Twillingate Islands are a group of islands in Notre Dame Bay. There are many small islands, with the two main ones being North Twillingate Island and South Twillingate Island and the actual town of Twillingate is located on both these two islands, connected by “Tickle Bridge”. The original French name of these islands is ‘Toulinguet’ as the landscape reminded the early French fishermen who were here of islands near Brittany. The Twillingate Islands provide excellent sheltered harbours and easy access to the rich fishing grounds nearby. Twillingate is one of the oldest ports on these islands and it was a historic fishing community, but because of the cod moratorium and subsequent decline of the fishing industry, its economy now relies more on tourism.
Rather than go day-by-day of my time in Twillingate, my blog posts will be a mixture of all days, but doing different things. So when you see grey, stormy conditions in one photo and brilliant blue sky in another, you’ll know they were different days, but all while I was in Twillingate.
This blog post is ‘out and about’; the town and the coastlines.
St. Peter’s Church is one of the oldest wooden churches still in existence in Newfoundland. The main portion of the church was erected in 1842, and in 1844 the tower was completed.
Lots of dramatic coastline around Twillingate, especially on windy days!
Long Point Light Station, built in 1876, includes a two-and-a-half storey double dwelling, four outbuildings - a fog alarm/equipment building, workshop, storage shed and well house - and a parcel of land. Once operated by several full-time lighthouse keepers, today the lighthouse is still operational but is now operated by only one lighthouse keeper year-round.
The Light Station is located on a prominent headland at the entrance to Notre Dame Bay from where it provides an open view of the islands that dot this section of coast, of shipping activities and of icebergs that drift south in the spring.
It’s a long way out, but that white spec is an iceberg!
Yup, that’s still some snow on the side of this cliff, not yet melted from the winter.
The Loyal Orange Lodge in Twillingate, founded in 1875.
I think this trap traps more people than it does actual lobsters.
Looking across Twillingate Harbour to the north shore.
And now on the north side, looking across to the south shore.
And this was the view from where I was staying.
This was the view from the porch of a little coffee shop just outside Twillingate. Rather special I think!
An actual beach is not an overly common thing in Newfoundland as much of the coastline is rock and dramatic cliffs, so when I saw this little area I got excited. I’m not really sure if these stairs were intended to be public access or not, but I asked the fellow mowing his lawn next door if I could use them to get down to the beach and the answer was ‘sure’. No one else around - anyone from Newfoundland would think I’m crazy to be on the beach in early June - after all, it was only about 5 degrees! And mighty cold water too I might add - my hand is all that went in!
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