Photo by Gizelle Lau
Rugged rocks of Bathsheba
It’s easy to stick to comfortable resort pool chairs when you’re in Barbados, but it’s definitely not a real trip to Barbados if you haven’t taken a drive along the island’s east coast.
With only three or four hotels that line the east coast, this side of the island is eerily quiet – but incredible refreshing.
Standing before the giant rock formations on Bathsheba beach with the powerful, roaring Atlantic Ocean beating up on the shore, mist spraying through the air, the sun high in the sky – this was my favourite moment in Barbados.
Explore the east coast of Barbados
Start your east coast journey with a visit to St. John’s Parish Church, first built some time in the 1600’s. Since then, the building has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times from fires and hurricanes – so much so that today’s building is its fifth version. The walls of the Gothic-style church today shows its age but is a unique sight in Barbados. Set atop a great cliff, the view from the church looks out onto the stunning Atlantic coast of the island.
The 10-minute drive from St. John’s parish to St. Joseph’s parish is one of the most beautiful drives on the island – overlooking and descending into the town of Bathsheba. Many locals have holiday homes in this area and it’s a well-known hideaway for both Bajan and international surfers.
The town of Bathsheba is a quaint beachside surf town with a few shops and bars to stop in for a drink. But the best place to spend your time here is on the beach where you can stroll, soft golden sand in your toes, while you gaze upon the large coral stone boulders littered along the beach.
Swimming here isn’t for the weak as the undercurrents get very strong but you can take a dip in some of the beach’s inshore pools – a favourite activity of Mick Jagger. Aside from surfing in the Soup Bowl, you can try your hand at paddle boarding or kite surfing. Many visitors to the island also come to the region to see Andromeda Botanical Gardens, Barbados Flower Forest, Welchman Hall Gully, and Harrison’s Cave.
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