Welcome to the windy, colourful and boisterous capital of Newfoundland. You will need to find your way to your charming B&B in the centre of town (details are provided with your final documents). Spend the rest of the day exploring one of the oldest cities in North America, discovering its bright-painted heritage houses and buildings, restaurants, galleries and antique shops. Your accommodation is also close to the legendary nightlife and live music on George Street.

Meals:  Nil

Technically today’s loop is not part of the East Trail, but it’s too beautiful to miss. We walk along a lake north of St John’s to the old fishing village of Quidi Vidi (pronounced Kiddy Viddy), which is home to the province’s largest microbrewery, and an acclaimed restaurant in one of the oldest buildings in North America (lunch reservations are required). After refreshing yourself with Quidi Vidi’s Iceberg beer, made with the pure waters of 20,000-year-old iceberg water, head over to the Sugarloaf Path located at the southern end of the ECT. It’s a solid hike up to the top of Bowdens Highland for an incredible view over the village, and St John’s in the distance. The walk back to your B&B in the city follows a gorgeous coastal path, crossing the National Historic Site of Signal Hill and the Battery of St John’s Harbour.

Meals:  B

Today you'll be putting in at Shoe Cove, which was mostly used as a summer fishing station. Shoe Cove Road, constructed circa 1900, links the cove to the highway and allowed local families to homestead in the area nearby. After heading west and crossing Shoe Cove Brook, the trail continues along a traditional cow path through coastal woods on the cove's steep eastern slope. Cattle used to roam the community pasture nearby between the 1960s and the early 2000s, the early operational years of Shoe Cove's chief pasture. Lookout points and side trails along the day's route overlook Shoe Cove Island, exposed rock ledges and a few gorgeous waterfalls. You will reach Stiles Cove, where seals would haul up on sea ledges to rest and hunt in coves with streams frequented by salmon. Beyond this point are more wooded tracks, a known eagle's nest to keep an eye out for, and more sweeping views. You'll be picked up and brought back to St. John's once you reach Flatrock.

Meals:  B,L

After breakfast and an early morning transfer, you'll pick up the day's hike near where you left off the day before in Flatrock. An exposed rock face that you will encounter, called Flat Rocks, serves as the namesake for the area and is dotted with glacial erratics. The first kilometer that you will hike today comes to a point on an outcrop called The Beamer. Gulls will nest on The Beamer which makes for an interesting sight, though you will want to avoid approaching them. You will soon encounter a Second World War observation post above Fanny's Gulch before pressing onwards to a viewpoint near a cliff that has split along a large quartz vein. The optional Church Cove Loop side trail provides views of a secluded waterfall, a kittiwake nesting site and the best vantage point over the multiple 'faces' of Turks Head cliff. In passing through woods, and across streams and fields you will reach a national historic site that was active in the Seven Years War (1756-1763). In 1962, Lt. Col. William Amherst marched a British force of 1500 men that he successfully landed in the area to retake St. John's from the French as the last action of the war during the Battle of Signal Hill. From here you will be shuttled to Bay Bulls where you will stay the next two nights. In the afternoon, you will embark on a small ship cruise for whale watching and puffin viewing.

Meals:  B,L,D

You will be picked up after breakfast and taken to the trail head at Petty Harbour for your hike to Cape Spear, the most easterly point of the continent, in the shadow of the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and Labrador, and an iconic symbol of the province’s maritime history. Your hike will feature board-walked bog crossings, a variety of terrains, two river crossings and expansive views of deep swells rolling in across the Atlantic. You have plenty of time to explore the Cape Spear Lighthouse, which was originally built in 1836 and rebuilt in 1955 using the active light of the original lighthouse before you are transferred back to Bay Bulls.

Meals:  B,L,D

After a hearty breakfast, you take on two of the easier sections of the East Coast Trail, ending at the famous brightly-painted saltbox houses in the community of Tors Cove. With its epic views of blue ocean, rocks, field and forest, “the Cribbies” is the most photographed meadow in Newfoundland. It has one of the best views of the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, and fairy-tale magic about the place. The trail hugs the shoreline with lovely shore and coastal views all the way to the reserve, which is a sanctuary for puffins and migrating seabirds. The area is also a popular feeding ground for humpback whales, so keep an eye out for tails and breaches. After reaching the Cribbies you'll be brought to a lovely accommodation in Port Kirwan with home cooked meals and delightful island hospitality.

Meals:  B,L,D

If there’s a single photo of your trip that will stop people in their tracks, it will be the massive sea arch at Berry Head located on the Spurwink Island Path section of the trail. Chunks of the stratified archway continue to fall to the ground below, while the reflecting ocean window is sublime on a summer day. You have the option of hiking the full distance southwards from Aquaforte back to your accommodation or to do an out-and-back hike to the archway from your accommodation. Both options result in similar hiking distances, but the latter (out and back) route avoids the north section, which is a rugged hike through dense forest with few coastal views.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today, sparkling turquoise waters and cliffside boardwalk await you at La Manche Provincial Park. The 50-metre/164-foot long swaying La Manche suspension bridge is another highlight of the East Coast Trail, crossing a tranquil cove that once serviced a long-abandoned fishing village. You’ll continue south along the Flamber Head Path, one of the more remote, underrated sections of the ECT. The trail rolls over wooded hills, headlands and cliff-faces with sweeping coastal views, concluding at your pick-up point in the charming little harbour community of Brigus South. You should note that the segment of trail approaching Brigus South involves some rugged terrain and can be more challenging in adverse conditions. A home-cooked meal awaits back in Port Kirwan.

Meals:  B,L,D

Beginning with grassy meadows and mixed woods, today's path crosses numerous brooks in taking you to a fantastic lookout point overlooking The Forge. This monumental cinder block of rock regularly has high waves break over it during rough seas. This is one of many impressive lookout points to be found on the day's hike which also features views of Renews harbour, of a thriving cormorant colony nesting on Renews Island, and of more waves breaking over rocks and sea-washed ledges. Upon your return to Port Kirwan, you'll be provided another home-cooked meal as you reflect on the day's adventure.

Meals:  B,L,D

Beginning at the Bay Path Trailhead, your return path into the city will be hilly, with a few steep climbs or descents, the coastal path traces a long ridge past a former settlement, an old mine and is the location of several shipwrecks. A placard at Fort Amherst, which still houses the remains of WWII gun emplacements and signs of the 17th century Ford Frederick, signals the end of the East Coast Trail. From here you will walk back to St. John’s. Having ticked off some of the most magnificent hikes in Newfoundland, celebrate with some screech in the boisterous pubs on George Street.

Meals:  B,L

Services end after breakfast. We hope you enjoyed your stay at 'the Rock'!

Meals:  B