Newfoundland Road Trips: Guide to the Baccalieu Trail
Disclaimer: Information is accurate as of time of publication.
How to Spend a Few Days Exploring the Baccalieu Coastal Drive
My family goes back generations in Carbonear, Newfoundland. Maybe even back to the 1600s. Though I grew up in New Brunswick, summers were spent in the “hub of the bay” on the Baccalieu Trail. Despite all that time, I hadn’t really explored the towns nearby. Recently, I decided to spend a weekend doing the trail. It’s the perfect distance for a two day road trip.
The Baccalieu Trail gets its name from the island at its northern tip. The word itself is derived either from the Spanish, Portugese, or Basque word for codfish. The eastern coast of the trail is steeped with pirate history, being home to both Peter Easton and Gilbert Pike and his Irish princess bride Sheila Nageira. It’s also home to an arctic exploring sea captain, one of the most comically notorious town names, the first transatlantic cable, and the summer home of Rockwell Kent.
Table of Contents
Getting Around the Baccalieu Trail
The Baccalieu Trail is a horseshoe shaped drive with endpoints roughly 35 and 45 minutes from St. John’s. You can either start in Whitebourne on the western edge and drive clockwise around the coast ending at Brigus, or you can reverse it. Each is just as good as the next.
While it’s possible to get from town to Bay Roberts or Carbonear with Bradbury’s Taxi (1-709-682-5566) you won’t be able to fully explore the Baccalieu Trail without your own vehicle.
Where to Stay on the Baccalieu Trail
The Doctor’s House – Green’s Harbour
This gorgeous little inn is tucked away in a secluded part of Green’s Harbour. As they say, an hour from St. John’s, a million miles from anywhere. The best thing about the Doctor’s House are the lovely grounds where you can wander and also the resident chickens, goats, and horses. Each room is unique and named after a type of tree. Try to get one with a balcony.
Coastal Cottages – Blackhead
If you’re looking for the cottage experience, try Coastal Cottages in Blackhead. While their two cottages are well appointed, their real strength is in the extra experiences they offer, like a musical shed party or a boil up.
Hillside Cottages
These brightly coloured cottages will be sure to bring a smile to your face. Perfectly located to explore the Baccalieu Coastal Drive. Book a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom cottage or their new Rainbow Pods, one of which comes with a private hot tub.
George House B&B – Dildo
George House B&B was Instagrammable before Instagram was a thing. If you want more stately, historic luxury, make your booking here. Book the Lloyd or Thomas room and feel like visiting royalty.
Where to Eat + Drink on the Baccalieu Trail
Dildo Dory Grill – Dildo
Casual dining with a great deck. This is the spot to stop if you like seafood. Be warned, a lot of the menu is the typical fried you find in rural Newfoundland and there might not be much for vegetarians. Fish & chips is the go-to here. Be sure to get gravy & dressing on yours.
Dildo Cove Coffee and Krafts – Dildo
Why the K in Krafts? Why not? Get caffeinated here with a gorgeous view of the harbour. Espresso drinks are hard to find in rural Newfoundland and especially shops with this great of a view. They even have bubble tea! You can also shop for a few souvenirs at the same time.
The Doctor’s House – Green’s Harbour
Gourmet dining in rural Newfoundland – the Doctor’s House serves some of the finest meals on the island. Tucked away in Green’s Harbour you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. Their five-course prix fixe dinner menu is a bit of a splurge but entirely worth it.
Darkstar Coffee Roasters – Carbonear
Formerly the Carbonear Telephone Exchange, you can now enjoy high end coffee and treats in a truly unique building. Come for the coffee, stay for the back deck with harbour views for days.
The Quay – Brigus
Brigus is known for it’s wild blueberries and The Quay (formerly Country Corner) knows how to use them. Their blueberry crisp is decadence incarnate. Crunchy, gooey crisp, topped with blueberry ice cream, and finished off with blueberry sauce. The place gets busy but it’s worth the wait. Pair it with a bowl of moose stew for a complete meal.
Dildo Brewing Company
Opened in the summer of 2018, it was an immediate hit, partly because of the novelty of the name and the great view from their deck. Serving up tastefully named beer and a full menu, you should make this a must-do on your road trip.
Madrock Cafe
After hiking the Madrock Trail (Shoreline Heritage Walk) finish off with a plate of toutons and molasses with a cup of tea from this cozy little cafe.
Grates Cove Studio – Grates Cove
Louisiana cajun and Newfoundland seafood mix it up at this unassuming restaurant and community space on the northern tip of the Avalon Peninsula. The two owners met while teaching in Korea and married their two food cultures back home on the island. The menu is small and changes regularly but you can find things like cajun fish stew made with Newfoundland cod, coconut lentil soup, or even sushi.
The Stone Jug – Carbonear
This restopub was a long time coming…over eight years! A painstakingly restored stone building on Carbonear’s main street, it’s a shining example of a repurposed heritage building. Its three floors of gleaming woodwork and 70+ chandeliers are just two of the reasons to go. The menu features a mix of burgers, sandwiches, and pizza for lunch with an expanded menu for dinner.
Studio Coffee – Carbonear
The cutest little coffee shop you ever did see. Studio Coffee has only one table and two chairs but their Instagrammable cups and delicious cappuccinos make up for it. You can always take a stroll along the beach with your latte.
Route 66 Diner and Pub – Carbonear
After the building housing the former Hotline Cafe went up for sale, the owners moved down the street with a new dining concept. Route 66 Diner and Pub opened in the fall of 2018 serving up classic diner food with a retro auto flair.
Newfoundland Distillery Company – Clarke’s Beach
Not to be outdone by the craft beer scene, the Newfoundland Distillery Company has just opened their tasting room in Clarke’s Beach. There you can sample their locally produced vodka, gin, and seaweed gin. The whiskey is in the works but will take a few more years yet to mature.
Baccalieu Trail Brewing Company
One of the most recent additions to the Newfoundland craft beer scene, the Baccalieu Trail opened their taproom in fall 2018 and are serving up some tasty brews along with live music on the weekends.
ColdWater Foods & Cafe
Located on the site of the former town icon, Main Street Restaurant, ColdWater Foods is breathing new life into the building, offering fresh fare with a little international twist, like Korean beef tacos, pork egg rolls, or Sicilian pork ragu.
Things to Do on the Baccalieu Trail
Go for a Hike
One of the best things to do in Newfoundland in the summer is to get out and enjoy nature. There are several walking and hiking trails along the Baccalieu Trail. If you want an easy coastal hike, head to Cupids for the Burnt Head Trail, a 4km looping trail that starts and ends by Cupids Haven B&B. For a more moderate hike, there’s the d’Iberville Coastal Trail. The trail can be accessed from many of the western Baccalieu trail towns from Heart’s Content to Old Perlican) and short hikes (1-2 hrs) or long hikes (8 hours) are possible. For the more hardcore hikers, there’s Crout’s Way, a rough trail from Cupids to Hopeall straight across the peninsula. It’s a 2 day hike meant for experienced hikers but what an experience!
Selfie with the Dildo Road Signs – Dildo
Was there ever a town with a more notorious name? Dildo is a pretty fishing town who’s name has nothing to do with what you’re thinking. But all the same, stop by a road sign for a naughty selfie.
Heart’s Content Cable Station – Heart’s Content
It’s somewhat ironic that the location of the landing of the first transatlantic cable has no cell service today. Regardless, make a stop in Heart’s Content to learn all about life on the cutting edge of telecommunications technology in the early 20th century.
Wooden Boat Museum – Winterton
Newfoundland was built upon the fishery and wooden boats were what made it possible. Stop at the Wooden Boat Museum in Winterton and learn all about the difference between a dory and a punt, and what exactly a flake and a stage are.
Trio of Sheds – Cavendish
No trip to this part of the island is complete without stopping for a photo of the three colourful sheds in Cavendish. The yellow one has even been turned into a children’s library.
Get a Massage at the Doctor’s House – Green’s Harbour
The Doctor’s House in Green’s Harbour really is an oasis. On top of their accommodations and dining room, the property also has a day spa. Relax and recharge with a hot stone massage or the Doctor’s Prescription Facial.
Have a Beach Day
Newfoundland isn’t really known for its sandy beaches but we do have a few. If the weather is nice, stop at either Northern Bay Sands or Salmon Cove Sands for a picnic and to dig your toes into the sand. The water will be cold, even in August, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be a beach bum.
Moxley Tour – Carbonear
In July and August sign up for a Moxley tour in Carbonear. Meander through the cemetery and hear the stories of Carbonear’s earliest residents, followed up by a “bed night lunch” and entertainment in the Loft Theatre of Rorke’s Store Museum.
Spirit of Harbour Grace + The Kyle – Harbour Grace
Two photo ops in Harbour Grace that you’ll want to see can both be hit up with one stop. The Spirit of Harbour Grace is a DC-3 Douglas aircraft that commemorates the town’s aviation history as a once vital stop for international flights. In 1932, Amelia Earhart set off from here to make the first Transatlantic flight by a woman. Meanwhile, the wreck of the SS Kyle lies tilting in the harbour. The 104-year old steam ship has been grounded since 1967 and has been a town attraction ever since.
Perchance Theatre – Cupids
Ever thought you’d find a mini Globe Theatre with high-calibre Shakespeare plays in rural Newfoundland? You will in Cupids. Every summer, Perchance Theatre puts on an 8 week season featuring two plays by Shakespeare as well as events by local playwrights, musicians, and comedians. Everything happen in the cutest outdoor setting directly behind Cupids Haven B&B.
Hawthorne Cottage – Brigus
One of the finest Arctic sea captains in the world hailed from Brigus. Today, you can tour Hawthorne Cottage, the once-home of Captain Bob Bartlett. Among many achievements, he was the first person to sail north of 88° N. Hawthorne Cottage itself is a fine example of the refined tastes of 19th century merchant families.
Relax Down a Lazy River
Float your cares away along the scenic Hodge River in Markland. As the first interior farming community in Newfoundland, these river banks are full of history and brought nourishment to many families. A perfect family summer day.
While you could do the entire Baccalieu Trail in a single day, to get the most from your trip I really recommend setting aside two or three days to give yourself time to get out and explore and relax.
Will the Baccalieu Trail be your next Newfoundland road trip?
Book Your Trip to Newfoundland & Labrador
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Expedia. It's one of my favourite search engines because it allows you to search for and compare flights from multiple airlines.
Book Your Accommodations
You can book your hotel with Booking.com as they have the most comprehensive inventory so they are best for booking a hotel. If you want to stay in a vacation rental or cottage in Newfoundland & Labrador, use VRBO to find the perfect place for the whole family.
Book Your Car Rental
Newfoundland & Labrador is mainly rural and it's best to have a vehicle at your disposal. Be sure to book your car rental with Discover Cars early because they often sell out in summer.
Book Your Travel Insurance
While Newfoundland is generally a safe province, you never know when something could happen. Be prepared with travel insurance from SafetyWing. Travel insurance has certainly saved my butt before.
August 30th, 2017 at 12:23 pm (#)
I loved this trail on the motorcycle too…..
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:15 am (#)
This was a really interesting and informative read. This is a part of the world I don’t know much about but after reading your post, it’s really caught my eye.
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:29 am (#)
Thanks. Newfoundland is quite stunning. You should come visit some time.
September 3rd, 2017 at 7:03 am (#)
The picture of the soup is drool worthy haha. I love road trips! it gives a more intimate feel to learning about a new destination. How long did your road trip last?
September 3rd, 2017 at 9:28 am (#)
I spent a weekend. Left St. John’s on Friday after work and got home on Sunday. It’s just the right size trip for 2 or 3 days.
September 3rd, 2017 at 4:32 pm (#)
This was such an interesting and informative post! I know hardly anything about Newfoundland bu it looks like an awesome place to visit :)
May 11th, 2018 at 2:21 pm (#)
Brigus was one of my favorite places to visit. A beautiful and very well cared for place.
September 1st, 2018 at 11:12 pm (#)
Will you be writing an article about the Killick Coast soon? I really like your descriptions and pictures and have bookmarked most of your articles, with the intention of revisiting these areas again. Bicycle and picnic in Bonavista, who knew? All those microbreweries, did not know that! Just curious how you will describe my neck of the woods. Maybe there is something new I can learn about the Killick Coast as well.