Things to do on the Irish Loop, Newfoundland

Things to do on the Irish Loop, Newfoundland

Despite being an easy drive from St. John’s, I hadn’t spent a good deal of time on the Irish Loop until recently. It helps when you actually have a car and/or a driver. (I do drive, believe it or not. I just don’t wanna.)

The Irish Loop is literally a loop around the Avalon Peninsula, aptly named because of its Irish history stretching back some 400 years.

Irish settlers started arriving in Newfoundland back in the early 17th century, and a purely Gaelic settlement was set up in Renews. This population grew until the Loop was dominated by Irish Catholics, unlike the rest of the province which was largely English Protestant. A lot of surnames in this area are Irish.

But it’s not just the history — the landscape similarities between Ireland and this part of Newfoundland are striking.

What must those Irish folks have thought when they first came ashore here? They were greeted by treeless green barrens, beaches shrouded in fog, and dramatic coastline. And if weather shapes the people, it’s no wonder Newfoundlanders and Irishmen are hardy people. One minute you’re standing in fog as thick as pea soup; the next you’re being burned alive by the sun.

(I can testify to that. My sunburn was unreal.)

The Irish Loop Route:

Start from St. John’s, head to Bay Bulls -> Witless Bay -> Cape Broyle -> Ferryland -> Aquaforte -> Renews -> Trepassey -> Portugal Cove South -> Return (or wander)

Don’t be afraid to get off the loop, though. There are a lot of gorgeous coves and communities to pop into it.

Whale and bird watching at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve

Newfoundland puffins at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve

Newfoundland’s bird is the puffin. They’re those goofy little seabirds that flitter across the surface of the ocean, intermittently diving in deep to feed on fish. They come to the shores of Newfoundland every summer to make adorable babies.

Did you know that puffins mate for life, and they return to the same burrows every year? Most romantic bird ever.

The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve is where you can see the birds’ homes up close. The reserve is dubbed the “bird islands,” because when you approach them (by boat), you’ll be just a little overwhelmed by their numbers.

Don’t look up with your mouth open. (Popular skipper joke — groan.)

You’ll need to hop on a boat tour out of Bay Bulls. I personally prefer the Molly Bawn Boat Tours because their boats are much smaller than the other big players (meaning you won’t have to compete for the same views as 50 other people).

Come at the end of July for the best whale watching opportunities. When the capelin starts rolling in, the humpbacks go into a feeding frenzy, and the puffins gorge themselves so much on fish that they can’t fly away.

Kayak in Cape Broyle

Stan Cook Kayaking off the Irish Loop in Newfoundland

*UPDATE: STAN COOK HAS ENDED THEIR KAYAKING TOURS. :( I still think kayaking in this area is one of the best things you can do, though. So give The Outfitters a shot.

I’ve done this kayak trip twice now, but most recently I hopped on the longer 4+ hour tour with Stan Cook himself. He’s your classic Newfoundlander, full of jokes and attitude, and he knows the area around Cape Broyle like the back of his hand.

Stan led us deep out into the bay, through sea arches and inside caves. I nearly fainted inside the Dragon’s Throat — the swell of the waves creates an eerie roar. We paddled through throngs of gulls and puffins, and I briefly held a starfish in my hand.

It was a long slog; not having done any sort of strength training in a year, my arms nearly fell off. But I’d do it again, in a heartbeat.

See some of the Earth’s oldest fossils at Mistaken Point

Fossils at Mistaken Point Newfoundland (part of the Irish Loop)

Newfoundland’s latest UNESCO World Heritage site is the Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve. I’ve written about the 565-million-year-old fossils in-depth, including how to book your guide.

Even if you’re not much of a fossil fanatic, walking down around this unique coastal landscape is pretty awesome. There aren’t too many places in the world where you can walk on the floor of an ancient ocean and literally see the wave ripples in the rock.

You HAVE to do a guided tour, though. Book in advance.

Watch for whales at St. Vincent’s Beach

St. Vincent's Beach on the Irish Loop

Alas, I did not see any whales at St. Vincent’s Beach. But I could hear their spouts somewhere through the thick fog, even as a child and her mother made loud whale calls from the beach and the waves crashed loudly all around me.

There’s a huge cliff drop-off not far from the beachfront, meaning whales can get in incredibly close to shore. If it’s a clear day, it’s the closest you’ll get to a humpback without riding on its back.

Have a picnic at the Ferryland Lighthouse

Lighthouse Picnics at Ferryland Newfoundland

The first time I did this experience, I was too hungover to enjoy it much. I did it again two weeks ago, and despite the fog hampering my views, it was pretty damned amazing.

You need to reserve a spot at the Ferryland lighthouse way in advance. Like, possibly months. Park your car in Ferryland and walk a quick 20-minutes to the lighthouse — a monumental red-and-white renovated building oozing those simple dreams of living as a lighthouse keeper all alone on a peninsula.

I’d make an excellent hermit.

Meals are $27 each, and you have three different options (including vegetarian). You’ll be given a sweet picnic basket filled with goodies, and a waterproof blanket that you can spread somewhere in the grass. On a clear day, you may have whale visitors or even some other unusual characters. We’re convinced we saw walruses.

See the Colony of Avalon archaeological site

Colonial Cook Out at Colony of Avalon, near Ferryland Newfoundland

Growing up in Newfoundland, I never cared much for the history. I don’t know why I didn’t care — perhaps European history seemed so much more exciting than a bunch of ‘ol farts catching fish. Anyway.

Now that I’m old and wise, I can appreciate those little historical tidbits more. At the Colony of Avalon (located just at the path entrance to the Ferryland lighthouse), there’s a little museum showcasing artifacts dug up from the fishing colony settled in the 1600s. It’s actually pretty darn neat. There are vessels and pieces of glassware from all over Europe — even the Netherlands.

But the coolest part: you can visit a reconstructed kitchen from that time, and there’s something called a Colonial Cook Off. Every week, the Colonial Cook Off website features bizarre recipes from the 17th century, inviting people to try them out for themselves at home. AND if you’re visiting the kitchen, you can even watch the magic happen.

Hike in La Manche Provincial Park

Doctor's Cove, La Manche Provincial Park

There are a number of hikes around La Manche, including memorable trails to Doctor’s Cove as well as the suspension bridge. On my last visit, I came across a happy little seal playing in the water beneath the bridge.

There are a few good swimming holes around, and if you come across any stone foundations, that just means you’re treading in ghost town territory. These trails are part of the East Coast Trail network.

Visit an old-school print shop in Tors Cove

Running the Goat in Tors Cove

I hadn’t heard of Running the Goat until very recently. The Legendary Coasts folks introduced me to this amazing little print shop in scenic Tors Cove, run by an artist named Marnie. She’s the owner of several vintage printing presses, including an iron hand press from England (dated in the 1830s), and a Heidelberg windmill press.

Marnie took the time to show me around her shop, and explained how the presses work. It’s THE place to buy Newfoundland souvenirs — original prints, cards, handmade books, and fine trade books. I pocketed an incredibly hilarious children’s book by former CODCO alumnus Andy Jones and hightailed it out of there before I could buy everything. Paper porn.

Give yourself a few days to complete this drive. 

It’s a long one, and you’ll wanna take your time. Believe me.

Stay: On my last visit, I stayed at the Edge of the Avalon Inn — a really great, casual spot with a fine kitchen. If you have a special request, the chef will likely take you up on it (if you ask nicely).

  • August 12 2016
    Candice

    Those bloody whales are wily – wish I’d seen one or 2! They were going crazy everywhere we weren’t!
    Walruses?! Awesome. Bet they smell funky tho..
    Kayaking sounds fun. Next time.
    Good read :)

    • August 13 2016
      Candice

      I haven’t seen ANY whales or icebergs this summer! Booooo. And I don’t think it was actually a walrus, we just had no idea what it was. Hahaha.

  • August 17 2016
    Cheri

    Thanks for this! Great information. We’ll hopefully be in your area later this year and I appreciate all the info you’ve got on your site about Newfoundland and Canada. We spent some time in Berlin last year also and loved it.

    Thanks!

    • August 17 2016
      Candice

      I’m so glad, thanks Cheri! I LOVE the Irish Loop!

    • May 28 2019
      Dave

      Hi Candice. If we were to do everything thing you write about on the Irish loop how long would that take?

      • June 10 2019
        Candice

        Sorry for the delayed response, Dave! You could do this entire trip in two full days (one night).

  • August 22 2016

    Great suggestions! I toured around the Irish Loop for the first time this July. There’s more there than meets the eye!
    Jody Robbins recently posted…Rush of a Lifetime: Arctic Safari in Churchill, Manitoba

    • August 23 2016
      Candice

      Ahh! You were in NL and I didn’t know it?! Haha

  • April 22 2020
    Amelie Senechal

    Hi!
    I’m from Quebec and hope i will be able to travel in my country in september! I’ve read lots of your articles and Newfoundland would be my destination. Is it possible to see Puffins in September? The Irish loop seems very interesting, i keep adding things to see and do as i read your articles, i might stay 20 days in Newfoundland!

    • May 25 2020
      Candice

      Hey Amelie! Sorry it’s taken me SO long to respond, haha. A lot of the puffins will have cleared out by September, but it often depends on how quickly the temperatures cool off. If it’s still warm, they might stick around.

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