Experience Trinity Bight

While planning your trip to Newfoundland and the Bonavista Peninsula, you may have come across Trinity Bight. What is a bight and where would you find one in Trinity anyway? A bight is actually an indent in the coastline looking a little like a bite out of a cookie.

Trinity Bight is located on Trinity Bay, halfway up the Bonavista peninsula, and includes a collection of 15 communities. Extending from New Bonaventure all the way to English Harbour, Trinity Bight is home to beautiful vistas, amazing experiences, delicious food, great shopping, and exceptional hiking. There is so much to do in this small region that you will need at least a couple of days to explore it. There are many great options for accommodations available in the bight. Whether you prefer a Bed & Breakfast, Inn, Suite, cabin or a full house rental, there is something to suit your needs. To truly experience this area, you’ll need to venture beyond the main highway — most of Trinity Bight’s charm is tucked away in its scenic coastal communities.

New Bonaventure

New Bonaventure is home to the Random Passage Site. This is an opportunity to step back to the early 1800s and get a feel for what life was like in an early outport fishing village. Originally built for a mini-series of the same name, the site includes a church, homes, and structures for preparing, salting and drying cod fish. You can choose to explore the site yourself or take a guided tour. Passes can be purchased at the Tea Room. Don’t miss out on eating there, they have the best gingerbread! Also here, is the trailhead of the British Harbour Trail, which takes you through the resettled outports of Kerley’s Harbour and British Harbour, a 3-4 hour hike.

Trouty, Dunfield, and Fort Point

From New Bonaventure head back on Route 239 through the community of Trouty, named for the sea trout that are still plentiful in its river and ponds. Stop at Shoreline Treasures Art Studio and Gift Shop. This shop offers one of a kind artwork using sea glass and other beach finds as well as woodcrafts made on site. Continuing along Rte 239, you’ll find Dunfield. Take a right at the bottom the hill and follow the road through the community around the harbour, and you’ll find yourself on the road to Fort Point home of the Fort Point lighthouse. The drive out to Fort Point, along a well-maintained dirt road, offers beautiful views of the town of Trinity, Trinity Harbour, Skerwink Head, and the waters of Trinity Bay. This often provides a great vantage point for watching whales from shore. Back on Route 239 take a right after Dunfield and follow the road into Historic Trinity.

Trinity

A visit to Trinity is like taking a step back in time. This lovingly maintained village is home to colourful saltbox houses, fishing stages, and white picket fence lined lanes. Prominently featured in several Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism advertisements, this community is the quintessential fishing village.

The entire town is only the size of a couple of city blocks so once you arrive and park your car, nothing is more than a ten minute walk away. Trinity is home to a working forge and cooperage, several museums, and historic sites, and Rising Tide theatre, which has live theatre daily from June to September. Gun Hill towers above the community, and the Gun Hill hiking trail is a wonderful vantage point for photographing the community from above.

Trinity is also a wonderful place to eat and shop. Restaurants include The Twine Loft, Sofia’s, The Dock Marina and Trinity Cabins and for a treat after your meal you can check out Sweet Rock Ice Cream, or Aunt Sarah’s Chocolates. Shopping at Lester Garland Craft Shop, Trinity Crafts, Eriksen Premises, and The Dock Marina Gallery are not to be missed.

Trinity is also home to Sea of Whales Adventures. Our booking office and retail shop are located at 12 Ash’s Lane, right in the heart of the beautiful, historic town. This area is the best place for whale watching in all of Newfoundland. To book your tour today visit www.seaofwhales.com.

Port Rexton & Trinity East

From Trinity continue back out to Route 230 and head into the town of Port Rexton. This community has the Bight’s only grocery store, gas station, and liquor store. The town of Port Rexton has Two Whales Coffee Shop, The Galley Restaurant and Fisher’s Loft Inn Dining for food options. Two Whales Coffee Shop offers vegetarian and vegan options, with many of the salad fixings coming from their own onsite gardens. Dessert here is not to be missed! Fisher’s Loft Dining serves breakfast and dinner in their ocean view dining room, by reservation. Port Rexton Brewing is located just off the highway and is a wonderful place to stop to sample a flight of their locally made beer, and have some food from Oh My Cheeses, the gourmet grilled cheese and fries truck located on site.

The Skerwink Trail, which has entrances in both Port Rexton and Trinity East, is rated among the top trails in North America. Hugging the coastline out to Skerwink Head and back, this trail offers the opportunity to view beautiful vistas and possibly spot a whale from shore. Trinity East is also home to The Bright Side Bistro, which offers wonderful lunches and dinners. Here walk-ins are welcome, though it’s best to make a reservation.

Champney’s West

Continuing down Rte 230, turn off to Champney’s West. This beautiful little community has a harbour lined with restored fishing stages, some that you can even rent for the night. The Champney’s West Aquarium is a wonderful look at the species that inhabit this region. With samples of commonly occurring fish and invertebrates, touch tanks, a minke whale skeleton and interpretative displays, this is a must see. The community is also home to a Heritage museum and Fox Island Trail. Popular with both residents and tourists, alike this trail is a must do.

English Harbour

Just further down the shore is English Harbour. This Community is famous for the English Harbour Arts Centre which hosts live performances throughout the summer season as well as workshops in yoga, heritage restoration and dry stone building. The road through English Harbour tapers to a narrow gravel road that can be walked out to the end which is known as Horse Chops there is a fog horn there and this is trail is a wonderful vantage point for watching whales from shore.

Trinity Bight is an area that is not to be missed on your visit to Newfoundland and the Bonavista peninsula. For more information on all the incredible hiking in the region, visit www.hikediscovery.com. If you’re visiting with kids, check out our blog post Things To Do With Kids on the Bonavista Peninsula.

Whether you’re drawn to Trinity Bight for its breathtaking coastal views, rich history, or incredible outdoor adventures, one thing is certain — you won’t want to leave too soon. Stay a while and explore!