WALKING

WESTERN NEWFOUNDLAND

WELCOME! 

After a flight it is always a great idea to take a short stroll to build an appetite. The waterfall at Steady Brook is the ideal spot to refresh yourself and when you taste supper, you will appreciate arriving hungry. After great food, retire to Marble Inn Resort and take advantage of the spa facilities or indoor pool - just because you are on an adventure vacation there is no need to leave comfort behind at night.

The southwest corner of Newfoundland features rolling hills that are an irresistible invitation to see what is on the other side. Today you hike on the Annieopsquotch hills with a view of St. Paul's island off Cape Breton. It is here I once virtually tripped over a newborn moose barely able to stand. Avid birdwatchers will be made speechless by the rare birds and those that simply love nature will still enjoy the eagles patrolling the cliffs and the silhouette of osprey carrying fish to their young as the sun sets in a limitless sea.

After stretching your legs on the trail you head to your home for the night - Cape Anguille Lighthouse Inn - and watch the sun dip into the ocean. The inn is a restored century old lightkeeper's home surrounded by the Atlantic where horses and sheep wander at will through the meadows.

The mountains that overlook the Bay of islands outside Corner Brook are remarkable for their ruggedness. From trails into secret swimming spots to isolated coves pinched between cliffs, today you enjoy exploring the coastline, beachcombing and picnicking. You are only limited by what you can carry.

No hiking trip in Newfoundland would be complete without a trip to 'Indian burial Place'.

We have done some work to the traditional path leading to an absolute treasure of a community - 'Indian Burial Place'. When I first hiked in I refused to take pictures because I wanted guests to have the same feeling as I did entering the community without any warning of the beauty. It really is remarkable - a deserted community with homes collapsing, doors swinging open, horses wandering through houses but furniture still in place and clothing in the closets. Poignant. It is one of those remarkable scenes that changes the behaviour of visitors. Inevitably everyone wanders off on their own to quietly investigate the houses and perch around the hills reflecting on the life of the past inhabitants and the circumstances that caused them to leave. If you have ever entered untouched ancient ruins or suddenly been taken with the air of spirituality of a place, you will understand the effect this ethereal village will have on you.

By now you will have developed an appreciation for the scale of this land. What better time to take to the air and see it from a floatplane? Your flight plan today includes whatever nature offers; fjords, icebergs, moose and whales. We set down in the harbour at Quirpon where you find a boat waiting to take you to Quirpon Island. After being dropped at Grandmother's Cove you strike out along the cliffs toward the northernmost point in Newfoundland. The cliffs offer balcony seats to the whales and dolphins that play in the waters below but also keep an eye out for smaller friends including sea otters and seals. For those with an appreciation of the ancient, we visit sod huts remains from an unidentified culture. These untouched artifacts are powerful in evoking the life of those that preceded us to this cove by millennia. Your goal for the day is Quirpon Lighthouse Inn perched on the tip of the island. Sip a drink and relax on the cliffs, helipad or in the indoor whale watching station as you watch the bergs and whales continue their eternal parade.

DAY 6:

We didn't want you to have nightmares so we saved the visit to the nearby cove of L'Anse aux Pigeon for today. This abandoned community was the site of a mass murder and suicide which was the climax of a tragic tale told in Earl Pilgrim's book 'Curse of the Red Cross Ring'. It is only one of the stories of hardship that have made this island famous. We know more.

After hiking Quirpon Island you visit the only Viking site on this side of the Atlantic. Ten centuries ago, long before Columbus set sail, the Vikings landed in North America at this spot. The factors that led this astounding culture to inhabit and then desert this settlement will set your imagination afire. No wonder it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Are your senses still able to absorb more? Try an evening of theatre and see for yourself why Newfoundlanders are the friendliest and funniest people on earth. Overnight in Gros Morne National Park.

Not since your floatplane trip have you been as high as you will be today. Gros Morne National Park, another UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to Gros Morne Mountain. Your trail today takes you to the summit where the views are breathtaking. No restaurant can match the ambience of picnicking at the top of 2,500 foot cliffs as you spot the moose, caribou and black bears wandering below.

Sound daunting? Not to worry, there are options that offer great views without hiking all the way to the top.

After the appetite building hike, we enjoy a meal overlooking the sea because we know you still want to see more whales. 

Unearthly is the word that comes readily to mind to describe the hike today. In the Tablelands the earth's mantle has been thrust up like nowhere on earth, allowing you to roam on a mountain which should be kilometres deep under the ocean. This geological classroom has a view like no other as you overlook the fishing towns along the shores of Bonne Bay.

After lunch reality must again appear as we take you back to the airport. Look at the bright side - you have better vacation stories than any of your friends.