Fogo Island, Twillingate & North Shore

The town of Tilting was first settled by the Irish in the 18th century and is now a National Historic Site of Canada. Here, you can wander through the tall, lush grasses and run your fingers over the red paint of old fishing rooms. Creative traditions of music, dance, and storytelling run strong throughout the island, which is also home to the Fogo Island Partridgeberry Festival.

Walk the trails throughout the island and catch a glimpse of caribou herds grazing along the rolling hills. Imagine yourself seated on a patch of long grass, looking out over the pristine waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Twillingate embodies everything so many Newfoundland and Labrador outports are famous for: stunningly rugged coastline, historical, picturesque streets, and lush countryside roads. 

In the waters off the coast, look for whales, dolphins, harp seals, seabirds, and – if the season is right – icebergs.

Twillingate is one of the stops along Iceberg Alley, a vast corridor of ocean that runs from Greenland and a popular path for these frozen leviathans. One of the best places to view all these sights is at Long Point Lighthouse, which looks out over the distant reaches of Notre Dame Bay. Take a boat expedition and witness whales breaching and playing just metres away from you.

Walk through winding laneways and past the colourful houses standing proudly on the shore. Jump from rock to rock over rivers full of tiny fish. Twillingate offers a wide range of scenic walking trails and hiking tours.

Spend time at the Twillingate museum, located in the former Anglican Rectory, and see how the wealthy lived at the turn of the century. Absorb the town’s long history. Learn the story of Georgina Stirling, the town’s most famous resident, a world-renowned opera singer who toured throughout the 1890s.

During the summer months, there are live performances almost every night including kitchen parties, traditional music sessions and dinner theatre. Be sure to head to the annual Fish, Fun and Folk Festival during the last weekend of July. Join the excitement of scavenger hunts, parades, bonfires, fireworks, concerts, and so much more.

As you explore the Central Region, you’ll see clapboard houses atop rocky coasts, and working wharves that testify to the continuing importance of the centuries-old fishing industry.

Most of the people living here are descends of English fishermen who settled the shores more than two centuries ago. There is also a rich Indigenous history that includes the Beothuk and Dorset peoples.

Central is a perfect place to take a boat tour, or for both sea and river kayaking. It’s also worth visiting Terra Nova National Park while you’re here – 400 square kilometres of boreal forest and coastline, ideal for nature viewing, hiking, golfing, and camping.