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BAMFIELD (pop. 256) is a quaint spot, half-raised above the ocean on a wooden boardwalk, accessible by unpaved road from Port Alberni 102km to the north, by boat - the MV Lady Rose - or gravel road from Lake Cowichan 113km to the east. Shuttle buses run along the Port Alberni road route if you're without transport and don't want to take the boat . The village is best known as the northern starting point of this trail, but its population jumps to well over 2000 in the summer with the arrival of divers, canoeists, kayakers and fishermen, the last attracted by its suitability as a base for salmon fishing in the waters of Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound. Plenty of services have sprung up to meet visitors' demands, with lots of tours, fishing charters, stores and galleries, but only relatively limited accommodation . Despite the influx the village retains its charm, with the boardwalk accessing one side of Bamfield Inlet (the open sea, the other), so that the bay below the boardwalk is a constant hum of activity as boats ply across the water. Trails lead down from the boardwalk to a series of nice small beaches. The village is a good place to join in the activities, bird-watch, walk, beachcomb, sit in cafes or simply relax in a quiet corner with a book. For a short stroll, wander to Brady's Beach or the Cape Beale Lighthouse some way beyond. And if you just want to tackle the stage to the trailhead of the West Coast Trail and return to Bamfield in a day, you can walk the 11km (round trip) to the Pachena Lighthouse , starting from the Ross Bible Camp on the Ohiaht First Nation campsite at Pachena Beach. After that, the route becomes the real thing.
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