St. John's 
A new hiking experience on Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula is offering more than just scenic views. Mayflower Adventures has launched a self-guided trek that weaves local folklore into the landscape, inviting travellers to explore history, legends, and nature in one journey.
Credit: Mayflower Adventures
Based in Roddickton, approximately 80 kilometres south of St. Anthony, Mayflower Adventures offers a new perspective. Their latest tourism initiative, “Hidden Hikes & Local Lore,” combines accommodation with self-guided hiking with digital storytelling.
The Hidden Hikes & Local Lore package features three trails along the Northeast Way Trails network. Each route combines natural landmarks with elements of local history and legend. Along the way, hikers encounter a rare underground river where Atlantic Salmon return to spawn, scale the big stairs on Barr’d Island for sweeping coastal views, and stand at the cliffs of Conche, where a true 19th-century romance of Captain James Dower and Catherine Cashman still lives in local memory.
According to the news release, the experience is powered by a virtual storytelling feature, enabling guests to unlock location-based narratives using their smartphones. The aim, according to Mayflower Adventures, is to celebrate both the land’s natural beauty and the culture rooted deep in this rural part of the province.
The package is priced at $478 for single occupancy and $638 for double occupancy. It includes two nights of accommodation at the Mayflower Inn, daily breakfast and dinner, access to the virtual guide, and a chance to win a prize at the end of the season. Reservations are required, and booking is now open through the company’s website.
Hidden Hikes & Local Lore
What: Hidden Hikes and Local Lore is a two-night package that takes you through three of the island’s best hiking trails, each woven with a unique story you’ll uncover through a virtual hunt. The two-night package includes accommodations at the Mayflower Inn, meals, access to the self-guided digital experience, and a chance to win a prize in an end-of-season draw.
When: Summer until September 15, 2025
Where: The Mayflower,
63 Majors St. Roddickton, NL
How Much: two-night package: $478 for single occupancy; $638 for double occupancy
