Camino de la Isla - Island Walk Prince Edward Island

I have been very fortunate...many walking adventures...Nepal (Khumbu Valley 1996), Switzerland (Via Jacobi 2013), France (Via Gebennensis 2013, Via Podiensis 2013), Spain (Camino Frances 2014, Camino Finisterre 2014), Japan (Kumano Kodo 2015), Portugal, Spain (Camino Portuguese 2018), Spain (Camino Primitivo 2022, Camino San Salvador 2022)...best guess 3,350 kms over 126 walking days.

Oh and England (Thames River Oxford to Windsor 2015...no I did not see the Queen 🥲)...105 kms over 9 walking days...however in my stats analyses I do not count this walk...mainly because of a special member of this group...explanation later.

However, unless you count a 3 day backpack trip in the Canadian Rockies with my brother Marc eons ago feels like late 1800s or perhaps early 1900s, never in Canada...however this is about to change ☺️.

In Sept 2021 I first heard of the Island Walk...also known as the Camino de la Isla in Prince Edward Island...703 km starting in Charlottetown (birthplace of Canada)...circumnavigating (yes you can say this even if you don’t go by water) Prince Edward Island in a clockwise manner and ending up 32 days later in Charlottetown.

Amazing! Captured my interest immediately...clearly an adventure! Little did I know until I started looking at this seriously ahem a few weeks ago 😂 just what an adventure the planning process would be. So yes it is happening...Day 1 walking starts May 17, 2023!

The Island Walk - Camino de la Isla

In 2019 Dawn and I spent a week in PEI...B&B in Charlottetown...rented a car and puttered around the Western part of the island. That was super fun...everything Anne of Green Gables...with one of the highlights eating at the original Richards Fish & Chips at Covehead Wharf which was incredible! 

Turns out I will walk right by Richards Fish & Chips on Day 14 however early in the morning before Richards opens however it closes at 7:30 pm 🤔! Day 13 is 28 kms and end point accommodation is 5.5 kms away from Richards sooo...with a little hustling another 11 kms...have THE best fish & chips...39 kms back in motel...a possible plan ☺️.

Now the opportunity to walk around the entire island while still young...just turned 66 (geez that's closer to 70 than 60 😳...this shouldn’t too much a shock as I have been closer to 70 since the day I turned 65 🤣)...is there.

Island Walk History

The background from The Island Walk guidebook by Bryson Guptill...

"In 2016, my partner, Sue, and I spent five weeks walking the 800 km Camino Frances from France to Spain. It was our first experience in long distance walking, but it was not our last. 

In April 2019, we returned to Europe and walked the Rota Vicentina in Portugal. We were especially taken with the 230 km Historical Way (Camino Historico) which passes through many small towns and villages not unlike the small towns where we live in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada. It occurred to us that we could develop a similar path in PEI which would pass through the Island’s beautiful rural landscape, while adding many spectacular vistas of the sea.

We returned to Canada in May, and I set to work mapping a route for a Walk Around the Island. The route wouldn’t include every harbour and bay – that would have stretched to more than 1,200 km. Instead, we focused on an abbreviated path using secondary roads, red dirt roads and the Island’s Confederation Trail. The route would cover 700 km and would take at least a month to complete. That seemed like an achievable goal but setting out and doing it was more challenging than we thought."

Recently the Island Walk has caught the world’s attention...a few examples

Travel & Leisure magazine Nov 2022 article names PEI as one of the top places to travel in 2023 and mentions the Island Walk...with this picture

Kiwi.com Dec 2022 article on Top 10 places in world to travel in 2023

“Canada's open plains and stunning mountains are a clear draw for adventure-seekers the world over, so poor old Prince Edward Island (Canada’s smallest province) gets forgotten about. However you can pretty much get every aspect of the country right here: cliffs, beaches, forests, cities, villages, fields and, curiously 27 golf courses. It’s also just opened the 435-mile-long Island Walk, a trail that circles the entire island.

To walk the whole path would take a little over a month, but you can of course choose to section-hike as

much or as little as you want. It’s relatively easy terrain for the most part, and 12 to 15 miles a day is possible. Indeed the island is pretty small, so you’re never that far from a bit of comfort or something to eat and drink. Many of the villages will have cozy seafront restaurants, and the provincial capital, Charlottetown, is home to a number of gastro pubs and bistros. If you’re looking to dip your toe in Canada this might be the perfect introduction”

The Plan - Guy Style 🤣

 

Went back to basics and analyses of past walks...as mentioned Thames River Walk did not factor in this analysis simply due to the following...

Much time spent prying Dennis off various posts

Much time spent enticing Dennis to start walking again after post hanging episodes

As outlined in an earlier post I developed a simple formula to estimate the time taken to walk considering elevation gains/losses. Of course there are many other factors to consider...weather conditions...trail conditions etc. etc. but one has to start somewhere!

Kms walked per hour level surface - 5.5 kms

Additional time taken for 1,000 m elevation gain - 1.0 hour

Additional time taken for 1,000 m elevation loss - .6 hour

Example: Use 5.0 kms flat surface walking to make calculation easier

Day X walk 25 kms with 1,000 m elevation gain and a 1,000 m elevation loss so a pretty tough day!

Expected time to walk: 25/5 = 5 hours if all was level however we need to add 1.6 hours for elevation G/L for a total of 6.6 hrs.

Walked distance: 25 kms

Adjusted walking distance (AWD) if it was all level surface walking: 5 x 6.6 = 33 kms. This essentially means that this 25 km distance feels like 33 km.

Average walking speed per hour: 25/6.6 = 3.79 kms per hour

The key then is not the Walked Distance but the Adjusted Walking Distance or AWD.

In looking at past walks the average AWD per day were:

    - All 8 Caminos + Kumano Kodo - 31.1 kms per day...126 walking days

    - Camino Frances (2014)  - 34.0 kms per day...27 walking days

    - Camino Primitivo & Camino San Salvador (2022) - 31.7 kms per day...17 walking days

The Island Walk PEI is essentially flat as the highest point in PEI is ~140 m high! Based on this voodoo math I boldly decided to double up 8 stages and plan an itinerary of 24 days for the 700+ km walk. So...the AWD is projected to be:

    - Island Walk (2023) - 30.0 kms per day...24 walking days

    - Coast to Coast (2023) - 28.3 kms per day...13 walking days

So no one can say that I am not adjusting for advancing years...just look at the decreasing AWD trend per year between 2014 and 2023...34.0, 31.7, 30.0, 28.3! Ok might doing it a little grudgingly perhaps...we will see what is possible.

A second measurement is what I call Red, Yellow and Green days...I think the meaning of the colours is pretty obvious:

    - Red being a day where the AWD is >= 40 kms

    - Yellow being a day where the AWD is >= 30 and < 40 kms

    - Green being a day where the AWD is < 30 kms

All 8 Caminos + Kumano Kodo

    - Red 13 days or 10%

    - Yellow 60 days or 48%

    - Green 53 days or 42%

Camino Frances (2013)

    - Red 3 days or 11%

    - Yellow 17 days or 63%

    - Green 7 days or 26%

Camino Primitivo and Camino San Salvador (2022)

    - Red 2 days or 12%

    - Yellow 8 days or 47%

    - Green 7 days or 41%

Island Walk or Camino de la Isla (2023)

    - Red 6 days or 25%

    - Yellow 3 days or 12%

    - Green 15 days or 63%

Phew...now that this planning was complete I started looking at accommodation choices however soon realized this was a very big challenge well above my pay grade so I essentially gave up 🤣.  When the Island Walk was planned the objective was to map out ~ 20 km daily stages without necessarily having available accommodation choices at day’s end.

I then I decided to utilize the services of Experience PEI (Bill)  https://www.experiencepei.ca/tour_category/tour-island-walk-coordination-services/... to coordinate accommodation bookings and transportation to/from. I can’t say enough about how valuable Bill has been in coordinating all this! A couple of days remain to finalize things however 90% of the plan is in place. All I have to do is walk...☺️ and enjoy!

How I expect the Island Walk to differ from previous Camino walks

Cost - I won’t get in actual $ here...if really interested please contact me directly. Having said that the accommodation is all private and therefore higher. I am walking alone which increases the cost significantly. Compared to a Camino walk with a walking partner likely at least 3X+ higher.

Accommodation/Transportation - As indicated earlier many daily endpoints have minimal or no accommodation choices necessitating going forward or backward utilizing shuttles/taxis and then reversing the process the next morning. It’s pretty wild...never ever encountered this in any Camino walk. It’s largely a symptom of the fact that the Island Walk is very newly developed and it will take time for accommodation choices to emerge i.e. Airbnb etc. Clearly much effort has already been expended to get the Island Walk up and running to the credit of Bryson Guptill and others.

In a messenger discussion with Bryson the current force behind the Island Walk initiative he indicated that the number of walkers who have completed the entire walk is likely in the 50+ range. So once again I find myself at the leading edge of something new 🤣 ok that is supposed to be a joke if you really know me!

Ok here is the biggest surprise of the 24 day walk:

    - 14 days have at least 1 shuttle/taxi requirement

    - 18 shuttle/taxi rides in total...so 4 days have morning/evening

    - 333 kms estimated of shuttle/taxi rides

An actual example 🤣 Day 1 Walk from Charlottetown to Dunedin 21 kms...however there is no accommodation in Dunedin. 

Option 1 (original option) - Day 1 end shuttle from Dunedin on to Victoria; Day 2 morning shuttle from Victoria back to Dunedin and then walk to Victoria 21 kms Day 3 - 41 kms walk to Summerside

Option 2 (new possibility) - Day 1 end shuttle from Dunedin back to Charlottetown; Day 2 morning shuttle from Charlottetown to Dunedin and walk to Borden-Carleton 41 kms. Day 3 walk from Borden - Carleton to Summerside 21 kms. 

I have indicated I prefer Option 2...another night in Charlottetown is likely best option…will see! Interesting logistics!

This could change a bit depending on whether the last 3 nights accommodation requests come through as required...if they don’t well these numbers creep up a bit 🤣. Note however the integrity of the walk will be maintained 100%...return always to point left off day earlier!

Hmmm 🤔 risk being left in the middle of nowhere...sleeping in the woods or on a park bench given a missed shuttle/taxi pickup did not occur. Nah...why would that happen? Even if does it’s Canada and PEI to boot...all will be good mantra required. ☺️

Significant advantages vis a vis Camino walks - I am in Canada! No currency concerns, passport issues, language eh! I can function well in both official languages, elevation gains/losses are simply not a factor!

Interesting other challenges vis a vis Camino walks - It’s really difficult to imagine what this walk will really be like...the section below outlines what the Island Walk website https://islandwalk.ca describes for each day. Notable observations:

    - Road walking is mentioned often...believe I saw somewhere upwards of 25% of the route which isn’t that bad but significant. Many walking days will be on well graded paths ie Confederation trail which should be easy...maybe at times tedious walking. A number of walking days will be spectacular with incredible views...quite a contrast from day to day.

    - It will often be a lonely walk...50+ have completed the entire route...300 or so walked parts of the Island Walk last year. Expect there will be days where I will be moving along and day dreaming big time! While I have greatly enjoyed the company of others on my long walks I am also quite good with walking alone. To date on my Camino Walks and Kumano Kodo the breakdown is:

        - Walking blissfully alone 48 days or 39% (after Island Walk 72 days or 48%)

        - Walking with partner 78 days or 61% (after Island Walk 78 days or 52%)

    - Starvation risk is high 😂🤔🥲 Of the 24 walking days the information below on the Island Website indicates that 14 or the 24 days or more than half require a packed lunch! This means that there is nada between start and finish for the day...either have food/water in the pack or you wait and hope you make it to your destination...or eat berries...or can you eat raw potatoes?

    - Red/Yellow/Green breakdown is really skewed...much more so than any other walk I have attempted. To be honest this may well be my biggest concern...how will this old guy/Guy handle the six 40+ kms days...2 of which are 46 kms which ties my previous longest day on the Camino Frances from Burgos to Castojeriz. Opposite this are the high number of short Green days...many under 25 kms meaning some early afternoon stops and/or major dawdling through the day! Overall the average is 30 kms however just looking at averages is always very deceiving...it’s the outliers that make the difference.

    - Packa rain gear test...after all the hype prior to the Camino Primitivo and Camino San Salvador where no rain fell I expect the Packa will be tested for sure. How will it hold up?

    - HOKA Speedgoat V5 - Xmas sale 20% off...how could I not buy? Unfortunately they didn’t have the real snazzy ones I had in Spain...so I bought these...not sure if they meet my standard of looking real good with the Tilley hat and Clooney shades. If not...ok...will have tons of alone time 🤣

A little worried about image here!

    - Getting lost...have been in discussion with Bryson Guptill about GPX tracks that do not seem to have been properly loaded onto the Island Walk website. He indicated this will be looked at and hopefully resolved before my walk...most helpful and appreciated. I keep hearing it’s very difficult to get lost with signs posted at every major turning point and signs every 5 kms. Even if I don’t have Wikiloc tracks to follow I will record a set of tracks and upload it to Wikiloc database for the next walker.

The latter may seem insignificant to many however believe me when you are walking long stretches you start wondering if you missed a turning point...it’s a bit unnerving at times. Worst case scenario I keep walking, walking, walking and eventually I will hit the ocean...flag down a boat/ship/naval destroyer/submarine whatever and make my way back to Charlottetown that way. ☺️

    - Blogging...ok I have been known to stretch out innocuous little things into something big...however wonder if I will be able to do this for 24 days especially on days in the Island Walk daily description below “road walking”. Hmmm...this may stretch the old blogging noggin too far...may be days where no story...just pictures...others fake story with no pictures or....

    - Dangerous animals...this may be the most puzzling aspect of the entire walk. Sure there will be the usual culprits...dogs, cows, chickens, bee swarms, slugs and snakes (apparently 3 kinds of garter snakes including a green one). 

But what about all the creatures that live in the ocean? That’s the real danger for a land lubber like me! I won’t be swimming for sure in the ocean but what about walking on the sandy beaches?

    - Do Great White sharks (waters likely infested with them) ever come out of the ocean on stealth attacks? Ditto for poisonous jelly fish, sea snakes, manta rays, lobsters 🦞?

     - Crabs, crayfish, clams...do they attempt to bite and worse while walking on a serene beach?

    - Goodness knows what else is out there 😳

Overall 

Many unknowns...it’s an adventure...walking long days no matter where is always incredible...definitely looking forward to this...all will be good! Enough with the planning!

Island Walk Website description of the daily walks

For each day there is a From X to Y and # of kms. A short description of the day follows with a Points of Interest outlined. Note food is a very big point of interest which is just perfect 🤣.

Where I plan on doubling up days...first one Day 3 & 4 you will note Day 4 (3) is shown...meaning Day 4 on official Island Walk route and (3) being my day 3. Also Day 4 (3) shows 21 kms (41)...this simply means that I have combined official Day 3 - 20 km and Day 4 - 21 km. 

Also please note Day 16 (12) shows bridge jumping as a point of interest....hmm I wonder if that would make up for the fact that years ago I chickened out of parachute jumping, have never entertained bungee jumping? 🤔 My only dangerous activity I can think of was canoeing with friends on the Manigotogan River and shooting white water rapids within minutes...first time in a canoe. I did not even realize that being sideways opposite a large rock in furious white water was a bad thing...thought it was just a nice break 🤣. Why would the bow and stern sections bend around the stupid rock...water can’t be that powerful...can it?😳

Day 1 - Charlottetown to Dunedin – 21 km

Mostly a road walk with some great views of North River in Charlottetown and the Elliot River in Dunedin.

Points of Interest:

• Cow’s Ice Cream
• Matos Winery
• Lunch in Cornwall:
• Subway 
• Mary’s bakery
• Grocery store
• Dinner in Clyde River: Ozzie’s Pub & Grillhouse

Day 2 - Dunedin to Victoria – 24 km

Lots of walking on red dirt roads with a canopy of trees overhead. Two of the nicest quiet dirt roads on PEI - Rebokary Lane and Ferguson Rd.

Points of Interest:

• Victoria is a town of 200 souls – it has its own theatre, chocolate factory, art gallery & fine pottery shop. Be sure to walk on the road beside Red Sand Beach.
• Lunch in DeSable:
• Blue Goose
• Dinner in Victoria:
• Landmark Oyster House
• Lobster Barn
• Casa Mia by the Sea

Day 3 (3) - Victoria to Borden-Carleton – 20 km

Starts with dirt road walking and then some road walking with a great view of the Confederation bridge.

Points of Interest:

• The Confederation Bridge is the longest bridge in the world over ice covered water (13 km)
• Antique stores just before Carleton
• Packed lunch required as there are no eating establishments until Carleton
• Vinny’s restaurant and takeout has great pizza
• Lone Oak Brewery serves great local beer and Terry’s Berries Foodtruck provides delicious food to pair with the brew!

Day 4 (3) - Borden-Carleton to Summerside – 21 km (41 km)

Walk by farms and fields and through small communities, including Central Bedeque. Busy road entrance to Summerside (8 km), then a peaceful walk on the Confederation Trail right through the city.

Points of Interest:

• Summerside is PEI’s second largest city and is home to a beautiful waterfront.
• Eptek Centre
• Harbourfront theatre
• Lots of dinner options in the city of Summerside.  Try Samuels for coffee and great snacks.
• Enjoy a cold treat at Holman’s Ice Cream Parlor
• Lunch in Central Bedeque:
• Callbeck’s

Day 5 (4) - Summerside to Wellington – 22 km

A quiet walk along the tree-lined Confederation Trail.

Points of Interest:

• Packed lunch required as there are no eating establishments until Wellington. 
• Dinner in Wellington:
• Chez Char
• La Lobster Shack
• Wellington Pizza & Seafood

Day 6 (5) - Wellington to McNeil Mills – 23 km

Confederation Trail walking through small communities along the way.

Points of Interest:

• The beautiful town of Tyne Valley is worth the side trip.
• The amazing Backwoods Burger in Tyne Valley where PEI craft beer is also available.
• Richmond Dairy Bar nearby

Day 7 (5) - McNeil's Mills to O’Leary – 23 km (46 km)

Confederation Trail walking through some small communities.

Points of Interest:

• Packed lunch is required as there are no eating establishments until O’Leary
• Dinner in O’Leary:
• Vinny’s Restaurant
• Maple Leaf Curling Club

Day 8 (6) - O’Leary to Miminegash – 19 km

Starts on the Confederation Trail, then switches to dirt road walking and ends with a short walk along the shoulder of Rte 14 with coastal vistas.

 Points of Interest:

• Potato Museum in O’Leary
• Maple House Bakery and Cafe in O’Leary can prepare a delicious lunch to go
• Packed lunch is required
• Dinner in Miminegash:
• Deagle’s Gas Bar has delicious fresh baked cinnamon buns
• Tremblay’s Grocery

Day 9 (7) - Miminegash to Christopher Cross – 20 km

Road walking with great views of the Northumberland Strait, Skinner's Pond, and lobster boats setting traps.

Points of Interest:

• Stompin’ Tom Centre, Skinner’s Pond
• Packed lunch is required

Day 10 (7) - Christopher Cross to Anglo Tignish - 20 km (40 km)

A road walk past windmills, then spectacular views of Elephant Rock, Black Marsh, and North Cape lighthouse. Part of Black Marsh Nature Trail.

Points of Interest:

• Great red cliff formations
• The Black Marsh Trail
• North Cape Lighthouse
• The North Cape Wind Energy Interpretive Centre and wind farm
• Restaurant in the North Cape Gift Shop
• Wind and Reef Restaurant (check the hours)
• Packed lunch is required

Day 11 (8) - Anglo Tignish to Alberton – 26 km

A peaceful road walk beside the Gulf, with great side trip possibilities out to Kildare Capes.

Points of Interest:

• Kildare Capes
• St. Simon & St. Jude Church, Tignish
• A packed lunch is required unless you take a 2 km (return) detour into Tignish. MJ’s Bakery is a good spot for lunch, and Our Family Traditions is a fine family-style restaurant.
• Dinner options are available in Alberton

Day 12 (9) - Alberton to Portage – 25 km

Views of quiet bays and harbours at Cascumpec, then back on the Confederation Trail.

Points of Interest:

• Old Alberton Railway station
• Northport Pier as a side trip or for supper
• Packed lunch is required

Day 13 (10) - Portage to Northam – 20 km

A Confederation Trail walk through Ellerslie and on to Northam.

Points of Interest:

• Packed lunch required
• Dinner in Tyne Valley:
• Backwoods Burger is worth a second visit

Day 14 (10) - Northam to Miscouche – 21 km (41 km)

First, a quiet walk along Country roads and fields, then a road walk along Grand River, followed by a red dirt road into Miscouche.

Points of Interest:

• Packed lunch required

Day 15 (11) - Miscouche to Kensington – 22 km

A secluded walk along the Confederation Trail into Summerside, past city streets and bungalows beside the trail, then a rail trail walk past potato fields into Kensington.

Points of Interest:

• National Historic Site of the Railway Station in Kensington
• Cooks Corner in Miscouche is a good spot for breakfast
• Lots of places in Summerside for lunch
• Dinner in Kensington:
• Island Stone Pub
• Go! Fish Eatery has great fish and chips

Day 16 (12) - Kensington to Bayview (Cavendish) – 24 km (29 km)

A road walk with spectacular ocean views, fishing villages, and a National Park.

Points of Interest:

• The Table Culinary Studio
• L. M. Montgomery’s birthplace
• Village Pottery
• Water sports in Stanley Bridge at the Inn at the Pier
• Bridge jumping
• Dinner options:
• Sou’West Restaurant, New London
• Carr’s Oyster Bar, Stanley Bridge

Day 17 (13) – Bayview (Cavendish) to Cymbria (9 kms past) – 24 km (28 km)

A walk along a paved hiking trail, followed by a beach walk into North Rustico and a road walk to Cymbria.

Points of Interest:

• PEI National Park
• Cavendish Main Beach
• Green Gables Heritage Site
• Site of L. M.  Montgomery’s Cavendish Home
• Montgomery statue
• Green Gables Post Office
• Farmers Bank and Doucet House
• Cavendish is home to a lot of great restaurants
• Dinner in North Rustico:
• Blue Mussel Cafe
• On the Dock Eatery

 

Day 18 (14) - Cymbria (9 kms past) to Dalvay – 21 km

A road walk in the Park, with great Gulf views.  Lots of opportunities to beach walk.

Points of Interest:

• PEI National Park:
• Robinson’s Island
• Brackley Beach
• Stanhope Beach
• Dalvay by the Sea
• Gaudreau Fine Woodworking
• Packed lunch required
• Dinner options:
• Shaw’s 
• The Dunes
• Dalvay

Day 19 (14) - Dalvay to Mt. Stewart – 23 km (36 km)

A road walk to the Confederation Trail, then trail walking through marshes.

Points of Interest:

• See beautiful marsh grasses and wildlife
• Packed lunch required
• Dinner options:
• Robin’s Donuts
• Scotchfort Cafe and bakery, Mt Stewart

Day 20 (15) - Mt. Stewart to St. Peter’s – 27 km

One of the most scenic sections of the Confederation Trail past bridges, fields and spectacular views of St. Peter's Bay where you can see two lovely white clapboard churches.

Points of Interest:

• See hundreds of mussel buoys in St Peters Bay and various Tourist shops
• Lunch in Morell:
• Holy Cow 
• Dinner in St. Peters:
• Rick’s Fish and Chips

Day 21 (16) - St. Peter’s to New Zealand – 23 km (31 km to Tignish Inn)

A peaceful walk through a forested section of the Confederation Trail.

Points of Interest:

• Beautiful lakes along the trail close to New Zealand
• Packed lunch required
• Seaside Bakery, New Zealand

Day 22 (17) - New Zealand to Elmira – 21 km

A walk on the Confederation Trail through a bird sanctuary and nature, including a spiritual spring next to the trail.

Points of Interest:

• Elmira train museum which serves ice cream when open
• Packed lunch required

Day 23 (17) - Elmira to Bothwell – 22 km (46 km – 3 km to Singing Sands)

Leave the Confederation Trail and road-walk past North Lake.  Opportunities to beach walk all the way to East Point, then a road walk to Bothwell.

Points of Interest:

• Meeting of the tides at East Point
• Opportunities to beach walk at low tide all the way to East Point
• Seal sightings
• East Point Lighthouse
• Wind farm
• Lunch at the East Point Lighthouse Cafe

Day 24 (18) - Bothwell to Souris – 21 km

From Bothwell, a walk out to Basin Head beach, then along peaceful dirt roads, entering Souris from quiet side streets.

Points of Interest:

• Basin Head fisheries museum
• Singing sands
• Magdalen Island Ferry
• St Mary’s church (sandstone)
• During summer there is a small resto and ice cream at Basin Head
• Various dinner options in Souris:
• 21 Breakwater
• 2 grocery stores
• Tim Horton’s

Day 25 (19) - Souris to Howe Bay – 20 km (27 km – 7 km to Ned’s Landing)

A road walk, followed by beautiful vistas of Fortune River, then a road walk to Howe Bay blueberry fields.

Points of Interest:

• Many small trails around the Inn at Spry Point and  Sally’s Beach
• Wine and charcuterie board at Inn at Spry Point

Day 26 (20) - Howe Bay to Cardigan – 24 km

Quiet dirt roads.

Points of Interest:

• A new Amish community in Bridgetown, llamas, two white clapboard churches, and a pretty harbour.
• Clamdigger’s Restaurant, Cardigan

Day 27 (20) - Cardigan to Montague – 12 km (36 km)

A beautiful rail trail walk.

Points of Interest:

• Amazing views coming into Montague harbour
• Possible side trip to Georgetown
• Montague has various dinner options including:
• Lucky Bean Cafe
• Bogside Brewery
• Copper Bottom Brewery 
• Windows on the Water
• Station Cafe
• 2 grocery stores

Day 28 (21) - Montague to Gaspereaux – 21 km

Mostly a road walk.

Points of Interest:

• Great views of Three Rivers and Georgetown across the water
• Packed lunch required

Day 29 (21) - Gaspereaux to Murray River – 20 km (41 km)

Road Walking.

Points of Interest:

• Great views of hidden harbours and fishing boats along the way
• Dinner in Murray River:
• Home Plate restaurant with Irish chef and authentic cuisine

Day 30 (22) - Murray River to Surrey – 26 km

Back on the Confederation Trail with a forested walk.

Points of Interest:

• Old railway bridges
• Blueberry fields
• Fishing ponds
• Breakfast at Fancy’s Coffee Counter in Murray River
• Packed lunch required

Day 31 (23) - Surrey to Lake Verde - 25 km

A walk along the rail trail, including a rebuilt section that doesn't follow the old rail trail route. There's a story here...

Points of Interest:

• MacPhail Homestead and MacPhail Woods Forest Ecology Project
• Orwell Corner Historic Village
• Packed lunch required

Day 32 (24) - Lake Verde to Charlottetown – 22 km

A walk along the last section of the Confederation Trail into the town of Stratford across Fullerton Marsh.

 Points of Interest:

• The Hillsborough Bridge which used to be one of the longest railway bridges in the world.
• Lots of great restaurants in Charlottetown to enjoy!