Antigua, Anguilla, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saba & Statia - A Walking & Hiking Guide

By Leonard Adkins

“Amblers, hikers, beachcombers, power walkers, and anyone who likes to experience the Caribbean with their feet: this book’s for you.” Caribbean Travel & Life. “Writing as though he is offering advice to old friends, Adkins has unveiled the splendors of f

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hunter Publishing
• Release date: Jan 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781588438805

Book preview

Antigua, Anguilla, St Kitts, Nevis, Statia & Saba: A Walking & Hiking Guide

Leonard M. Adkins

HUNTER PUBLISHING, INC,

www.hunterpublishing.com

[e-mail]

1220 Nicholson Road, Newmarket, Ontario

Canada L3Y 7V1

800-399-6858; Fax [phone]

The Boundary, Wheatley Road, Garsington

Oxford, OX44 9EJ England

01865-361122; Fax [phone]

© 2010 Leonard M. Adkins

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

This guide focuses on recreational activities. As all such activities contain elements of risk, the publisher, author, affiliated individuals and companies disclaim any responsibility for any injury, harm, or illness that may occur to anyone through, or by use of, the information in this book. Every effort was made to insure the accuracy of information in this book, but the publisher and author do not assume, and hereby disclaim, any liability for any loss or damage caused by errors, omissions, misleading information or potential travel problems caused by this guide, even if such errors or omissions result in negligence, accident or any other cause.

Acknowledgments

I used to wonder why authors needed to thank so many people. Now I know. To the following go my most heartfelt thanks and appreciation for their invaluable assistance and for the sharing of their knowledge.

On St. Croix - Nancy Buckingham, St. Croix Environmental Association; William Cissel, National Park Service; K. Olasee, I. Davis and Rudy G. O'Reilly, Jr., University of the Virgin Islands; Susan Ivy, Colony Cove; Kathy Weaver, Barker, Campbell & Farley; Liz Wilson; Bill and Betsy Gladfelter. On St. Thomas - Julie Lentz, Secret Harborview Villas; Lyla Naseem, Laura Davidson Public Relations; Monica Leedy, Barker, Campbell & Farley. On St. John - C. Weiker and D. Near, National Park Service; R. Miles Stair, Holiday Homes. In the British Virgin Islands - Keith Dawson, Tourist Board; Janine Cifelli, Resorts Management, Inc.; Eugenia Martac, Elizabeth Beach Resort; Kathryn van Kampen, BVI Press Office; Simon Owens, Paradise Beach Resort; Helen Bayne, Biras Creek; John Moorly and Katherine Dickens, Guana Island; Nicolas Drayton and Veronica Champion, National Parks Trust. On Sint Maarten/St. Martin - Myron Clement, Clement-Petrocik; Bernadette Davis and Silvianne Hill, Tourist Office; Eric Dubois Millot, Action Nature. On Anguilla - Bob Conrich; Pam Berry, Carimar Beach Club; Elizabeth Mason and Amelia Vanterpool-Kubish, Tourist Office. On St. Barts - Ellise Magras and Marielle Greaux, Tourist Office; Hotel Yuana. On Saba - Glenn C. Holm, Saba Tourist Bureau; James Johnson, Saba Nature Guide; Ton van't Hof, Saba Conservation Foundation; Captain's Quarters. On Statia - Roland Lopes, Dept. of Tourism, Raphael Charley Lopes, Statia Nature Guide; Golden Era Hotel. On St. Kitts - Timothy Benford; Greg Pereira, Greg's Safaris; Ocean Terrace Inn. On Nevis - Pam Berry, Golden Rock Estate; David Rollinson, Eco-Tours Nevis. On Antigua - Ann Marie Martin, National Parks; Chris Lafaurie, Long Bay Beach Hotel; Matt Seminar, Trombone Associates; Desmond Nicholson, Museum of Antigua & Barbuda. On Guadeloupe - G. Claude Germaine, Tourist Office; Touring Hotel Club de Fort Royal; Wilfred Demonio, National Park. On Dominica - Janice Armour, Dominica Tours and Anchorage Hotel; Ken's Hinterland Adventure Tours and Taxi Service; Floral Gardens; Marie Jose-Edwards and Magdeline Jervier, National Development Corporation. On Martinique - The staff of the Tourist Office; La Bakoua; Michael Tanasi, National Forest Office; Primereve. Others who deserve a big thank you are: Ann Mesick - for resource materials. Barbara Schober - without her the French island chapters would never have been completed. Denny Messick - skipper of Rebel Ann II. Dr. Stephen Lewis and Caroline Charonko - thank you for giving me a new lease on life. To my wife Laurie - thanks for doing all of the daily hum-drum of life that I neglected while writing the book.

Read What Other Folks Say About This Book:

Offers what no other guide provides - information on enjoying the Caribbean exclusively on foot. Keep this if you already own it; otherwise, try to purchase it from a used book dealer. Library Journal.

... Fast becoming a popular handbook for all manner of visitors to the Caribbean Islands. Roanoke Times

Amblers, hikers, beachcombers, power walkers, and anyone who likes to experience the Caribbean with their feet: this book's for you. Caribbean Travel & Life

Writing as though he is offering advice to old friends, Adkins has unveiled the splendors of foot exploration on the islands. Backpacker magazine

Read What Other Folks Say About This Book:

Introduction

The Lay of the Land

How To Use This Book

The Data Sections

Interpreting the Terms Used

Precautions

Anguilla

History

Data

Recommended Readings

Walks

1. The Rendezvous Bay Beach Walk

2. The Cove Bay Beach Walk

3. The Maunday's Bay Beach Walk

4. The Mead's Bay Beach Walk

5. The Katouche Valley Hike

6. The Copper Hole Walk

7. The 'Round Caul's Pond Hike

8. The Shoal Bay East Beach Walk

9. The Windward Point Walk

10. The Scrub Island Walk

11. Walks on Hotel and Resort Grounds

Saba

History

Data

Recommended Readings

Walks

1. The Flat Point Boiling House Track

2. The Sulphur Mine Track

3. The Sandy Cruz Track

4. The Old Booby Hill Hike

5. The Mount Scenery Steps

6. The Maskehorne Hill Track

7. The Crispeen Track

8. The Bod's Mountain Track

9. The Bottom Mountain Track

10. The Thais Hill Track

11. The Paris Hill Track

12. The Tent Bay Track

13. The Ladder

14. The North Coast Trail

15. The Road

Sint Eustatius (Statia)

History

Data

Recommended Readings

Walks

1. The Oranjestad Beach Walk

2. A Walking Tour of Oranjestad

3. The Road to White Wall and Fort De Windt Walk

4. The Quill Track

5. The Crater Track

6. The Mazinga Track

7. The Panorama Track

8. The Corre Corre Bay Track

9. The Soldier Gut Track

10. The Track Around The Mountain

11. The Venus Bay Track

12. The Gilboa Hill Track

13. The Boven Bay Track

14. Statia's Northern Beaches

Saint Kitts

History

Data

Recommended Readings

Walks

1. A Walking Tour of Basseterre

2. The Monkey Hill Walk

3. The Romney Manor - Caribelle Batik Walk

4. The Dos D'Ane Pond Trail

5. The Brimstone Hill Fortress Walk

6. The Mt. Liamuiga Trail

7. The Conarre Beach Walk

8. The Frigate Bay Beach Walk

9. The Southeast Peninsula Road Hike

10. Majors Bay - Banana Bay - Cockleshell Bay Hike

11. Walks on Hotel and Inn Grounds

Nevis

History

Data

Recommended Readings

Walks

1. A Walking Tour of Charlestown

2. The Pinney's Beach Hike

3. The Oualie Beach Walk

4. The Round Hill Track

5. The Mt. Nevis Trails

6. The Golden Rock Estate Nature Trail

7. The Water Source Trail

8. The Upper Round Road Hike

9. The New River Estate Walk

10. The White Bay/Windward Beach Walk

11. The Saddle Hill Track

12. The Bath Hotel, Hot Springs, and Fort Charles Walk

13. The 'Round the Island Hike

14. Walks on Hotel and Inn Grounds

Antigua

History

Data

Recommended Readings

Walks

1. A Walking Tour of St. John's

2. The Long Island and Jumby Bay Resort Grounds Walk

3. Devil's Bridge and Indian Town National Park

4. The Half Moon Bay Beach Walk

5. Nelson's Dockyard and The Fort Berkeley Trail

6. The Middle Ground Trails

7. The Shirley Heights Lookout Trail

8. The Blockhouse to Indian Creek Hike

9. The Pillars of Hercules Walk

10. The Monk's Hill Hike

11. The Rendezvous Bay Walk

12. The Wallings Walking Trail

13. Boggy Peak

14. The Green Castle Hill Hike

15. Walks on Hotel and Resort Grounds

Suggested Readings & Field Guides

Introduction

Thoughts of the Caribbean bring to mind images of lying on sun-drenched beaches with a gentle surf lapping at your feet or of dancing to the rhythms of a calypso band at a world-class resort. Yes, the islands of the Caribbean are this, but they are also so much more!

Beyond the glitter of the casinos, the temptations of the duty-free shops, and the passive pursuit of a golden tan is a unique and fascinating world that is best discovered on foot.

Nowhere else is it possible to experience, in such a small area, so many different cultures and social conditions, such diverse vegetation, and such varied landscape as in the Caribbean. Even the most casual walker can step out the door of a luxury hotel onto a palm-lined beach to search for conch shells and hermit crabs, pass through the center of a busy and historically-rich port town, then enter a cactus and boulder-strewn landscape. From there, you can walk among stalks of sugarcane, or up the slopes of a lush, rain forest-covered volcanic mountain to discover crashing waterfalls and thousands of multi-hued tropical flowers. All of these delights can be experienced in less than an hour's walk from major towns and tourist spots.

The Virgin and Leeward Islands have never been so accessible. The increase in adventure travel and ecotourism over the last 10 years has attracted a different kind of visitor; this new breed is no longer content to sit on the beach soaking up sun. Rather, they want to experience and come to