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We’ve already looked at Harrison’s Cave last week, so this week we cross the road and take a walk through Welchman Hall Gully. Located in the centre of the island, this eco-wonderland is home to a plethora of tree species and ferns and the like. Fun fact, it is widely thought that the grapefruit originated at Welchman Hall Gully, the product of a cross between an orange and shaddock. Barbados is full of hidden gems like this! On your tour you can also watch the Barbados Green Monkey in its natural habitat, roaming free. There is a daily feeding, but the animals are still wild. We would recommend that you have a hired car to make the trip to the Gully, as there are no hotels around. If you’re into architecture and churches, then there are three treats awaiting you on your drive to the middle of the island. The St. Thomas Parish Church was built in 1936 to the style of many older Anglican churches. There are also the Sharon Moravian Church built in 1799 and the Clifton Moravian Church, which was built in 1839, both of which also hold great architectural interest. In your rental car all of these attractions are easily reached within minutes of each other. Just follow your GPS.  Remember, there are no beaches in St. Thomas, but the stunning views of the countryside and the ability to look all around the island from the higher vantage points more than makes up for this. As always, we suggest you rent a car to really enjoy what central Barbados has to offer. Remember, WeGatherin’ Barbados 2020 is still ongoing with lots of activities!  

Continuing our journey around St. Peter, Barbados. We invite you to enjoy a day at Mullins beach on the western coast, which features the calm warm waters for which the west is famous.  There’s always plenty to do at Mullins Beach, with lots of watersports to be enjoyed and amenities all around. For an authentic fishing village experience a short drive in your rental car will put you at Six Men’s Bay. This tiny fishing village offers fresh catches daily and allows the visitor to have a real Bajan fish meal. A drive around in your rental car in St. Peter, on the western side, will yield many a hidden gem for beaches. There may not be many open windows to the sea, but there are many small public access points that open up to small bays or lovely stretches of white sand beaches perfect for a day out. If you’re looking for world class golfing, a short drive up Porter’s hill will take you off the coast and straight to the Royal Westmoreland Golf Club. This par 72 (7,045yd) Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed course is definitely one you’ll want to play if golf is your bag. If you prefer world class tennis facilities, then just across the road you will find the Sugar Hill Estate with its four floodlit tennis courts and exquisite clubhouse waiting for you and your partner. No matter what you’re looking for on your next tropical vacation, Barbados offers it in spades. The key to making the most of your holiday is having a rental car at your disposal to give you the freedom to explore! Next month we are landlocked in the beautiful parish of St. Thomas for We Gatherin’ Barbados 2020. We can’t wait to tell you about your drive around this scenic parish. One final note from St. Peter, the Barbados Game Fishing Association’s Barbados International Fishing Tournament, hosted at Port St. Charles, is on this year from April 14-18, 2020. Remember to rent a car early so that you can do more than just enjoy the boat and the marina and discover Barbados.

Located in St. Peter, Barbados, the St. Nicholas Abbey is one of those must visits on your vacation. The centerpiece of this plantation is the Jacobean style mansion, built in 1658. It is one of only three surviving in the Western Hemisphere. The house has been lovingly maintained and restored to period and features a look into 17th century Barbados. Then there is the rum distillery. This working distillery produces award-winning rums in limited runs using traditional sugar-cane distillation methods. The cane is grown on the working plantation and is of a unique varietal for this specific use. While you may have gotten up to The Abbey in your hired car, you will want to make sure your visit to the estate includes a ride on the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway. This steam railway takes you back to a time when Barbados had a functioning railway system which connected the remote parts of the island to the capital in Bridgetown. When you eventually climb back into your rental car, we suggest that you look east and avail yourself of the spectacular vistas of the eastern side of St. Peter and beyond from your vantage on Cherry Tree Hill. The tree lined approach from the west is enchanting, and then the landscape opens up to reveal one of the most stunning views on the island. Definitely a photo op every day!  With this month’s We Gatherin’ Barbados 2020 focus on St. Peter, what better time to take the drive up north and allow yourself a day with your hired car exploring these gems of Barbados. Although small in size, Barbados offers a dense road network with many hidden treasures and the best way to explore is when you rent a car and make your own itinerary. Enjoy the freedom of moving on your own schedule and make the most of your tropical getaway. Remember, it’s never winter in Barbados!  

Staying on theme for this year, we explore the new parish of focus for 2020 – St. Peter. St. Peter is in the February spotlight We Gatherin’ Barbados 2020 initiative. This is the second most northern parish in Barbados and is where you will find the historic Little Bristol, or as it’s known today, Speightstown. Settled in 1630, the moniker Little Bristol stemmed from this being Barbados’ busiest port at the time and was the conduit for sugar and other commodities going to the port of Bristol in the UK. Any visit to the island needs to incorporate the long (by Bajan standards) drive in your hired car up north to Speightstown. Once here you need to visit the Arlington House Museum, short boardwalk linking the extremities of the town, the world-famous Fisherman’s Pub, St. Peter’s Parish Church and take in the historic architecture. St. Peter is unique as a parish in Barbados. It is the only parish which touches two coasts as the northern boundary of both the east and west coasts. If you’re staying in the north with access to a rental car, it is very cool to watch a sunrise on the east coast and sunset on the west, without leaving the parish. Even if you’re not staying on the platinum coast you can drive up in your hired car and rub shoulders with the glitterati. Follow our posts all month and see what St. Peter has to offer to make your holiday in Barbados even more special. Remember, it’s always a better vacation when you rent a car!