Mutton Bay is located on the shore of a protected bay, surrounded by forested mountains. It is a charming, picturesque fishing village with distinct outport-style architecture. The fishing village is known for its proximity to excellent crab, lobster and scallop fishing grounds. Founded during Canada’s French regime, Mutton Bay was first named Baie-du-Portage, after an ancient Aboriginal portage in the vicinity.

By the early 1800s, it was renamed Mutton Bay, perhaps because of the foreign fishing fleets that used to bring sheep onshore to graze to maintain a supply of meat. Settlers from England and Newfoundland arrived in the second half of the 19th century. They formed the basis of today’s population, most of who work in the fishery. The neighbouring village of La Tabatière is connected by a 9 kilometre (6 mile) stretch of road.

WHAT TO SEE

• Traditional wooden houses: The main attraction in Mutton Bay is the very photogenic and quaint setting of the village. A walk around the village will take you past colourful, traditional wooden houses.
• St. Clement’s Church: A picturesque, small wooden Anglican church dating from the 1920s.
• Graveyard Island: A historic cemetery is located on nearby Mitchell Island.  Villagers used to transport their coffins by boat or across the ice to the island, earning it the nickname of “Graveyard Island.”
• Outer islands and seal foundries: Many islands surround the village, and informal tours can be arranged to go exploring, berry-picking or picnicking. Remains of seal foundries where fishermen melted blubber into oil exist on many of the islands.

IN SUMMER : Hiking and walking, bird and whale watching, iceberg viewing, boat tours, sea kayaking, berry-picking, salmon fishing, wilderness camping, ATV

• Bunker’s Hill Boardwalk Trail: Located on Bunker’s Hill, this walkway provides a scenic view overlooking the community of Mutton Bay.  From here, you can also see many of the outer islands, and perhaps visually locate “Graveyard Island” – a place where residents once carried coffins by boat or across ice to an historic cemetery.

IN WINTER : Snowmobiling, ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, winter carnival, hockey tournaments

• Auberge La Tabatière
  La Tabatière (QC)
  G0G 1T0
  Tel : (418) 773-2596
  Fax : (418) 773-2377
• Maison Mecatina
  Mutton Bay (QC)
  G0G 2C0
  Tel : (613) 692-1078
  www.mecatina.com/cottage

• Debarcadère Inc./The Stage
  La Tabatière (QC)
  G0G 1T0
  Tel : (418) 773-2592
  Fax : (418) 773-2592
  shannon@globetrotter.net

La grande séduction, Navigator's Route and Route Blanche