Sam Lord’s Beach is located on the south east coast of the island, in the parish of St. Philip. Although Sam Lord’s Castle resort has undergone serious financial difficulties causing it to close its doors to the public in 2003, this beach is worth a visit.
Beach access has been made difficult since the hotel’s closure as the grounds are now unkempt and many of the old walkways down to the beach are overgrown and with nobody maintaining the staircases. However, as the two glorious beaches here are so beautiful we have found an alternate way down to them, via Castle Close, the entrance to which is next door to the old resort entrance.
Things to Do
Once on the first beach, you will see what the hotel always used for the Malibu Beach party. There are lots of benches and what used to be a beach bar and concrete dance floor. The sea is very rough in this bay and it is not recommended for swimming as the current is too strong. It is advisable that you go in a group to this beach as it is now very isolated.
At the far end of this beach is another wooden staircase, you have to be quite fit for this little trek as you climb up the staircase and then back down the other side of the rock.
On your right, you will see a walled area and from looking at the Barbados Map you will see an area marked Shark’s Hole, this is the walled area where a shark used to be kept.
This beach now is only occupied by a few local fishermen going about their business. The sea here is also rough, but can be good for swimming; please exercise caution as there is no lifeguard on duty.
Looking up from this beach, you can see the magnificent castle belonging to Sam Lord.
The beach here stretches for about half a mile and there are also rock pools for sea bathing. There are plenty of trees for shade and these two beaches are breathtaking and worth the hike to find them.
It is an ideal location for a picnic, if you can be bothered to carry everything down the stairs, up the stairs and back down the stairs again!
Features
— Lovely white sandy beaches
— No lifeguard
— Historical spot
Driving Directions
From Grantley Adams International Airport, head north following the signs for Sam Lord’s Castle. The road bends to the right and is signposted Sam Lord’s, follow the road right, then the road bends left, and is signposted The Crane.
Follow the road past Budget Supermarket, where you may wish to stop and pick up picnic supplies, and then go past St. Martin’s Church. Go past Foul Bay on your right, go past Crane Hotel on your right, when you come to a roundabout, turn left, then turn right where you see the sign post which says ‘Long Bay via Sam Lord’s.
Continue to the end of the road until you reach what was formerly Sam Lord’s Resort. Drive to the end of Castle Close and where there is a clearing, park your car and walk down the staircase to your left.
View the location of the beach on our Barbados Interactive Map.
Author: Brett Callaghan
