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The
Irish Loop
A weekend journey on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland
©
Outdoor Adventure Canada
The
Irish Loop refers to an area that encircles the shores of Newfoundland's
Avalon Peninsula. The area is named after the Irish immigrants
that first inhabited this part of Newfoundland, and for the geography
which resembles their homeland.
Your journey starts in St. John's, the provincial capital, and
you will travel by car, along the eastern shore on Route 10. You
return to the city via Route 90.
One of the
highlights of the Irish Loop is Signal Hill National Historic
Site. Signal Hill is named for the first trans-atlantic telegraph
transmission made by Marconi in 1901. You can reach the site by
driving, cycling, or walking, but be forewarned; it is a very
steep hill. Take a bottle of water if you walk or cycle. From
the top of the hill you have a panoramic view of the coastline.
Looking to
the southeast on Signal Hill, you can see the Cape Spear Lighthouse.
Built in 1835, it is the oldest existing lighthouse in Newfoundland.
Cape Spear is the most eastern part of North America and is the
spot where the morning sun is viewed first on our continent. There
is a sunrise celebration at the lighthouse where you may join
others for a drink of orange juice with champagne.
 As
you drive on Route 10 from St. John's you will pass through Bay
Bulls and Witless Bay. Bay Bulls was founded in 1638 and is a
translation of the French phrase, "Baie Boules", which
refers to the bull bird or dovekie. Bay Bulls and Witless Bay
are the jumping off points for tour boats to the Witless Bay Ecological
Reserve. This reserve is made up of three islands.
You will be
amazed by the sheer number of sea birds on the tour. Gull Island
hosts 530,000 Leach Storm Petrels and there are 250,000 more on
Great Island. Murres on Green Island number close to 74,000. Puffins,
the provincial bird, are found here in the tens of thousands.
Puffins feed on capelin, raise their chicks and then move out
sea. Humpbacks and Minke feed on this little fish species during
their annual migration to the Arctic in late spring and summer.
Located in
a river valley, La Manche Provincial Park has a beautiful marsh
where there are numerous wild flowers. Hiking trails lead you
to a magnificent waterfall and the La Manche River offers good
canoeing. Permits for the Avalon Wilderness Reserve, which is
1,710 hectares, can be obtained at the La Manche Provincial Park
office. You can hike and camp here, but the rough road necessitates
the use of a four wheel drive vehicle. The reserve's caribou can
been seen crossing the highway during their annual migration.
This is the southernmost herd in North America.
The East Coast
Trail can be accessed from the Irish Loop. The trail travels along
the eastern shore from St. John's to Cappahayden. The East Coast
trail has hikes that are easy, moderate or strenuous. The trail
offers excellent photographic and sightseeing opportunities but
sure to have good walking shoes or hiking boots. Taking bottled
water is recommended,
One of the
last stops on the Irish Loop is Salmonier Nature Park. The 1214
hectare park has an exhibit of 30 species of birds and animals
native to Newfoundland. Hiking through the park gives you the
opportunity to view moose, beaver, lynx, owls and otters. There
is boardwalk over most of the trail making this an easy hike.
The Irish
Loop combines diverse landscape with amazing wild life. Where
else can you see whales, puffins and caribou; hike rugged coastline
plus stay at a quaint bed and breakfast, all in the same weekend?
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