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Has anyone stayed in Bamfield,
who could recommend lodging choices?
Not much contained in guidebooks.
Thinking of Woods End Landing Cottages...
but would appreciate any reviews of places in Bamfield, if you have personal experience w/some spots. Thanks!

Daydreamer

Just saw this.

Thread old but wondering...
anyone? Bamfield yes or no?
And where to stay?

BowenLinda

Daydreamer, I haven't stayed at Woods End Cottages but to add to your research you might want to look at http://bamfield.travel.bc.ca/accommodations/.

My family and I stayed aboard our anchored sailboat in Bamfield for a couple of nights in August 2004 as part of our exploring Barkley Sound. We liked Bamfield - good hiking and beaches nearby along with great fishing, kayaking, etc. Note it is a very small town so including Bamfield on your trip would depend on whatever else you're doing and interested in.

Daydreamer

Thanks so much, Linda!

We're thinking of doing Victoria just for a night either coming or going. (have been before several times)

Maybe 3-4 nights in Tofino area.
And, maybe 2-3 nights in Telegraph Cove area.
Debating whether we'll have time to add in a Gulf Island. We DO love them, but I don't know if Tofino will basically feel like them or not?

We've been to SaltSpring, Mayne & Galiano briefly. Guess we might have to decide whether to do the old mailboat to Bamfield & stay a night or two hike a bit of that famous trail...
or whether to include a couple of nights amidst the islands. (we also love the San Juans...so guess despite their development...the islands appeal to us)

Thanks again for the link! Appreciate your help.

BowenLinda

Dreamer, you don't mention what time of year you are planning on visiting these areas.

I like Tofino year-round, and 3-4 nights would give you a perfect amount of time to view everything and relax as well. I wouldn't personally, however, make a special trip to Bamfield unless it was in June - September. Bamfield is a rough 'n tumble but charming SMALL town but unless you want to charter a fishing boat or view the marine research centre, there isn't a whole lot to do. Note: you have to have a specific reservation to hike the West Coast Trial (to protect the trail).

But you can jump on the Lady Rose from Ucluelet (south of Tofino) and view the Broken Group of Islands as you steam towards Bamfield, then Sechart (I think). Check out www.ladyrosemarine.com/rates.html for its 2006 schedule.

I haven't stopped at Telegraph Cove but rather sailed the area around it - the Broughton Archipelago - and it is really magnificent. But cooold for late-August.

I'm an island girl (Bowen Island is in Howe Sound) so you don't have to persuade me about the joys of island living and hopping. If you have time, why not stop off at an island you haven't yet visited? I like Hornby, Quadra and Cortez in the north.

Anyway... have a great holiday.

Daydreamer

Thanks so very, very much BowenLinda!! Am at jury duty right now & snagged a computer so can't write more for now.
But truly appreciate the link & new thoughts of seeing that area from Ucluelet instead. I didn't realize that was possible, altho' I suppose it could only be an up & back trip vs. lingering, eh?

Also, I thought for that little bit of the West Coast Trail (that you can access from Bamfield) if only doing a Day hike you could go w/out a permit?
Is that not so? If so, that WOULD change my desire to stay in Bamfield since that's the main reason I considered doing it...and to do the mailboat from Port Alberni since I heard that was a neat trip.

However...I was bummed that to do that meant not sailing through/past the Broken Group Islands which I've heard are so pretty. (unless we'd catch some adventure to there from Bamfield?)

Hmm...much to ponder.
Will have to do some more investigating.
And thanks for sharing more. Am travelling sometime between late May & early Sept.

Due to a strong recommendation of late Aug/early Sept for wildlife in Telegraph Cove area (bears in Knight Inlet) I'm thinking we may end up going in late Aug. However, otherwise, I probably would have selected either end of May (our Anniversary time) or mid-July.

Linda...if you have any further thoughts on your favorite time of year, please do share. Is Bamfield nicer in summer...
just more busy do you mean? (vs. feeling too isolated?) Thanks again!!!

BowenLinda

Hi, Dreamer,

Mmmm, lots of questions and things to consider...

If the primary point of your trip is to enjoy wildlife watching in Telegraph Cove from late Aug to mid Sept, I'd stick with that timeframe. That time is also great for Tofino (kids back in school on Sept 5th this year, so crowds will be lessened) and Bamfield (much less visited).

Depending on your start-point, you can visit Tofino before or after Telegraph Cove.

The Lady Rose (and her counterpart) do a circle trip of Alberni Inlet, through the Broken Group and Pinkerton Group to Ucluelet, then on to Bamfield and back to Port Alberni, with other stops along the way (note, this is a rough description). You can hop on at the major stops. Sooo, from Ucluelet you could take the Rose to Bamfield, or Sechart, stay a night or two at pre-arranged accommodation, then hop on to complete the circuit. Or, from Sechart, I think you could simply reverse back to Ucluelet.

At Sechart kayaking would be the order-of-the-day. There is a day lodge where you could reserve a room and have your meals, and I'm guessing hiking trails, but that's it. Absolutely gorgeous country (as it all is). At Bamfield, you could kayak or fish or walk (check this out first, though, to make sure it is feasible) to Pachena Bay, a lovely sandy beach over from Bamfield. Take a speed boat from the north (sailor that I am, I think) side of town to the boardwalked, water-access only south side of town.

Re the West Coast Trail: this would take some investigation and planning. As a starting point, look to www.westcoasttrailbc.com/ .

If you were travelling from Telegraph Cove to Tofino, you could stop off at Port Alberni and hop the Rose to your destination (Sechart, Bamfield).

Note, a "circle" trip would be a verrrry long day so I would suggest breaking up your journey by staying overnight at Sechart or Bamfield. The Rose does not transport cars so you cannot, for example, go from Port Alberni to Ucluelet using its services.

I'm guessing the "mail boat" is the Rose since she and her alternate are working vessels. You stop along the way down the Alberni Inlet to drop off supplies (and I imagine mail) to water-access only communities and resorts. Sometimes the Rose simply idles in the inlet while speed boats zoom up to her and the crew fling or off-crane supplies. Pretty neat.

If you've got time in the Telegraph Cove area, take the Port McNeill ferry to Sointula and Alert Bay, both very different communities well worth seeing. Have lunch on the deck of the restaurant as you walk off the ferry approach (great food) and spend a couple of hours walking about. An interesting small museum and hands-on demonstration forge. Alert Bay is a "must" for its native cemetery, long house, tallest totem, and museum. Again, a couple of hours. You could visit both towns in one day easily.

And to complicate matters more for you, another Fodor's poster mentioned MV Uchuck III. "Year-round trips on this working coastal vessel take passengers out into historic Nootka Sound and to the village of Tahsis. The stunning scenery of Nootka Sound, known as the birthplace of British Columbia, has changed little since 1778 when Captain James Cook first set foot on Canada’s west coast." (from a travel site).

I really envy you this trip - I love all three of your proposed destinations.

Cheers,
Linda

Daydreamer

Thank you so, so much Linda!
Have lots to ponder now...
am so torn. :-\

Gosh...still have lots to investigate too (just when I thought I maybe had it all 'down)! ;-)

More later....have to get to bed as it's almost 2am here. Take care!!