Grand Manan: New Brunswick's Island Gem

Grand Manan is an island in the Bay of Fundy, part of the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The island is known for its rugged coastal scenery, including cliffs rising up to 410 feet (125 metres), and its diverse wildlife, such as the rare puffin. Grand Manan offers a range of activities for visitors, including hiking, kayaking, birdwatching, and whale watching. The island has a rich history, dating back to the Maliseet-Passamaquoddy-Penobscot First Nations, who used it as a safe place during the winter months and as a sacred burial ground. Today, Grand Manan is a popular tourist destination, offering a glimpse into its maritime past through its working fishing villages, herring weirs, and lighthouses.

Grand Manan is an island in the Bay of Fundy

The name "Grand Manan" comes from the Maliseet-Passamaquoddy-Penobscot First Nations word "mun-an-ook" or "man-an-ook", meaning "island place". According to oral history, Grand Manan and its surrounding islands were used by the Passamaquoddy as a safe place for the elderly during the winter months and as a sacred burial place. The island was visited by French explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1604, who mapped it as "Menane", and it was granted to Paul D'Ailleboust, Sieur de Périgny, in 1693 as part of New France. In 1713, it was traded to the British in the Treaty of Utrecht, and the first permanent settlement was established in 1784 by Moses Gerrish.

Grand Manan has a humid continental climate, with comfortable spring, summer, and fall seasons, and variable winter weather. The island's economy is dependent on fishing, aquaculture, and tourism. Whale watching and bird watching, camping, kayaking, and other outdoor activities are popular attractions for visitors. The island is also known for its rugged coastal scenery, including 90-metre (300 ft) cliffs, as well as its unique dulse (edible seaweed) industry.

It is part of the Canadian province of New Brunswick

Grand Manan is a Canadian island in the Bay of Fundy, part of the province of New Brunswick. The island is 35 kilometres off the coast of New Brunswick and is the punctuation mark at the end of the Canada-United States border. The closest point on the mainland is near Lubec, Maine, the easternmost point of the continental United States, which is 15 kilometres away from Grand Manan across the Grand Manan Channel.

The island is accessible via ferry from the New Brunswick port of Blacks Harbour, a 90-minute crossing. The Grand Manan Island Ferry is the primary transportation link to the island, with the crossing costing approximately $60 for a couple. The ferry ride is an attraction in itself, with the opportunity to see sea birds, seals, and even whales. The Swallowtail Lighthouse, one of the most photographed lighthouses in Canada, is a popular sight to behold when approaching the island.

Grand Manan is a popular tourist destination, offering a blend of natural beauty and cultural experiences. The island boasts uncrowded beaches, hiking trails, cycling routes, birdwatching, whale-watching, sea kayaking, and scenic fishing communities. The island's 33-kilometre highway traverses breathtaking landscapes, connecting lighthouses and fishing villages. The local cuisine showcases the region's maritime heritage, with seafood being a prominent feature.

The island has a rich history, having been explored and claimed by various European powers before becoming a part of Canada. The name "Manan" is derived from the Maliseet-Passamaquoddy-Penobscot First Nations word "mun-an-ook" or "man-an-ook," meaning "island place" or "the island." The island was granted to Paul D'Ailleboust, Sieur de Périgny, in 1693, as part of Champlain's "New France." However, D'Ailleboust never took possession, and the island reverted to the French Crown until it was traded to the British in the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.

Grand Manan has a strong fishing and maritime heritage, with fisheries thriving for generations due to the rich waters surrounding the island. The island's economy remains dependent on fishing, aquaculture, and tourism. The island's natural beauty, including its rugged cliffs and diverse wildlife, continues to attract visitors seeking unique experiences and a connection to nature.

The island is known for its fishing villages, lighthouses and maritime history

Grand Manan is a Canadian island in the Bay of Fundy, part of the province of New Brunswick. The island has a rich history, stunning natural scenery, and a thriving fishing industry.

Fishing Villages

Grand Manan's economy has always been centred on its fisheries. The island's fishing villages have a long tradition of harvesting the sea, with lobster, herring, scallops, and crab being the most common catches. The island's holding facilities for lobsters at Woodwards Cove and between Ross Island and the main island form one of the world's largest lobster holding centres.

The herring weir fishery is also notable, with Grand Manan being one of the largest in the Bay of Fundy for both sardines and large herring. While smoked herring was once a staple of the island's economy, it has now been replaced by other methods of preserving herring, such as curing and hard smoking.

Other important sectors of the fishing industry include seining, dragging, handlining, gill netting, and scallop dragging. Clam digging, periwinkle picking, and dragging for sea urchins and shrimp also supplement the incomes of many fishers.

Lighthouses

Grand Manan is known for its lighthouses, which have played a crucial role in maritime safety. The Gannet Rock Lighthouse, built in 1831 on a rocky islet south of the island, is the oldest. It was constructed to protect shipping en route to Saint John, New Brunswick, and it still stands today.

Other notable lighthouses include the Swallowtail Lighthouse, which offers wonderful views of Maine and New Brunswick; the Southwest Head Lighthouse, a tall square structure; the Long Eddy Point Lighthouse, which can be reached via a small trail that leads to incredible cliff-top views; and the Long Point Lighthouse, accessible via a rocky beach or a dirt road.

Maritime History

Grand Manan has a long and fascinating maritime history. The island was granted to Paul D'Ailleboust in 1693 as part of Champlain's "New France". It changed hands several times over the years, with the British obtaining the title in 1794 and ownership being settled in 1817 when the United States gave up its claim to the island.

The island's strategic location made it a site of naval battles during the American Revolution, and it was also infested with privateers from 1812 to 1814, who raided and plundered villages in the Bay of Fundy.

Grand Manan's maritime history is also marked by a number of shipwrecks off its rocky, cliff-lined coast. In 1857, the Lord Ashburton was driven into the cliffs by hurricane-force winds, resulting in a great loss of life. Another wreck was the Nova Scotian barque Walton, which was bound for Saint John, New Brunswick, when it wrecked off Grand Manan in 1878.

Today, Grand Manan's economy remains dependent on fishing, aquaculture, and tourism. Whale and bird watching, camping, and kayaking are popular activities for visitors, who are drawn to the island's natural beauty and maritime charm.

It offers a range of outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking and birdwatching

Grand Manan is a Canadian island in the Bay of Fundy, part of the province of New Brunswick. It offers a range of outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking and birdwatching.

Hiking

Grand Manan Island is a hiker's paradise, with excellent hiking trails that take you from one breathtaking scene to the next, along the sea and from lighthouse to lighthouse. The island's 33-km (18-mi) highway offers stunning views of the rugged coastal beauty and untouched nature that the island is known for.

Kayaking

The dramatic and extreme tides of the Bay of Fundy offer a world-class sea kayaking experience. Adventure High has been offering safe and enjoyable kayaking tours along Grand Manan's epic coastline for 35 years. They offer a range of kayaking options, from a two-hour cruise to a multi-day adventure, and even a sunset excursion. No experience is needed, and they provide all the necessary equipment.

Birdwatching

Grand Manan Island is a recognised North American birding hotspot, with over 240 species of birds calling the island home. It has been a popular destination for birdwatchers since James John Audubon visited in 1833. The island is located on the Eastern Flyway, and birders can expect to see a variety of species, including warblers, woodpeckers, grouse, and crossbills. The island is also the only place in New Brunswick where you can arrange a tour to visit the puffins, which are now a protected bird sanctuary.

Visitors can enjoy local cuisine, including freshly steamed lobster and locally harvested seaweed delicacies

Grand Manan, an island off the coast of New Brunswick, is a haven for food lovers, especially those with a penchant for seafood. The island offers a unique culinary experience, showcasing the best of local produce and the skills of its fishermen and women.

One of the most popular dishes is, of course, lobster. Visitors can enjoy freshly caught lobster steamed to perfection, often paired with locally harvested seaweed delicacies—a speciality of the island. Dulse, a type of edible seaweed, is a particular favourite among locals and those in the know. It is often described as having a savoury, umami flavour and can be enjoyed as a snack, much like crisps, or added to chowders and sandwiches. The process of harvesting dulse is an art in itself and has been a way of life for many Grand Manan residents for generations. The dulse harvesters, or "dulsers", brave the cold waters and slippery rocks to hand-pick the best fronds of dulse, which are then carefully dried and packaged. It is hard work but, as one local put it, "most people that do it, love it".

In addition to lobster and dulse, scallops and salmon are also local specialities, and the island's restaurants showcase these ingredients to great effect. The Old Well House Cafe, a popular spot for both locals and tourists, offers a variety of cuisines, including Italian, Australian and Canadian. For those wanting to focus on seafood, Sunrise Seafoods is a great option, serving up a range of Canadian seafood dishes.

Grand Manan truly is a food lover's paradise, offering a unique blend of fresh, local ingredients and a strong connection to the sea.

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