Birchy Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Birchy Bay is a Notre Dame Bay town in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Central region, just off the Road to the Isles route between Lewisporte and Twillingate. It is a small coastal stop for travellers who want local museum interpretation, sheltered bay scenery, beachcombing and a quieter look at the Kittiwake Coast.
The town’s travel appeal is modest and specific. Come for the Over the Top Museum, the memory of logging and fishing families, and the short outdoor stops around Jumper’s Head, French’s Dump and nearby beaches.
How Birchy Bay Started
Birchy Bay’s name reflects the birch trees that once marked the shoreline. The Over the Top Museum account describes early settlement by fishermen from Fogo Island who used the sheltered bays in winter, stayed in tilts and cut timber from the surrounding land. Fishing, timber cutting, small-scale farming, trapping and later sawmill work all shaped the community.
The town’s museum preserves that practical origin story. Its replica winter tilt helps visitors picture seasonal life before permanent houses and roads became standard. The museum also displays a scale model of the schooner Over the Top, built by the Birchy Bay Lumber Company in honour of Newfoundlanders who died in the First World War.
Birchy Bay grew as a place where land, river, bay and forest work overlapped. The community stayed small, but its story fits the wider Road to the Isles pattern of outports, lumber operations, boat travel and family-based local economies.
What Birchy Bay Is Like Today
Birchy Bay had 511 residents in the 2021 census. It remains a small town with a council, local services, churches, homes spread along the bay and access to the scenic Route 340 corridor. Travellers should expect a quiet community rather than a busy destination town.
The present-day rhythm is seasonal. Summer brings museum visits, beach stops, short walks and touring traffic moving toward Twillingate. Outside the main travel season, Birchy Bay is much quieter, and visitors should plan around limited opening hours and fewer services.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
The Over the Top Museum is the main reason to stop. Housed in the former Peter and Ida Quinlan residence, built in 1916, it focuses on community history, domestic artifacts, early settlement, fishery, logging and local ways of life. Guided tours may include the replica winter tilt and nearby walking routes.
Outdoor stops are simple but rewarding in good weather. The museum points visitors toward trails to French’s Dump and the summit of Jumper’s Head. Provincial tourism also highlights the Loon Bay and Birchy Bay areas for birdwatching, beachcombing and sea-glass searching along the Kittiwake Coast.
For a longer day, Birchy Bay can be part of a Road to the Isles drive that includes Lewisporte, Notre Dame Provincial Park and Twillingate. Keep the stop flexible: the best experience here is a museum visit, a shoreline walk and time to slow down along Notre Dame Bay.
Quick Facts
- Province: Newfoundland and Labrador
- Region: Central region
- Municipality type: Town
- 2021 census population: 511
- Official website: Town planning registry through the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Main travel areas: Over the Top Museum, Jumper’s Head, French’s Dump, Birchy Bay shoreline, Loon Bay area
- Key routes: Route 340, Road to the Isles, local Notre Dame Bay roads
Travel Notes
A car is required for Birchy Bay. Check museum hours before arrival, because the strongest visitor experience depends on seasonal access and guided interpretation. Summer gives the best chance of beachcombing, trail walks and open heritage sites. Bring practical footwear for damp ground and watch for wind along exposed shoreline areas.