More icebergs in Cottrell’s Cove and Brighton in Central Newfoundland

  by Keith and Heather Nicol

     After breakfast we decided to head north on Highway 352 from Botwood to see if the icebergs that Jim Stuckless from the Dockside Inn had told us about were still there. We had the most luck in Cottrell’s Cove and there were lots around but most were quite far from shore. If only we had brought our sea kayaks we thought. Next time!

Cottrell's Cove has a very scenic setting

  Our next destination was another area of the Northeast Coast that we had not visited before. We arrived in Brighton (at the end of Highway 380) in time for lunch. But we had a hard time eating since there was an amazing iceberg right in the harbour that had just had a large chunk of it break off. “That happened just before you arrived” a friendly fisherman told us. “Come down on my wharf to get a better view. “ Before long two more cars had stopped and soon he had a wharf full of tourists chatting and taking pictures. Just then another big piece came off! He then told us there were other larger bergs in view from the short hiking trail on the other side of town so off we went to check those out.

We were invited down on to a wharf to see an iceberg 

 The Cobbler’s Island trail (21 0598697 E 5489434 N) is short and gives a great view of the rugged coastline and we counted 15 icebergs from there. The trail has many stairs but only 150 meters long to the lookout platform. There is a gazebo part way along which was great for getting out of the sun since by then temperatures were again unseasonably warm at 32-33 C. We had planned on checking out some other trails in the area but it was simply too hot for hiking any distance.

There were many icebergs in view from the Cobbler's Island trail

       Back in Triton we visited the Sperm Whale Pavilion which is in a splendid setting right by the ocean. Terry Whalen, a museum guide told us that the whale had come ashore in the Codroy Valley in Southwest Newfoundland and that people in the Triton area had wanted to have a whale display. The pavilion opened 5 years ago and we recommend seeing the 13 meter long sperm whale skeleton and having a guided tour. We stayed that night at Parkers Bluewater Inn (http://www.bluewaterinn.ca/) and ate a nice halibut dinner at Fudge’s Restaurant in Triton.