Lion's Den, Shoal Tickle, Eastern Tickle and Lock's Cove have all been resettled. The only visible reminders that this area was once populated are a couple of storage cellars and the well-trodden trail itself, which begins in Fogo and ends at Lion's Den. Recent improvements to the trail include boardwalks, bridges, and new signage. Three lookouts have also been constructed at sites known as Pilley's Head, Oakes Hill and Lanes Lookout. Each of these affords a panoramic view of the trail below and the Atlantic Ocean - Lane's Lookout is the highest point of land on Fogo Island. From the Pilley's Head lookout one can see almost all of Fogo Harbour.

Summer scenes along the trail include inshore fish harvesters hauling traps and nets and offshore vessels on their way to fishing grounds. If you're here at just the right time, you might also see thousands of caplin rolling ashore to spawn.

Lion's Den Trail provides the perfect refuge for imagination and relaxation.

Lion's Den:

The furthest satellite community from the Town of Fogo, Lion's Den was situated at the end of a winding costal trail which extends to the northeast. This settlement is said to have been established in 1836.  It is likely that it was first populated by fishers from the Conception Bay, Newfoundland region who were looking for better fishing grounds.

The 1836 census shows 22 people in four families, all of whom were followers of the Roman Catholic religion.  All household heads were said to be 'planters'. That particular year only one acre of land was in production which yielded 76 bushels of potatoes, and residents harvested 15 quintals of fish.

This community did not have a church or school.  The younger children, grades one to six,  that attended school had to walk to the school house in  Eastern Tickle , while the older children walked to Fogo to attend the River Head school. To attend church all residents went by foot to Fogo.

Almost a century later, the 1935 census for Lion's Den shows a total of 35 people within nine family units. Sir names at the time were: Leyte, Osmond, Best, Lukeman, Dwyer, Hellings and Moore.  The population in 1871 was said to be 40 and in 1898 it was posted at 30 souls. In 1871 this settlement received mail fortnightly, and five of it's six family heads were listed as fishermen.  An additional family name at that time was White.

Local folk lore has it that there are two Indian graves in Lion's Den. If positioned in the right area one can still see two earth mounds by the sea shore.

When the community finally faded out of existence, mainly due to the lack of cod, the last house to be launched from its shores was that of Ambrose Squires which is now in the Town of Fogo.

How Lion's Den got its name is not known for sure however some speculate that it may have something to do with it's exposure to heavy seas, difficulty in navigating for access, or even some form of biblical comparison to the story of Daniel and reliance on faith for survival.

Like it's three neighboring  communities all that remains of Lion's Den today is a well trodden path that offers one of the most breathtaking views around.  Along this well maintained trail one may pick wild berries such as: blue berries, partridge berries, bake apples, and marsh berries.  It is also possible to see all surrounding trails on top of Lanes Lookout. 

This area also affords excellent camping, with great picnic and boil up areas and a fresh water supply near by.           

Shoal Tickle:

Shoal tickle was the smallest of the four communities that were settled outside the Town of Fogo. Like the three other towns it was settled by the English and Irish fisherpersons who needed to be close to prime fishing grounds. The families who lived there all had the last name of Leyte.

This small settlement was around three kilometers from Fogo. There was no school in the community, so students took the same path to either either Eastern Tickle or Fogo as did their friends from Lion's Den. The same was true for Sunday church in Fogo. Some families did this three times each Sabbath.

Shoal Tickle was the first of the four 'trail' communities to be abandoned, around the 1930's. Families from here likely moved to Fogo or other surrounding areas of Notre Dame Bay. When these families resettled all of their houses were also taken and floated across the water to their new habitat.

Some possible reasons for resettlement were the convenience of being near schools, churches, medical assistance and possibly social reasons.

Today all that remains of this settlement are a few cellars and the walking trails that can be accessed from Fogo, that offer a breathtaking view.

Eastern Tickle:

Eastern Tickle was the largest of the four small communities which were established out side the Town of Fogo. It was established in the 1800's. One source places it's date of birth as 1857.  In 1871 the population was totaled at 70, in 1889 it was 107, and the census of 1935 show a population of 60.

The people who settled here most likely came from the shores of surrounding Notre Dame Bay in search of better  fishing grounds.

One of the more prominent features within Eastern Tickle was the Church of England school house.  It had classes of grades one to six.  The school was only open during the summer months. T At the time if a person had a grade eight education they were able to teach school.  In 1911 the school had 17 students.

The community is said  to have been the site of a cod liver oil factory owned by Stanley Layman.

The 1871 listings show a total of 15 families including 12 fishermen. Family names associated with this town in 1871 include: Barry, Elliott, Forsey, Hart, Leat (Leyte), Paine (Payne) and Pelley.  By 1935 the Barry's, Elliott's, Pelley's and Hart's had left, however the Payne and Leyte families had grown substantially. Later, new families of Osmond, Wells and Burry were in residence.

This little community was finally resettled in the early 1950's. The last structure to be floated out of it's harbour, was the house of Hubert Forsey, which was 'shifted' to Joe Batt's Arm.

To day all that remains of this once thriving town, is the well-trodden hiking trail, and a cellar that stands proudly on the side of a hill. 

The Eastern Tickle site is a popular place for people who like to stroll along the sea shore. In summer a meal of fresh mussels may be harvested and boiled on the beach. This location also has one of the only beaches along this shore where one can see thousands of capelin coming ashore to spawn.                                                                    

Lock’s Cove:

It is estimated that Lock’s Cove was established in 1874 and that it was a good site from which residents could access abundant fish stocks in local waters.

From the provincial census of 1935 a total of 35 residents were recorded as living here. Family names included: Leyte, Pomeroy, Pope and Ford.  Other records from 1898 show the population at 35 people.  Smallwood’s Newfoundland Gazetteer of 1945 puts the population at 34.

Children from this and other surrounding communities would attend school in either Eastern Tickle or in Fogo.

Lock’s Cove was finally abandoned in 1945 when William Pope and his family resettled to Fogo.