, played by Mark Critch, the trio, with the assistance of the town’s people, hatch a plan to seduce a young doctor into living there permanently. The kicker? If they fail to secure a resident doctor, an oil and gas corporation will choose another town to set up shop, all but eliminating any hope the town has of salvation and economic independence. In total Fifty-one crewmembers were hired from the Province, with 70 local extras also
A professional theatre company celebrating our 40th season
SEASONS
2019 IN THE BIGHT Trinity
Newfoundland & Labrador
7785814
An award-winning blend of drama, history and culture, performed in one of the province’s most captivating settings.
34 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
Toll-free: 1-888-464-3377 Local (709) 464-3232
risingtidetheatre.com
A 5
being called on to fill background roles. The film made its debut at the Toronto Film Festival in 2013. New Bonaventure also boasts the Random Passage Film Site. Constructed in 2000 for the mini-series based on Bernice Morgan’s book of the same name, the site is now a tourist attraction for visitors to learn what life was like on these shores in the early 1800s. The Admission area for the site is housed in the original school building that would have been built to serve New Bonaventure and the now abandoned communities of Kerley’s Harbour, White Point and George’s Cove. There is also a Tea Room offering homemade delicacies. A six-kilometer hike leaves from the Random Passage site to British Harbour, another community that was resettled in the 1960s. The first two kilometers are
relatively easy, and bring you to Kerley’s Harbour. The next four kilometers to British Harbour are a little more difficult. Be sure to come prepared and bring extra bug repellant as the trail passes through thick forest at times.
Port Rexton and Trinity East
From Trinity, you certainly notice the community across the water. That’s Trinity East, and it’s here you’ll find the trailhead for the world-renowned Skerwink Trail. The five-km trail loops around the headland between Trinity East and Port Rexton. You could see seabirds, eagles, whales, sea stacks and icebergs, depending on the season. You’re sure to meet like-minded visitors and locals alike on this well-maintained and well-marked trail. New Bonaventure, Trinity Bay (Route 239)
MID MAY TO MID OCTOBER DAILY TOURS 10:00 AM & 2:00 PM 7785845
Adults $90.00 including HST 16 yrs and under $60.00 including HST Tel: 709-464-3856 709-464-7131 and 709-464-7129 bruce@ruggedbeautyboattours.net www.ruggedbeautyboattours.net
Journey to resettled communities of Kerley’s Harbour, Ireland’s Eye and British Harbour. Hear stories of the past and see old photos. Possible sightings of eagles, seabirds, whales, waterfalls & icebergs. 7787612
• Spacious fully equipped modern accommodations • Minutes from Rising Tide Theatre & historic sites • Hike Skerwink Trail from our door • Short walk to Port Rexton Brewery
ocean view dining 4.5 star rooms and suites 877.464.3240 www.fishersloft.com
7785810
Now offeriNg oNliNe BookiNgs www.sherwoodsuites.com • 1-877-464-2133
7785809
Your Home Your Home Away From HomeHome Away From
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Trinity East and Port Rexton are welcoming towns that enjoy many visitors thanks to the nearby draw of Trinity. The other attraction is Lockston Path Provincial Park, just a short distance on the graveled Route 236. The Provincial park day use area is nice for swimming and picnicking, and also offers a 2-km trail well suited for families.
Champney’s West, Champney’s East, and English Harbour
Fox Island Trail is less popular than the Skerwink trail, but equally rewarding. It hugs the shoreline in Champney’s West, where you’ll see the same jawdropping beauty you’ve become accustomed to but never grown tired of.
At Fox Island (not really an island, but a large headland attached to the mainland by a rocky isthmus) you can scramble up a steep incline and enjoy the view of Trinity Bight from above. The pond at the base of the climb is home to otters, and you may spy other wildlife such as foxes and birds along the trail. English Harbour is home to the English Harbour Arts Association, housed in the historic All Saints Anglican Church. The wooden structure built in 1889 casts an impressive eye over the town and bay. You can also leave town on foot and walk the five-km old road to the Horse Chops, a dominate headline in Trinity Bay.
@hikediscovery
The Eriksen Premises Our restaurant features a relaxed atmosphere serving Traditional cuisine • Catering to special dietary needs upon request • Gift shop featuring Newfoundland crafts, art & jewellery
4-Star ★★★★ Accomodations 36 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
709-464-3698 or 709-464-7524 www.newfoundlandexperience.com
7785819
709-464-2006 www.townofportrexton.com
7785811
Rural living at it’s finest 7785815
Gun Hill Trail - Trinity Klondike Trail - Elliston Cape Shore Trail - Bonavista Lighthouse Trail - King’s Cove Fox Island Trail - Champney’s West Skerwink Trail - Port Rexton/Trinity East Murphy’s Cove to Lodge’s Pond Trail - Port Union Little Catalina to Maberly Trail
an awesome artisan gift gallery featuring
local art, handmade jewelry & awesome stuff offering art & craft workshops Find us off Route 230 nestled in the cove on Clinch Lane, Trinity www.elizabethburry.com
709-697-1061 7788223
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ADVERTISER’S LOCATOR LEGEND Places to Stay • Fishers’ Loft Inn • Port Rexton • 1-877-464-3240 • www.fishersloft.com • enquiries@fishersloft.com • Sherwood Suites & Motel • Port Rexton • 1-877-464-2133 • www.sherwoodsuites.com • Erikson Premise • 709-464-3698 • www.newfoundlandexperience.com • Trinity Eco Tours Home • 709-464-3712 • www.trinityecotours.com • Artisan Inn • Trinity • 709-464-3377 • www.trinityvacations.com Places to Eat • Dock Marina Restaurant • Trinity • 709-464-2133 • www.dockmarina.com • Sweet Rock Ice Cream Shop • www.sweetrockicecream.ca • Fishers’ Loft Inn • Port Rexton • 1-877-464-3240 • www.fishersloft.com • enquiries@fishersloft.com • Sophia’s Casual Dining • 709-464-3698 • Twine Loft Dining • Trinity • 709-464-3377 • www.trinityvacations.com Theatre • Rising Tide Theatre • Trinity • 1-888-464-3377 • www.risingtidetheatre.com • risingtide@nf.aibn.com Tours • Atlantic Adventures • Trinity • 709-464-2133 • www.atlanticadventures.com • Sea of Whales • Trinity • 709-464-2200 / 427-1217 • www.seaofwhales.com • Trinity Eco-Tours • 10 Main Road • Trinity • 709-427-6788 • www.trinityeco-tours.com • bartlett60@hotmail.com • Operating May 15 to Oct 15
•
Rugged Beauty Boat Tours • 709-464-3856 • www.ruggedbeautyboattours.net
Places to Shop • • • • •
Mirabella by Elizabeth Burry Studios • 709-697-1061 • www.elizabethburry.com Aunt Sarah’s Chocolate Shop • 709-436-2015 • www.auntsarahschocolate.ca Dock Marina Gallery • Trinity • 709-464-2133 • www.dockmarina.com Fishers’ Loft Inn • Port Rexton • 1-877-464-3240 • www.fishersloft.com • enquiries@fishersloft.com Erikson Premise • 709-464-3698
Places to Stop • • •
Town of Port Rexton • 709-464-2006 Town of Trinity • 709-464-3836 Town Historical Society • www.trinityhistoricalsociety.com
Please refer to area map for location reference
HOMESTYLE CHOCOLATES & SWEETS IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC TRINITY
Open 7 days per week
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7 DOCK LANE TRINITY
ve
Blackhead Bay
Cove
k Knights Cove
8
Newmans Cove Amherst Cove Little Catalina Upper Amherst 237 Cove Catalina Port Union Melrose
6
Port Rexton
230
Port Union, Melrose, Catalina and Little Catalina
Area 6
on dark rocks even on seemingly calm days. Winter storms here are spectacular, with ocean spray flying over the roads. It’s a picturesque community on fine summer days.
Champney’s English Harbour Port Union, Catalina and Melrose amalgamated under one municipality, Trinity Bay North, in 2005. Little Trinity East unfield Catalina joined several years later. The region has struggled under difficult economic times in recent uty years, with the decline of the commercial cod and seal fisheries. A shrimp plant, operated by Ocean Choice International, was heavily damaged by Hurricane Igor in 2010 and the company decided to shut down that venture location for good less than a year later.
Port Union’s claim to fame is being North America’s only Union-Built town.
All the same, the area has a thriving community spirit and several claims to fame.
The Sir William Ford Coaker Heritage Foundation has been steadily working to restore the original site of the plant and company houses, as well as Coaker’s residence, The Bungalow.
The coastline of Melrose is unique, with waves crashing
Sir William Coaker was the driving force behind the Fisherman’s Protective Union (FPU). He spearheaded the union, garnering support for the FPU up and down Newfoundland’s east coast in the early 1900s. The town was founded in 1916, where the union’s trading company, salt fish plant and electric company were headquartered.
Enjoy coastal vistas &
geological treasures in our historic communities
Tour our fishing community with rugged shoreline, Melrose
• Hike Murphy’s Cove to Lodge’s Pond Trail • Hike Little Catalina to Maberly Trail • Visit Port Union National Historic District Only Union Built Town in North America
Have questions? Stop in at the Visitor Information Centre at The Women’s Institute Craft Shop located on Route 230 between Melrose and Port Union
7785821
MELROSE, PORT UNION, CATALINA, AND LITTLE CATALINA Municipality of Trinity Bay North P. O. Box 91 Port Union, NL A0C 2J0 Ph: (709)469-2571 • Fax: (709)469-3444 Web: www.trinitybaynorth.com
Swim glacier created Look Out Pond, Catalina
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Tour the historic street as well as the Factory for more on the fascinating history of this unique town and its founder. The Factory building was also home to the Fisherman’s Advocate newspaper and printing press. During its peak in 1913, the Fisherman’s Advocate had a daily circulation of 11,000! The old town site of Port Union holds the distinction of being both a National Historic District and Provincial Heritage District. Not far from the site, you’ll find the Murphy’s Cove – Lodge’s Pond trail. This eight-km loop is a fairly easy hike and offers typical scenery from the area. Along the way you will pass through the abandoned settlement of Murphy’s Cove. The Port Union Women’s Institute has a craft store in a small log-building when you first enter town. You’ll find locally-stitched quilts and other textile goods here. The sheltered harbour at Catalina has been a port for vessels travelling the east coast for centuries. The first public library outside of St. John’s opened here in 1937. You can learn more about the history of the area and early settlers’ life with a visit to Arch’s Dream Museum, Visit the Port Union National Historic District of Canada Canada’s only union built town. Visit the restored Factory Building, once home of “The Fisherman’s Advocate” newspaper.
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Immerse yourself in the history as you step back in time to explore the legacy of Sir William Ford Coaker and the Fishermen’s Protective Union. Enjoy the sea air as you take a picnic lunch and stroll leisurely around the Shipyard Park.
Sir William F. Coaker Heritage Foundation Tel. (709) 469-2207 • Fax. (709) 469-2509 40 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
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housed in the original two-room school. A short jaunt to Little Catalina and you’ll find yourself in another picturesque fishing village. The 17-km Little Catalina to Maberly coastal trail begins at the end of the road. The trail was formerly well travelled by locals who would go berry-picking and hunting along the coast. It is a lengthy hike so be sure to pack sufficient supplies for a day on the trail, and arrange transportation to or from the trailhead as this trail does not loop.
ADVERTISER’S LOCATOR LEGEND Attractions • Sir William F. Coaker Heritage Foundation • The
Factory Port Union National Historic District of Canada • 709-469-2207 • www.historicportunion.com
Places to Stop • Municipality of Trinity Bay North •
709-469-2571 • www.trinitybaynorth.com
Please refer to area map for location reference
Crafting
A PART OF OUR HISTORY Crafting is part of the history and culture of Newfoundland and Labrador, and as you travel along The Discovery Trail you will find many talented artisans from a variety crafting skills and genres. This province is known particularly for many varied types of arts and crafts. The artists who create these items may use different mediums for their crafts, but they all have one thing in common, passion. Depending on which community, craft shop or museum you visit on your travels, you could meet a rug hooker, a cooper, painter, spinner, sculptor, blacksmith, quilter, potter, soaper or a jewellery designer. The many talented artists in this area, use a variety of mediums for their craft, ranging from: wood, seal skin, beach glass, iceberg water, clay, locally
grown plants to hand dyed wool. Some artisans even offer art & craft workshops that you could take part in during your travels. Don’t be afraid to engage them in a conversation about their life’s passion. You never know you just might learn a few new tricks or skills. After all there’s more to a craft than just a simple knickknack to be taken home and forgotten about. These items are unique and are crafted as a labour of love by a talented local artist just for you. You will bring these lovingly created items of beauty back home to cherish for years to come. Looking at them will remind you of your wonderful vacation on the Discovery Trail.
DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 41
The 1914
SEALING DISASTER
The Newfoundland and Labrador seal fishery was a lucrative industry but also a very dangerous one. In the Spring of 1914 that danger turned to disaster for the Sealing Ships, SS Newfoundland and the SS Southern Cross.
The captain of each ship made the grievous error of assuming the men were safely aboard the other ship when the storm blew in. They were both wrong.
T
This bronze statue (see image) at Porter’s Point in Elliston was sculpted by Newfoundland artist Morgan MacDonald, and profoundly captures the images of a father and son as they lived out their final moments.
At that time there ships did not have wireless communication and neither captain realized the peril the men were in. The 132 men and boys, some as young as 16 who were on their first trip to the ice, got lost in the blizzard for 48 hours.
or ts he ne
Reuben Crewe had never intended to go to the ice that year. After years of heading out for swiling for the Spring, he had decided it was time to retire. But when his son, Albert John, who was just 16, announced he was going on his first ‘swiling’ expedition, the father decided it best to go along to look after his boy.
By the time they were discovered, 78 of them had perished, dead from hypothermia. Some of them had fallen into the sea and their bodies were never recovered. The ones who survived were just barely alive. They escaped death by huddling together for warmth, continually moving around to keep their blood circulating.
The Crewes were among the 166 men- many of them from the Elliston and Bonavista area - who left got off the SS Newfoundland on March 30, 1914, to head to the SS Stephano seven miles away to harvest seals.
Meanwhile, that same Spring, the SS Southern Cross went down as the ship was making its way back to home port in Newfoundland, after hunting seals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. One hundred and 73 men were lost with her, many of them from the Conception Bay area. Their families, like the families of Elliston and Bonavista, felt the impact of that loss for years afterwards.
A winter storm blew in and 34 of the men decided to turn back, while the other 132 continued on. The captain of the Stephano, Abe Kean, told the men to harvest 1,500 seals before returning to the SS Newfoundland, captained by Kean’s son, Wes. As recounted in her novel Death on the Ice, Newfoundland author Cassie Brown wrote that the men were given a lunch on the Stephano and then sent ‘over the side’ again to hunt seals and make their way back to the SS Newfoundland.
The Sealing Disaster is a story that has remained ingrained in the minds of the Newfoundland people for 100 years. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of a lot of people - from Elliston and further afield - there is now a museum in the seaside community to memorialize those lives lost and the way of life that was a reality a century ago. Moving forward by Moving forward by PAST EMBRACING OUR EMBRACING OUR PAST Moving forward by As a museum, ar t gallery and space for As a museum, ar t gallery and space for ref lection, the Centre is unique in its EMBRACING OUR PAST ref lection, the sealers. Centre isDiscover unique inthe its singular focus on singular focus on sealers. Discover the
As museum, ar t that gallery and space for livesa lives and work that have helped define and work have helped define ref lection, the Centre is unique in its us as people. us as people. singular focus on sealers. Discover the lives and work that have helped define us as people.
- OCTOBER by Moving Route 238, MAY MAY - forward OCTOBER Route 238, 9:00am - 5:30pm Elliston 9:00am - 5:30pm Elliston EMBRACING OUR PAST
- OCTOBER Route As a MAY museum, ar t galler y and238, space for 9:00amthe - 5:30pm ref lection, CentreElliston is unique in its singular focus on sealers. Discover the lives and work that have helped define us as people.
7785824
homefromthesea.ca 709.476.3003
MAY - OCTOBER 9:00am - 5:30pm
Route 238, Elliston 6564604
6564604
42 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 6564604
“One of Newfoundland’s most compelling human dramas”
homefromthesea.ca 709.476.3003
homefromthesea.ca 709.476.3003 homefromthesea.ca 709.476.3003
e
Cape Bonavista Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Dungeon Provincial Historic Site Provincial Park
Bonavista
7
Blackhead Bay
Birchy Cove
235
Elliston, Maberly, Bonavista and Cape Bonavista
Spillar’s Cove
Area 7
Elliston 230
Maberly 238
Newmans Cove Amherst Cove Little Catalina Upper Amherst 237 Cove Knights Catalina Cove Port Union Maberly and Elliston Melrose
or a camera equipped with a zoom lens for optimal viewing. If the site is quiet, you may be fortunate enough to have puffins strut within a few feet of you.
This region of the Discovery Trail is packed with sights and activities. Let’s begin in Maberly and Elliston, home to the world’s most accessible Atlantic Puffin breeding site.
Sandy Cove Beach is not far from the puffin site. As the name suggests, the sandy beach is a welcome spot for a picnic lunch, or a bit of beachcombing. The Elliston Municipal Park is a stone’s throw away. Each July the park is the setting for the annual Bird Island Puffin Festival. The music and entertainment is top notch, and the crowd is out for a good time. Be sure to get a taste of a Jiggs Dinner, served up each day during the festival.
230 These birds nest on the islands just offshore, but they are so close the birds and their young are easily Champney’s seen with the naked eye. Bring a pair of binoculars
Elliston is also the Root Cellar Capital of the World. There are hundreds of cellars around town, many of which are still in use today.
The Tip of the Peninsula
8
6
Port Rexton
English Harbour
Trinity East nfield y
nture
Root Cellar Ca
Elliston Bird Island Puffin Festival July 14 - 21, 2019 • One of the Closest Land’s View of Puffins • Visitor Information Centre • Elliston Adventure Craft & Gift Store • Hiking Trails • Sandy Beach • Municipal Park
Elliston Roots, Rants and Roars Fall Festival
September 20 - 21, 2019 For More Information, please contact Tourism Elliston Inc. Tel: (709) 468-7080 Fax: (709) 468-5837 Email: rootcellars@persona.ca or visit our website at: www.rootcellars.ca
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F ELLISTON THE TOWN O ! pital of the World
DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 43
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Some of cellars are nearing 200 years old. They are a great example of early engineering and food security, as this was where families would store their garden goods like potatoes, carrots and beets for the winter. Elliston has some unique geological features as well. Elliston Ridge is thought to have been ice-free during the most recent ice age. The result is Felsenmeer, or sea of rocks – a massive jumble of shattered boulders created by the freezing temperatures. The ridge is accessible via Mark’s Path Trail or the Elliston Ridge Trail, two trails remnant of the US Military presence here during the Cold War. Elliston is home to the Sealing Disaster memorial. The 1914 sealing disaster claimed the lives of 78 men stranded on the ice during a vicious winter blizzard. Another 173 men went down with their sealing ship, the SS Southern Crossing that same season. It was a tragic loss of life for many Newfoundland communities. Elliston worked for many years to build a monument to these lost lives. Eight of the men who perished were from this community, though many
Lancaster Inn B&B
other towns in Newfoundland felt the loss acutely. The interpretation centre opened and the monument was unveiled in 2014. The fall features a very unique festival to the area “Root’s Rant’s and Roars”. If you are a foodie then you won’t want to miss this stop. The weekend long event sees hundreds of visitors each year. You will Hike, Eat and party like a true Newfoundlander! Due to the overwhelming demand you will want to purchase your tickets and accommodations early because tickets always sell out fast!
Bonavista
It’s here where John Cabot is thought to have first spied land in the New World during his 1497 voyage from Britain. His account of abundant cod stocks enticed centuries of settlers from England and Ireland to come fish in the summer. Bonavista is the best place in Newfoundland to see the evolution of this international industry. The Ryan Premises National Historic Site of Canada is the place Enjoy Bonavista’s newest and most modern B&B. Five bedrooms, all with ensuite, one with Jacuzzi and fireplace, queen size beds, luxury linens, cable tv/dvd players, iron & ironing board and sitting area in all rooms. Wireless internet services available. Hot breakfast with homemade breads & jams. • Open year round • • Non-smoking; no pets •
219 Confederation Drive
(first B&B as you enter Bonavista on Route 230) 7785827
44 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
Call: 709-468-5656 or Email: lancasterinn@bellaliant.com
www.lancasterinn.ca
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to learn about the salt fish trade and the merchants who dominated the landscape in Bonavista and surrounding areas for centuries. The Mockbeggar Plantation is another opportunity to immerse yourself in history. The original fish store (a place for storing salt fish) was built around 1733. If walls could talk, that building, standing now for almost 300 years, would surely have stories to tell. It was home to F. Gordon Bradley, one of the people who worked alongside Joey Smallwood to bring this Province into the Canadian Federation. The Bonavista Historic Townscape Foundation has done a lot of great work encouraging and maintaining restoration in the town. Church Street is lined with period structures that have been lovingly restored to their former residential or mercantile glory. The restored structures now house new businesses bringing new life to what was once a sad lifeless street. The Garrick Theatre is a relatively modern addition, built in 1945. Home to a cinema and multi-purpose theatre, The Garrick has many entertainment offerings throughout the year. It is now owned and operated by the Bonavista Historic Townscape Foundation.
Follow Route 230 all the way to the end, and you’ll find yourself at Cape Bonavista, home to the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse. The Provincial Historic Site is a must-see. The original lamp, first lit in 1843, used seal oil as fuel. Learn about lightkeepers’ lives and the important and difficult job they had. Guided tours are available. You may also see puffins, whales and icebergs, in season. It truly is not to be missed. Branch off the main road and follow the signs to The Dungeon, a massive collapsed sea cave formed by relentless wave action of the North Atlantic. There are information panels and a viewing deck. The geology here has to be seen to be believed.
Nanny’s Root Cellar Kitchen Traditional Newfoundland Cuisine
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A short walk from the Garrick you’ll find the Matthew Legacy site, which houses a full scale replica of The Matthew, the vessel that first brought John Cabot and his crew to Bonavista.
Cape Bonavista
The Orange Hall, Elliston (709) 468-5050 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 45
ADVERTISER’S LOCATOR LEGEND Places to Stay •
Lancaster Inn • 219 Confederation Dr, Bonavista • 709-468-5656 • www.lancasterinn.ca • lancasterinn@bellaliant.com
Places to Shop • Elliston Adventure Craft Store • Elliston • 709-468-7080• www.rootcellars.ca • Sweet Rock Ice Cream • 709-476-2333 • www.sweetrockicecream.ca Tours • Discovery Sea Adventures • 709-470-0322 • www.discoveryseaadventuretours.com Places to Eat •
Baie Vista Restaurant • 11 Campbell St, Bonavista • 709-468-5600 • www.lancasterinn.ca • lancasterinn@bellaliant.com
• Nanny’s Root Cellar Kitchen • 709-468-5050 • Sweet Rock Ice Cream • 709-476-2333 • www.sweetrockicecream.ca Attractions • •
Garrick Theatre • Church St, Bonavista • 709-468-5577 • www.garricktheatre.ca • garrickboxoffice@aibn.com Home from the Sea Sealers Interpretation Centre • 709-476-3003 • info@homefromthesea.ca • www.homefromthesea.ca
Places to Stop • Town of Elliston • 709-468-2649 • www.rootcellars.ca • Town of Bonavista • 709-468-7747 • www.townofbonavista.com Please refer to area map for location reference
Discovery Sea Adventures Bonavista, NL
709.470.0322 | info@dsatours.com www.discoveryseaadventuretours.com 46 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
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Newfoundland and Labrador FUN FACTS • The official name for our Province is Newfoundland and Labrador • We actually have our own time zone – we are 90 minutes ahead of ET and 30 minutes ahead of AT • St. John’s is in fact the oldest city in North America • Water Street in St. John’s is the oldest street in North America • The most Easterly point in North America is Cape Spear, which is about a 20 minute drive from downtown St. John’s • Newfoundland and Labrador has a total area in KM of 405,250. We are of comparable size to the state of California, USA and are ranked 10th in Canada in size. • The island of Newfoundland does not have the following - groundhogs, porcupines, deer, skunks or snakes – we do have plenty of Moose and Caribou – beware of them while driving. • There are approximately 30 different varieties of marine mammals in the waters surrounding the island of Newfoundland and Labrador • The Discovery Trail is approximately 355km in total • Our stunning coastline is approximately 28,900 km in size. • The capital city is St. John’s • Our Provincial bird is the Atlantic Puffin (see top pic). This stunning bird is a joy to watch and you can do this in many locations on the Discovery Trail. • Population of Newfoundland and Labrador as of the census from April, 2016 was 528,448. • Newfoundland and Labrador was the 10th Province to join Confederation and that happened in 1949. Joseph “Joey” Smallwood became the first premier of the Province. • We do have an official dog breed – The Newfoundland Dog (see middle pic). • Our Provincial Flower is the Pitcher Plant. This beautiful flower has a wax like texture to its petals, is green and deep wine in colour and can be found mostly in boggy, marshy ground areas. (see right) • Official game bird is the partridge. There are two different species found on the island. The Rock and the Willow Ptarmigan. They can be found in open, barren back country. • English is the primary language spoken here however there are more variations of English spoken here than any other place in the world. The sheer volume of dialects will leave you mind boggled. It isn’t only the dialects you will need to worry about, but also the different phrases and words/ wording that is used.
DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 47
Dancing Shoes
DO YOU HAVE YOUR
READY???
There is no doubt about it, music is born in us. However not all of us have the talents required to take the stage in front of hundreds of concert goers or to cut an album, but that doesn’t take away the enjoyment we garner from the simply pleasure of listening or singing along to music. At every gathering where music is present, whether it be at a local community festival, outdoor concert or a kitchen party, even if we don’t admit it for fear of being embarrassed by our lack of talent or abilities at keeping proper time, we are secretly all musicians at heart. We all at some time or another have crooned along with our talented guitarist friends or family around a camp fire. We are feet stompers and hand clappers keeping time to the strains of the accordion, the beat of the *bobhran or the jingling of an *ugly stick. Throw a fiddle in the mix, strumming out a Newfoundland jig and you can be guaranteed we’ll be up on our feet quicker than two shakes of a lamb’s tale looking for a partner to get on the dance floor with. Now us Newfoundlanders sure have a long history of music. We’ve used it to tell our stories for generations. Whether it be the story of the Bonavista tidal wave told in “Great Big Sea’s Hove in ‘Long Beach” or the story of boatbuilding traditions with ‘Luckey’s Boat.” It is and always will be in the background of our life, you can hear a certain song and draw upon a specific memory for it, where you were when you first heard it or who you danced to it with the first time. Music is a part of our spirited celebrations, with the lively rhythms being played in many community halls, kitchens or sheds across this beautiful Province. The foot stomping and sing alongs often continue until the wee hours of early morning! Folks will start to walk home from their local community halls where they started the party, only to on a last minute whim because someone reluctantly decided they didn’t want the party to end, suggest that everyone resume it in someone’s kitchen or shed. We enjoy clinging to the enjoyment of a good party and never want the memories being created to end. In your trek across the Discovery Trail, here’s hoping that you get to experience music in the presence of some our very talented music makers! Music makes people happy! So don’t let your lack of so called talent stop you! Keep singing and clapping along even if that means you miss a few beats or have to fake a few words along the way! • BODHRÁN – is a Irish Frame Drum used frequently in Newfoundland Music, since a lot of Newfoundland Folk Music is Irish based (see photo) • UGLY STICK – is a Traditional Newfoundland musical instrument homemade out of a broom handle, old shoe or boot with other household items such as bottle caps, bells or tin cans nailed to it. It is fashioned into a crazy looking thing hence the reason for its funny name! (see photo) 48 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
Bay
nd
Sou
Long Islands
Bonavista
7
Keels Tickle Cove Duntara King’s Cove Red Cliff Open Hall Plate Cove West
235 Stock Cove Knights Plate Cove East Cove
Plate Cove
mestown Sweet Bay
Winter Brook
Summerville
Lockston Path Provincial Park
Princeton Southern Bay
Charleston
Blackhead Bay
Birchy Cove
8
Port Rexton Lockston
Trinity
Goose Cove
5
235
Spillar’s Cove Elliston 230
Maberly 238
King’s Cove, Open Hall, Red Cliff, Tickle Cove, Plate Cove East, Plate Cove West, Keels, Duntara, Summerville, Princeton and Southern Bay
Newmans Cove Amherst Cove Little Catalina Upper Amherst 237 Cove Catalina Port Union Melrose
6
230
Champney’s English Harbour
Trinity East Dunfield Trouty
Area 8
New Bonaventure
Route 235 - Five Coves Old Bonaventure
Ireland’s Leaving Bonavista, take Route 235 out of town. This Eye e Waterville less-travelled road hugs the shore of Bonavista Bay. New Burnt Clifton Cove You’ll soon pass through the Five Coves – Birchy Cove, Newman’s Cove, Upper and Lower Amherst Coves, tley Lower Lance Cove Knight’s Cove and Stock Cove. Britannia on’s Random Island Hickman’s Harbour Winter winds often blow freezing salt spray over the wharf at Newman’s Cove, coating it in a thick layer of . Jones Random Sound ithin ice sculpted by the wind and waves. But you don’t need Southport to be Gooseberry here inCove winter to appreciate the power of relentless Butter Cove waves. Heart’sThe Ease breakers coming ashore at Blackhead Bay Hodge’s Little ch Cove Caplin Coveare spectacular. There is great opportunity for sea kayaking in his area as well.
231
Trinity
King’s Cove, Bay Keels and Duntara
King’s Cove has a long history of being a fishing village, and the tradition continues today.
Tickle Bay
nce Cove
Bellevue Beach
1
been constructed in Birmingham, England, of pre-cast iron. Information panels at the site explain the early years of lighthouse keepers. You can return by the same track, or take a circuitous route through the woods and meadows. In late summer, you may find blueberries abundant. It is a very pleasant stroll for a summer’s afternoon.
The lighthouse Trail is not to be missed. The short hike is an easy walk, departing from either the government wharf or behind the church. The path has several vistas along the way, including Pat Murphy’s Meadow (made famous by the song of the same name, originally a poem written in the 1930s by a son of King’s Cove).
Route 235-20 will take you to Duntara and Keels. Not to be missed, the two remain active fishing communities. The wharves and stages you see at water’s edge are used by local fishermen as staging ground for independent fishing enterprises.
The lighthouse itself was assembled in 1893, having
When you drive through Duntara stop by to visit the
Bellevue
Thornlea
Explore contemporary art on the
Long Cove
73
201
Norman’s Cove Chapel Arm 80 202
August 17th - September 15th
Bonavista Peninsula
Works by 20 Indigenous, Canadian and International artists at 20 indoor and outdoor sites.
TCH East to St. John’s
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Photo: Sylvia Galbraith
DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 49
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2 Rooms Contemporary Art Projects historical saltbox house which was hand built in 1881, it was used originally as a fisherman’s house. The home is now renovated and used as a gallery and museum. This local landmark with its distinctly painted exterior stands out against the beautiful landscape of Bonavista Bay. 2 Rooms Contemporary Art Projects presents curated exhibitions of regional and international contemporary art in the first floor galleries. A continuing series of displays featuring collections of local historical artifacts and natural specimens are presented on the second floor. The 2 Rooms program reflects the historical, natural and cultural conditions that exist interdependently in Newfoundland’s outport communities. Keels has a couple of attractions. Local lore says the town got its name after John Cabot intentionally ran his boat ashore here to repair the keel. The rocks near town also house The Devil’s Footprints, naturallyoccurring cavities in the rock. The landscape is striking here, and the Footprints are an excellent excuse to stretch your legs and enjoy the view. The Film “Maudie” starring Ethan Hawke and Sally Hawkins was also partially filmed in the area. As you tour around see if you can spot some of the areas used.
Open Hall, Red Cliff and Tickle Cove
Route 235-19 is one of the best-kept secrets of the Discovery Trail. The three communities date back to the 1700s. The Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Open Hall, built in 1908, is one of the largest wooden churches from that time. Red Cliff comes alive with wildflowers in summer, a 50 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
striking contrast to the brick-red rock which gives the town its name. At Tickle Cove, take in the Sea Arch trail. A brief trail (with wooden stairs built over the steep sections) brings you to a well-built viewing platform where you have an unobstructed view of a large sea arch. The geology here is spectacular. A second trail hugs Tickle Cove Pond on the east side. Early August, the town (and pond) are inundated with people for the annual Dory Days community festival and dory races on the pond.
Plate Cove East and Plate Cove West, Summerville, Princeton, Southern Bay
Plate Cove West and Plate Cove East were named for the sloping land, shaped like a plate. Summerville awaits just a little further along Route 235. This quiet town has some of the best blueberry picking in the area. Just follow the footpath at the very end of the road. Princeton is home to The View Golf Resort, where you can golf, dine, and stay at the full-service resort. Princeton Pond, The old Railway bed, is accessible at Princeton, and is well travelled by all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles, depending on the season. At Southern Bay, Route 235 meets Route 235.
ADVERTISER’S LOCATOR LEGEND Attractions • Two Rooms Contemporary Art Projects • Duntara • www.2roomscontemporaryartprojects.com
Please refer to area map for location reference
Slang
NEWFOUNDLAND
Common Newfoundland Slang and the meanings: Here in Newfoundland we have long been teased about our ‘slang, it has a long history here on the island and stems from our Gaelic, Irish and English descendants. As you travel around the area you may encounter some phrases that you don’t understand. Here is a quick reference guide to some of the common and more probable phrases you might hear. Who knit you?
Havin’ a time.
Wanna go for a scoff?
Meaning: Who are you parents/family?
Meaning: Having fun or a good time.
Stay where you’re to ‘til I comes to where yer at.
Whadda y’at?
Meaning: Do you want to go and get something to eat?
Meaning: What’s going on or what are you doing?
Goin’ for a scuff.
Me’ Ducky.
B’ys tis some mauzy day.
Meaning: Female term of endearment.
Meaning: Today is a wet and foggy day.
Meaning: Where are you from or where do you live?
Gwan b’y .
Long may yer big gib draw.
Fill yer boots me ol’ trout.
Meaning: Something is unreal or said in disbelief
Meaning: A wish for you to have good fortune
Oh me nerves. Meaning: I am frustrated.
Me Fadder is some crooked and contrary today!
Yes b’y.
Meaning: My father is grumpy and hard to get along with today.
Meaning: Stay where you are until I come and get you.
Where y’longs to?
Meaning: Good for it or good to go.
I dies at you. Meaning: You are funny.
Meaning: Going dancing
Meaning: Yeah right or said in agreement.
Is that an Isthmus, a Bight, a Cove, or a Bay? And what’s a Tickle anyway? Shoreline terms explained. You’ll see them in town names and on road signs all over the area. Chapel Arm, Norman’s Cove, Deep Bight and Tickle Cove, to name a few. But how did these places get their names? Often, their geography played a role. An ISTHMUS is a narrow strip of land with ocean on either side, forming a connection between two larger areas of land. (Area 1) A BIGHT is an indent in the coastline. Like a bight mark, it is wider at the opening than the bottom. See for yourself at Deep Bight (Area 3) A COVE is curved like a bight, but the entrance is narrower than the sheltered waters within. There are plenty of examples, but the Five Coves (Knight’s Cove, Stock Cove, Amherst Coves, Newman’s Cove and Birchy Cove.) of Route 235 in Area 8 are ones to watch for. An ARM is a finger of water protected by land on both sides, reaching in from the ocean. Bull Arm (Area 2, where Sunnyside is located) and Southwest Arm (Area 2) are perfect examples.
A SOUND is similar, but while and arm reaches in from the sea, a sound is usually the name given to the stretch of water between the mainland and an island. Random Sound and Smith Sound are examples nearby. Just north of the Discovery Trail, Clode Sound and Newman Sound are found in Terra Nova National Park. A TICKLE is a short, narrow channel between islands. It could also be used to describe the narrow entrance to a harbour that is particularly tricky to navigate. A tickle may have submerged rocks shallow enough to ‘tickle’ the keel of your boat as you pass. Tickle Cove is in Area 8, and the short trail to the Sea Arch is not to be missed. A BAY is any indent in coastline sheltered from the wind and waves of the ocean – A cove or a bight can also be called a bay. You’ll see three of Newfoundland’s most famous during your tour of the Discovery Trail: Placentia Bay, Trinity Bay and Bonavista Bay surround you.
DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide 51
Discover WINTER Year-round recreation on the Discovery Trail
You won’t find us hibernating during the winter here on the Discovery Trail! Our communities come alive during the colder season, making the most of the winter wonderland in our backyard. Clarenville is the hub of outdoor winter adventure on the Discovery Trail. It’s where you’ll find White Hills Resort, who just celebrated their 30th year in operation.White Hills Resort is a downhill ski and snowboard destination, and the home base of the Clarenville Nordic Ski Club. Snowshoers are also welcome on the purpose-built trail, located at the base of the White Hills. If motorsports are your thing, you’re in luck. The East Coast Snowmobile Association is also based here, and members and visitors alike can access the provincially groomed snowmobile trail system. There’s plenty of backcountry to explore as well. Don’t forget the ice fishing! With lakes and ponds a plenty in the region they offer superb opportunities to hook a trout for a pan fry at the cabin or better yet a backwoods grub job right there by the water. What could be fresher? Nothing! However if your plans do include travel on any of the ponds via snowmobile or foot, make sure to ensure the safety of ice conditions before you ever plan on venturing out. Also very important if you are planning on going it alone that you make someone aware of where you plan to travel, and how long you plan to be gone. Community events also abound - from winter carnivals to variety concerts staged by local people to sporting events in the arenas at Clarenville and Bonavista. Whether you want to just sit back and watch, or join in the fun, there’s lot to do to keep you busy after the sun has slipped beneath the 49th parallel. 52 DISCOVERY TRAIL | 2019 Visitor Guide
CULTURAL CRAFT PROUDLY PRESENTS
Cultural Craft Festival
Coaker Factory, Port Union, NL Traditional & Contemporary Craft Demonstrations www.culturalcraft.com
7785807
August 24th & 25th
Garrick Theatre
Look for the Saturday Summer Music Series. For a complete schedule see www.garricktheatre.ca 709-468-5777/2880
Ye Matthew Legacy
Experience over 500 years of living history in our interpretation centre. Visitors also view the replica of John Cabot’s 15th-century ship Matthew.
Cape Shore Trail
7785839
This coastal trail featuring rugged coastline, whales, icebergs, puffins, as well as historic Green Island where many battles were waged between the French and the English fighting for fishing rights. This Trail is a must for nature lovers because of its views of Bonavista Bay.
www.townofbonavista.com