(click here to find Raleigh on the map)
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Raleigh is on the Northern Peninsula on Route 437. You drive through Raleigh to get to the Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve. The town wraps around HaHa Bay and at one time, this was the name of the town.
As you drive into town, you'll pass the grocery store and the Burnt Cape Cafe on your right. You can turn left or right at the bay. If you go to the left and follow the road around the bay you can drive out to Burnt Cape If you turn right you'll enter the main part of Raleigh.
After you turn right you'll see Weston Bauta House on your right. Drop in here, it's the community museum and craft shop. They have a great collection of locally made hooked mats.
We've visited Raleigh twice. In June 2011 we went out to Burnt Cape. In June 2017 pack ice was still in the bay and there was snow blocking the road out to Burnt Cape.
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Continue into town and you'll come to the Raleigh Historic Village on your left. Community volunteers have reconstructed a 1940's fishermen's bunkhouse and cook house. You can book the bunkhouse for an overnight stay during the summer months.
While we were visiting, they were rebuilding a wharf and stages. Some of the timbers used to rebuild the wharf had been fished out of the harbour and were as much as 100 years old.
Locals can point out some of the historic buildings in town, including the merchant's building shown below. For years, the fishery was run on a barter system. Salted cod was traded for provisions to get through the winter. The system did not favour the fishermen.
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Before you head to Newfoundland, you may want to consider one or more of the great field guides that are available. We have done short reviews of the following:
