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Town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Photo: Alicejmichel, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Irish Loop is a broad, sparsely-populated rural area in the southern portion of eastern Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula. To the north is St. John's and the beaten-path Trans-Canada Highway; to the south is open ocean.
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The first lighthouse was installed here by the British Government in 1856. It was replaced in 1907 by the current lighthouse, a 29-metre (95-ft) tall concrete tower and a light.
A UNESCO world heritage listed wilderness area featuring fossil sites. The reserve is 2.5 km along the gravel road to Cape Race from Portugal Cove South. Access within the Reserve is by foot only (no vehicles, no horses, no bikes). Access to view the fossils is by guided tour or permit only (the tour is free, but must be reserved in advance; space is limited). Allow 3-4 hours and about 4km (2.5mi) of walking for the full tour. The area is named "Mistaken Point" as ships mistakenly turning here instead of at Cape Race were at risk of being run aground.
As first landfall in the New World for steamships and ocean liners, Cape Race was once a centre for telegraphy despite its remote location. Messages and international news received from inbound trans-Atlantic ships would arrive here first, to be sent onward from this station to the mainland. A museum of communications and navigation history recalls the April 14, 1912 reception of Titanic’s distress signal. Building is a replica of the 1904 Cape Race Marconi Station and also houses a radio amateur club, VO1MCE.
Interpretive centre provides a historical overview of the Edge of Avalon Heritage Coast. Edge of the Sea souvenir shop with books, posters and local crafts including hooked rugs, knitted woolens, paintings, photography, pottery, jewellery and quilts.
The reserve, four islands between Witless Bay and Bauline, is a nesting area for seabirds which feed on capelin in the area. Tour boats run from Bay Bulls and Witless Bay for bird and whale watching. The boats do not allow passengers to disembark onto the islands, a protected wildlife area.
All-day breakfast, sandwiches, desserts. Dinner at 'Fork' restaurant Tu-Sa 5:30PM-9PM (reservations +1 709 743-3490).
A former convent, now an inn.
The loft sleeps 2 people (queen bed, partial ensuite). A seating area outside the bedroom loft provides a view of the Mobile River; guests can watch TV, use the Internet or relax with a good book. Downstairs, a kitchen (equipped with a propane range, fridge and centre island) and comfortable living room (with a wood stove) is combined with a full bathroom and a small guest room for one person.
While this is Newfoundland sea coast and cruising on small craft was historically the way to reach the small villages, the Irish Loop is fully reachable by motorcar.
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