After arriving in Argentia, after a 12-hour summertime ferry ride from North Sydney, you are ready to hit Newfoundland hard. Stop and check out Castle Hill, a fort that defends the harbour, and then head inland to survey the rugged terrain that makes up Newfoundland. And it must be tough to stand up to Atlantic storms and hurricanes.
From Placentia, it is a short trip by paved highway to Argentia, the terminus for the Nova Scotia ferry which operates between Argentia and North Sydney, Nova Scotia, during the summer. Argentia’s importance lay in its strategic position and ice free harbour. In 1940, the United States Military began construction of a Naval Operating Base and Air Station which served the American and other Allied Forces during the war years. The base closed only a few years ago.
Placentia, is situated on a large beach near a coastal forest area, and in the early days of the seventeenth century was the French capital of Newfoundland. In 1662, the Colonial French fortified this strategic position, on a summit overlooking the ocean arms of “Plaisance”, as the French called it. The commanding site is now at Castle Hill National Historic Park.
The following year Fort Royal was begun as the main defence against the English attacks by sea, and a starting-out point for French attacks on the English capital of St. John’s (three times). After the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, the British moved into Placentia, upgraded the defences, and re-took St John.. Once British supremacy was assured, St. John’s became the capital of the colony.
The fort itself no longer exists but visitors can see its foundations clearly on the site’s rocks and can learn much from the Visitor Centre.
On the Avalon Penninsula you arrive in Whitbourne, where you can either connect to the Trans-Canada Highway heading west to Clarenville, Gander, and Port-aux Basques, or you can continue east to St John’s.
You can also head dsouth and take the Irish Loop drive around the southern end of the Avalon Peninsula (mcluding Placentia, St Mary’s, Trepassey, Ferryland, Witless Bay, and Bay Bulls)
Use mouse to drag/move map. Click on “+” or “–” to zoom in or out. “Satellite” combines map & photo.
Note:
| KM | (metres) |
Info |
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| 0 | Hwy 1 Junction (Whitbourne) | 56.7 |
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| 13 | W access road for community of Placentia Junction (1.6 km) | 150.6 |
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| 19 | Exit for Fitzgerald’s Pond PP, camping | 152.4 |
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| 22J | unction Hwy 101, NW to Villa Marie (3 km), Long Harbour (15 km) | 174.3 |
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| 31.5 | Road access to S to Route 91 (7 km) to Colinet (32 km), St Catherines (46 km), Cataracts PP (25 km), and all communities to the southeast | 13.1 |
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| 31.6 | Body of water to SW is the Northeast Arm of Placentia Harbour, river to the NE is the Northeast River | 15.5 |
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| 34.75 | junction Hwy 102, Dunville, N to Fox Harbour, Ship Harbour (24 km) & Atlantic Charter National Historic Site (Dunville) | 11.6 |
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| 37.1 | SE rd access to waterfront homes, recreational facilities (Dunville) | 13.1 |
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| 38.3 | SE rd access to waterfront homes (Dunville) | 29 |
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| 38.5 | SW road access to Hwy 100 | 25.3 |
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| 41.5 | Freshwater, access to Hwy 100 S to Castle Hill National Historic Site (visitor centre 2 km) communities of , Placentia (3 km), St Bride’s (52 km), Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Preserve (60 km)… (Freshwater) | 49.7 |
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| 45 | Argentia Ferry Dock: Ferries to/from North Sydney NS, NW to Argentia airport (1 km) (Argentia) | 3 |
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| KM | (metres) |
Info |
| KM | (metres) |
Info |
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| 0 | Argentia Ferry Dock: Ferries to/from North Sydney NS, NW to Argentia airport (1 km) (Argentia) | 3 |
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| 3.5 | Freshwater, access to Hwy 100 S to Castle Hill National Historic Site (visitor centre 2 km) communities of Placentia (3 km), St Bride’s (52 km), Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Preserve (60 km)… (Freshwater) | 49.7 |
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| 6.5 | SW road access to Hwy 100 | 25.3 |
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| 6.7 | SE rd access to waterfront homes (Dunville) | 29 |
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| 7.9 | SE rd access to waterfront homes, recreational facilities (Dunville) | 13.1 |
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| 10.25 | junction Hwy 102, Dunville, N to Fox Harbour, Ship Harbour (24 km) & Atlantic Charter National Historic Site (Dunville) | 11.6 |
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| 13.4 | Body of water to SW is the Northeast Arm of Placentia Harbour, river to the NE is the Northeast River | 15.5 |
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| 13.5 | Road access to S to Route 91 (7 km) to Colinet (32 km), St Catherines (46 km), Cataracts PP (25 km), and all communities to the southeast | 13.1 |
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| 23J | unction Hwy 101, NW to Villa Marie (3 km), Long Harbour (15 km) | 174.3 |
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| 26 | Exit for Fitzgerald’s Pond PP, camping | 152.4 |
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| 32 | W access road for community of Placentia Junction (1.6 km) | 150.6 |
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| 45 | Hwy 1 Junction (Whitbourne) | 56.7 |
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| KM | (metres) |
Info |
