Compass Rose Heritage Inn

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Hotel overview

Situated on beautiful Grand Manan Island, the Compass Rose is the ideal place to simply slow down for a while and enjoy the best that the island has to offer. Located close to the ferry terminal in North Head this heritage property was originally the post and telegraph office and thus has always been central to island life. Now it offers six comfortable guest rooms, all enjoying views over the harbour and bay and all with unique furnishings which subtly echo the maritime surrounds. An extensive continental breakfast buffet is served each morning in the dining room and the restaurant also serves dinner. The staff are on hand to help organise activities or simply suggest a good walk and at the end of the day you can share your adventures with fellow guests in the cosy lounge.

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Quirky excursions

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Excursion

Whale Watching and Wildlife Tour

Departing from St Andrews you cruise out in to the Bay of Fundy to enjoy some world-class whale and wildlife sightings, along with fantastic views of the rugged coastline and its pretty lighthouses. This is one of the best places in Canada to see a fantastic selection of marine mammals – finback, minke and humpback whales, seals, porpoise and dolphins, and a whole host of birdlife, such as puffins, guillemots, shearwaters and petrels. You will also cruise past a floating fish farm and herring weir and learn about these aspects of the fishing industry. Throughout the tour the professional crew give expert commentary on the biology and cultural history of this area, and the boat has comfortable seating both inside and outside, ensuring the best opportunity for some memorable wildlife sightings. The trip lasts between two-and-a-half and three hours.

Excursion

St. Andrews & Grand Manan – Ideas for Free Time

The centre of St Andrews is a classic example of colonial town planning—a neat, rectangular grid that slopes gently towards the harbour and can be easily explored on foot. The pretty, poker-straight streets are broken up by open squares that frame public buildings and a marketplace. The main street, which runs along the harbourfront, is lined with charming restaurants, craft shops, and souvenir shops, whilst on the other side of the peninsula, civic gardens and nature reserves border a sandy beach and the warm, sheltered Katy's Cove—a great place for a dip. Grand Manan is accessed by a 90-minute ferry crossing that departs from Blacks Harbour, about a 40-minute drive from St Andrews. At the northern end, where the ferry arrives, Swallowtail Lighthouse keeps watch and provides a great setting for a few photographs and a picnic. You can also often spot seals raiding the old fishing weirs below. There is a small museum in Grand Harbour which is worth a visit if you have an hour or so, even if just to set the island in its historical context, but many people head straight to Seal Cove, considered the prettiest village on the island. As well as the bustling little fishing harbour, many historic herring smokehouses line the waterfront, with a small informal museum telling the story of this once-thriving industry. Over 70 kilometres of hiking trails weave across and around the island, and this is the perfect place to explore solitary beaches, majestic cliffs, and a whole host of scenery, as well as observe birdlife and keep an eye out for whales. A guide to the walking trails is available from most local shops. Both St Andrews and Grand Manan offer fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities, with excursions that venture out into the Bay of Fundy. The whales’ favourite feeding grounds are easily accessible from this side of the bay, and the boat trips from here normally provide memorable sightings.

Excursion

Grand Manan Whales and Seabird Sail

This unique wildlife experience is very much in keeping with the laid-back, ‘at-one-with-nature’ feel of Grand Manan Island. You set sail on a 60 foot yacht, the Elsie Menota, and gently look for several species of whales – finback, humpback and minke - as well as seals, porpoises and some unique and rare sea birds. The yacht comfortably carries just 46 passengers ensuring everyone has a good vantage point, and tea and coffee are served whilst you are on board. Each trip is narrated by an experienced marine biologist and so you are sure to learn all about the wonderful wildlife in the Bay. The whole trip takes between four and five hours.

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