Yes.. Rugged Beauty Boat Tours... http://www.ruggedbeautyboattours.net/

Don´t skip Twillingate if you want to see icebergs, which is an amazing experience. They often float into the bay there so you can see them very close. Twillingate was one of the highlights of our trip. Also I would not stay more than one or two nights in St. John´s. Stay in Brigus instead. It is a beautiful place. My advice would be to stay at the http://www.brigusseacliff.ca/ and ask for the Lighthouse room. We were blown away by entering this room and experience the view for the first time. The hosts are lovely people, too.

I'm going to inject a contentious note here and suggest that the Skerwink Trail is not worth the effort unless you like walking on a board walk through forest. There are a few nice coastal outlooks but most of the time all you see is trees. We felt that the time we spent walking it (a decision based on the hype we had read) was wasted and would have been much better spent in Trinity which has tremendous historical interest.

I would, however, fully endorse the comments about Random Passage.

Evening all !

Much thanks for your continued feedback - I am weaving in so many suggestions to our travel plans. We have decided to stay one night in Cape St Mary's so we will have a chance on 2 days at clear weather then traveling from there to St Johns so hopefully we can hit St Vincents and other spots on the way.

CapeRace - thanks for the boat tour suggestion - I have looked into Rugged Beauty further and it is just what we are looking for.

I would also like to take a tour from the Witless Bay Area - I have seen suggestions for both Obrien's and Gatheralls - anyone have any recent experience with either (or an alternative suggestion?

We use an operator out of St. John's for our customers called Oceanquest. Adventures. While they specialize in diving, they have recently expanded into the adventure market. We send our customers as observers on the dive boats as they dive amongst the whales- much more exciting as they are part of the expedition. You can help out or just hang out. (he has a new spa at the lodge where the boat departs from) Contact Rick. http://www.oceanquestadventures.com/

Also, my facts may be wrong--but I think the Skirwink trail is actually a loop that does go through the forest-- but also loops back along the coast. The above poster may not have known this. We recommend it as a more "social" trail as it can get busy- some like this, others do not. Your choice. Be sure to drop in to see John Fisher at Fisher Loft-- Great food and accommodation in the Trinity area--(tell him I said he would buy you a beer... ) have fun... Ken http://www.fishersloft.com/Default.asp

Hi IDB7
This is great..and Ken thanks for contacting us and yes we do have some exciting trips..
Close Encounters: Snorkeling with Humpback Whales…..or touch an Iceberg…boating into Sea Caves….It’s all Guided!

Ocean Discovery: We actually take you underwater , on SCUBA, to see the underwater ecosystem and see the marine life of Newfoundland and Labrador..No experience in SCUBA Diving necessary… It’s Guided!

Submarine War & Ore Tour: Where you get an interactive experience of a part day on the bay and part underground mine tour…hitting on Adventure, Culture, heritage and history of Bell Island…..

All out tours are unique, exciting and Sexy! They range from 129-199 for the ½ to full day tours.

We also have a Spa and 4 star resort in Conception bay South.

Hope this is exciting to you…

All the best,
Rick
[email protected]
www.oceanquestadventures.com
Ocean Quest inc.
709-685-4565

I'll endorse CapeRace's assessment of the Skerwink Trail, rather than that of wasleys. It's true, the trail has parts that pass through basically generic Newfoundland forest, and these parts look like any other trail. But it also has those striking coastal overlooks with interesting rock formations. There are also some great panoramic views from high altitudes, which are unusual, especially if you take the quick spur trail up to the little overlook with a picnic table. It also includes a nice rocky beach, and it passes through a big meadow with some serene ponds. All in all, I'd say it's a pretty diverse hiking trail.

@CapeRace, I can assure you that we did not take the short loop back to the car park but went round the coast along the full length of the Skerwink Trail.

@hawksbill,The trail doesn't just have parts that go through forest, most of it does apart from a dull finish once you get away from the coastal meadows. The parts that are on the coast were not worthwhile by our standards.

We did the full loop, clockwise, from the car park. There is an initial, boring section along the old tramway before you start to rise to moderately attractive semi-open country. The forest gets thicker and there is a section near the coast where you get occasional views of some interesting but not wildly exciting sea stacks and a pleasant view across the bay. (Care, especially with children, is needed in some places to get to points where you can see the stacks clearly.)

In my opinion at this point you may as well return to the car because what follows is only worth doing if you want some exercise. For most of the time you are on a well maintained board walk through close forest. There are a number of significant climbs and descents. There are a few places where you come onto open headlands - the view down to Dog Cove Beach is pleasant enough - but in general these few open spots do not give views that are in any way exceptional.

As you descend to sea level you get some pleasant views across to Trinity. Once by the sea there is a fairly ordinary beach and a passable stroll through grassland but this is followed by a tedious section back to the car.

Skerwink has been billed as one of the best 35 walks in North America and Europe and one of the top three in Canada. Frankly, that is laughable. We found several trails in Labrador and the Northern Peninsula which blow this one away. There were several short local trails we found in Newfoundland which took you onto headlands with views far better than these offer. In UK we have been on coastal walks in Wales, the Western Isles and Shetland which leave these standing.

I am aware that the Skerwink Trail is some sort of holy cow and that people flock there because it is on the 'must-see' list (hence my use of "contentious" earlier). Obviously it depends on what you like, what your expectations are and what your experience has been, but for me this one was a waste of time.

"Best 35 walks in North America and Europe"? "Top three in Canada"? I'll agree, that's just laughable. I think maybe it's one of the top three hikes on the Bonavista Peninsula. Although I can't say that I've traveled the area exhaustively.

wasleys, at some point I'm going to ask you to recommend those trails in the Northern Peninsula and Labrador. But that's not relevant to this thread, so I guess we can save that discussion for another time...

I must clarify one point. My comment about some UK walks "which leave these standing" was badly written and should have been "which leave Skerwink standing". The other walks in NL which I mentioned were all good.

@hawksbill, Ask away, although I may take a while to reply as I don't get in Fodor's much these days. We had five weeks in NL and NS last autumn and I am currently (and very belatedly) putting together a website of pictures and notes from that trip which I will link to in this forum when uploaded and which may answer your questions.

Evening All,

Thanks for the info - we are planning 4 nights in the Bonavista/Trinity area so weather and schedule dependent we will likely try to hike Skerwink Trail, after all the discussion I feel compelled to check it out now -I'll include my impressions in a trip report when we get back !

Ken - I'll make sure to mention your name at the Fishers Loft - I definitely plan to go there to drink and dine. I will follow with oceanquest for more details. We will be in that area the week of June 20th - will we likely be too early for whales?

Technically the whales should be arriving.... a few years ago they were all late. We have a chart on our website (click the dot to freeze the picture) that illustrates when the birds, whales and icebergs arrive and depart. http://www.caperace.com/thingstoseed...tseeing-new/#9 I think you are arriving at a perfect time for nature- could be a little wet- there is a saying here-- there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes...

Have a great trip!

Ken