Cycling UK Forum

We're looking for a bit of advice on touring the above locations.
We are flying in to St John's in Newfoundland and have 3 1/2 weeks available before we need to be in Toronto for a wedding. Our loose plan was to split our time between the 2 areas before either flying or getting a train to Toronto. The stumbling block is that there doesn't seem to be any public transport that is bike friendly in Newfoundland. This means we'll either need to spend the 3 weeks there or just tour in the SE corner of the Island before getting a ferry to NS.

Any advice on suggested routes, areas and transport links from folks who've been there recently would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Dave and Jill

I've cycled in Nova Scotia, i.e. in Cape Breton Island for a week some years ago. It's pretty but it's by no means spectacular. I've not cycled in Newfoundland, but I was there for a week last August/Sept. It is spectacular. We drove the Irish loop which is the one South from St.John's, in good weather. It's gorgeous BUT it's very up and down and the loop is about 215 miles and there's virtually no accommodation on it. You'd have to camp, I imagine, and carry food and water. We also went up North towards Trinity and it also is fab, but the distances are big and so on. Why not hire a van, drive here and there and go for cycles?

I've toured in southern Nova Scotia a couple of times on CTC tours- it was very pleasant (I chose that word with care!).
http://www.crispinbennett.freedomnames. ... Scotia.htm

Haven't been to Cape Breton but would like to.
Prince Edward's Island is raved about by all Nova Scotians but I didn't like it on a later tour - dull and tedious.

The tour was organised by Derek Watts of Wolfville, NS - the local CTC touring contact. Derek will be getting on a bit now, as he was 70 when I knew him, but HQ will be able to put you in contact if that helps.

StirlingCrispin wrote:I've toured in southern Nova Scotia a couple of times on CTC tours- it was very pleasant (I chose that word with care!).
http://www.crispinbennett.freedomnames. ... Scotia.htm

Haven't been to Cape Breton but would like to.
Prince Edward's Island is raved about by all Nova Scotians but I didn't like it on a later tour - dull and tedious.

We get the message. It's boring. Canadians are brought up to believe that Nova Scotia is gorgeous and that Cape Breton Island is stunning. Well, it's not. Anywhere around Cork is more stunning than Cape Breton and to compare Cape Breton to the Highlands of Scotland is just laughable. Cape Breton does have spectacular colours during the Autumn, but that's how it's spectacular. On the other hand, much of what I saw of Newfoundland was lovely. The Irish Loop, the Trinity area etc. Big scenery, far far finer than Cape Breton.

Thanks for the info folks.

We just got back from the trip having limited ourselves to Newfoundland. From what's been said on here and elsewhere that was a good choice.

We had a fantastic time, quiet roads friendly people and good scenery. It did make me realise how lucky we are living in Scotland, at least with respect to scenery.

I'd reccomend Newfoundland as a destination especially if you like seafood. Lobster sandwich $5.50 (about 4 quid) the wee fella had been swiming about that morning!

Dave