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Monhegan 3-Day Getaway

Monhegan Island, Maine USA

The Trip

Hiking Maine

Monhegan Island, Maine USA

This year, along with our annual Tour du Mont Battie weekend, we are excited to be offering a 3-day add-on prior to the weekend for those who would like to experience Maine island life.

Of the over 1,200 islands along Maine’s coast, many consider Monhegan Island especially captivating. Located 11 miles offshore, 1½ miles long and a ½ mile wide, Monhegan rises like a whale out of the ocean. Its exceptional natural beauty combined with its easterly location has made Monhegan a compelling destination first for transatlantic travelers, then fishermen and then in the last hundred years, artists. Vikings are thought to be the first explorers to land on Monhegan in the first century, followed by the Portuguese, English, French and Italians. Occupied on and off since the 1500’s, the island was permanently settled in the 1700’s.

Monhegan’s current year-round population of around 75 is a mix of artists and fishermen. In the summer the population swells to almost 1,200 as it attracts vacationers, bird watchers and anyone looking to experience the peaceful setting created by island life. There are more than 17 miles of hiking trails on the island, some passing through woods and some following along some of the highest cliffs along the Maine coast, dramatically rising to 160 feet along the eastern shore. While the actual village, with its less than 1 mile of dirt road, occupies a tiny corner of the island, the remainder is preserved in its natural state. It is protected by the Monhegan Associates, which was founded by summer residents 50 years ago to preserve the island for the future.

We would like to continue to share with you some of the many riches our corner of the world has to offer. Along with our Tour du Mount Battie Alumni weekend, our Monhegan Getaway promises to be a memorable interlude. So come join us for this three-day escape to a magical island, where you can enjoy hiking, fresh sea air and the opportunity to unwind in peaceful island surroundings.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Independent travel to Port Clyde, Maine. Transfer by ferry to Monhegan, a little over an hour’s ride. Please see Getting There for travel information. Welcome dinner.

Day 2 & 3: With 17 miles of hiking trails we have a variety of options to choose from, through forests and meadows, over rocky headlands, all the while enjoying the wonderful views of the mainland and the surrounding islands.

On the southern tip of the island is Lobster Cove and its meadow. The trail along the cove hugs the rocky coast, where a shipwreck still lies on the shore. During a southerly storm, the surf is spectacular here as it pounds against the rocks. This is also an excellent place for bird watching, which is a very popular activity on the island.

Rounding the tip of the island and hiking along the eastern side of the island, the trail follows the edge of the sea as we pass by Gull Cove. This is a relatively level but rocky trail.

The Headlands, White Head, Black Head and Little White Head are some of the highest cliffs on the coast of Maine. From here on a clear day you can see for miles and miles. Monhegan has been called “the keystone of New England” because it is the first island to be seen as you approach the coast.

Walking through Cathedral Woods on the carpeted paths or “aisles” of pine needles gives you a sense of being in a cathedral. The tall, slender branches of the fir and spruce are interwoven to form the arches above you. The woods are filled with ferns, wild flowers and mosses. This is where once local as well as visiting children would build fairy houses along the trail from twigs, bark and acorns. If you look closely you may still see some.

Each day hiking options will be presented, including a full day hike with a picnic or a half-day hike returning to the village for lunch. The group may chose to hike half of the island one day and the other half on Day 3.

Artist Studios: Many of the resident artists on Monhegan open their studios to the visiting public. It’s possible to spend a couple of delightful hours wondering from studio to studio talking with artists and looking at their work. The Fern Gallery in town also has a nice representation of local work.

Day 4: You have the option of the morning, noon, or afternoon ferry back to Port Clyde, and from there continuing on to Camden, about a half hour drive, where the festivities of the Tour du Mont Battie will begin with the welcome party.

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Additional Information:

Included:

Inn accommodations with private bath, breakfasts and dinners, daily guided hiking options, ferry to and from the island, guided walks and talks.

How to register:

To register, as usual, just send us a completed application and risk wavier. A $50 non-refundabledeposit per person will confirm you a space on the Monhegan Getaway as well as the Tour du Mont Battie weekend. We accept MasterCard and Visa.

The balance will be due 60 days prior to the start date.

The cancellation policy will be as follows:

• Cancellation between 60 and 30 days – 50% of land costs
• Cancellation less than 30 days to start of the trip or no show – no refund

What to Expect

This island excursion will be a great way to experience Maine island life and get an early start on the Alumni weekend. This will be a fun, flexible and relaxing few days with hikes beginning after breakfast around 9:00am. As always we plan to pace the day so there is time to stop along the trail and linger over lunch, still allowing time for exploring studios, Monhegan Museum or just hanging out at the inn with its pleasant views of the harbor and across to Manan Island.

You may want to check the web site A Visitor’s Guide to Monhegan at www.briegull.com.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner will be at the Inn, prepared by the Inn’s own chef with a variety to choose from each evening.

Early morning coffee: Freshly brewed coffee and a variety of teas are available at 7am in the sitting room.

Breakfast: A complete and cooked breakfast is served each morning, in the dining room, offering the traditional breakfast dishes, baked goods, juices, cereals, coffee and tea.

Lunch: Packed lunches are available to purchase and can be arranged through the kitchen. There is a small store on the island or you may want to bring snacks and picnic supplies with you from the mainland.

Dinner: Each night the Inn offers a variety of different dishes to choose from to satisfy those hungry hikers who have walked the island, or lighter dishes for those who have not been quite as active. The Inn’s menu is based upon Maine's abundant fresh fare, and a delicious selection of vegetarian dishes. Soups, chowders and salads, and home baked deserts compliment these dishes.

Money: There is one ATM on the island.

Getting There

Port Clyde is located at the tip of a peninsular Coastal Route 131, 90 miles north of Portland, Maine and 15 miles south of Rockland. The closest airports serving the area are: Portland International Jetport (www.portlandjetport.org) 90 miles from Camden; Bangor International Airport (www.knoxcounty.midcoast.com/airport/) just a few miles from Rockland. The Knox County Airport is a very small Airport. At each airport there are car rental agencies.

You may find better airfares into Boston or Manchester, New Hampshire. Both airports are about a 3-½ hours drive from Rockland.

Limo Service, Buses and TrainsWe anticipate that most people will either be flying into one of the above airports and then driving to Port Clyde or driving directly to Port Clyde. Should you wish to reach Port Clyde by means other than driving or renting a car, there are several options. You would need to coordinate your travel with the ferry schedule.

Ferry Schedule:
Departs Port Clyde 7:00 am
Departs Monhegan 9:00 am
Departs Port Clyde 10:30 am
Departs Monhegan 12:30 pm
Departs Port Clyde 3 pm
Departs Monhegan 4:30 pm

The Island Inn truck will meet each boat and be available to carry luggage.

There is no public transportation to Port Clyde. If you are interested in getting to Port Clyde by means other than that of a personal car, you will either need to arrange for a taxi or transport service to take you directly from the airport or train station to Port Clyde or you will need to take a limo or bus to Rockland and then a taxi from there.

Limo Service: Mermaid Transportation (www.gomermaid.com) offers service between Portland’s airport to either Boston’s Logan Airport or Manchester Airport. Departures run every two to three hours and fares are approximately $53 each way. For more detailed information or to make reservations, consult their website or call 1-800-696-2463.

Mid-Coast Limo (www.midcoastlimo.com) operates out of Camden and offers service to both the Portland airport and bus station. They will meet you at the airport or bus station and deliver you to your accommodations and visa versa. The charge is $50 each way, and they will accommodate your times within reason. For reservations call 1-800-937-2424.

Buses: Concord Trailways (www.concordtrailways.com ) provides two direct buses daily from Boston, Portland and Bangor to Rockland. Buses from Boston’s Logan Airport leave 11:15 am and 4:15 pm and stop at both South Station in Boston (12:01pm and 5:15 pm) and in Portland (2:00pm and 7:15 pm), before continuing up the Maine coast, arriving in Rockland 4:15 pm and 9:25 pm. Buses from Bangor leave at 7:15am and 11:15am and arrive in Rockland at 8:55 am and 12:55 pm.

The bus station in Bangor is right across from the airport. In Portland the bus station is in a different location from the airport and requires a 15-minute taxi transfer.

Trains: There is train service (www.amtrak.com) from Boston’s North Station to Portland, Maine. From Portland you would then take the bus or make arrangements with Mid-Coast Limo. There are 4 departures from Boston daily at 9:45 am, 12:00 pm, 6:15 pm and 10:20pm. The only departure that would connect with the bus to Camden would be the 9:45 am departure, arriving in Portland at 12:25pm.

Taxis: Mid-Coast Limo will arrange transport between Portland Airport and Port Clyde for a fare of $125 one way. Schooner Bay Limo and Taxi service (207- 594-5000) operates out of Rockland and charges fare $48 between Rockland and Port Clyde.

Driving: Take Rte 95 North to exit 22 onto Coastal Rte 1, midway up the Maine coast in Thomaston take 131 south, Port Clyde is located at the end of Route 131. Port Clyde is about 4 hours from Boston, 3 ½ hours from Manchester Airport New Hampshire, 2 hours from Portland, Maine and 1-½ hours from Bangor, Maine. Driving directions will be included in the final Rendez Vous information. You may also consult www.monheganboat.com or www.mapquest.com.

Mainland Lodging: If you need to spend a night on the mainland near Port Clyde we would suggest the Craignair Inn, Clark Island, Spruce Head, Maine 04859 207-594-7644.