Touring South Eastern Barbados

This self-guided tour of south eastern Barbados takes you deep into the heart of sugar cane country in St.Philip out to the some of the most stunning views of the island, to visit historical sites and some of our most beautiful beaches. Although this tour involves a great deal of coastal scenery and the potential for at least 5 beach stops, however, please remember that this tour includes visits to a number a sites you will need to be suitably dressed for to gain entry.

• Banks Brewery
• The Rum Distillery & Heritage Park at Foursquare
• Sunbury Plantation House
• St.John’s Church
• Martin’s Bay
• Bath
• Codrington College
• Ragged Point and East Point Lighthouse
• Bottom Bay
• The Crane Beach

Start your tour at the Banks Brewery where you can take a tour of one of the finest small breweries in the world. Turn left out of the brewery following the road up to the lights by a Shell station. Go straight through the lights and continue along the ABC highway through 3 roundabouts – Garfield Sobers, Errol Barrow and Edwy Talma – and at the Henry Forde roundabout turn left and take the 1st right fork in the road and continue straight through the roundabout in the direction signposted “St.Patricks Six Roads”.

You will come to a second roundabout where you will again continue straight and shortly you will see the entrance to Foursquare. This is the home of the Rum Distillery and Heritage Park, the first all new Rum Distillery to be built in Barbados this century on 8 acres of landscaped park.

In addition to the rum distillery you can tour two museums and visit local craftsmen at work. Once you have toured this lovely site you need to turn right as you leave and head towards Six Cross Roads roundabout.

At this roundabout take the second left signposted “Chapel” to head towards Sunbury Plantation House. At the end of this road you will see Sunbury directly in front of you. To enter make a left and quick right into the gate.

Built over 300 years ago, Sunbury is magnificently furnished and contains wonderful collections of antiques, china, silver and old prints, as well as the Caribbean’s finest collection of antique carriages. As a museum, all the rooms are open to the public giving visitors a vivid impression of the gracious lifestyle in the 1800’s. Inquire about their wonderful Planters Candlelight Dinner.

On leaving Sunbury, turn right and immediately left to head back where you came, signposted “Six Roads via Marchfield”. When you reach the Six Roads roundabout take the 1st left signposted “Bushy Park via Congo Road”. Along this road the white building at the top of the hill directly ahead is District ‘C’ Police Station. This was once part of a chain of signal stations which included Grenade Hall and Gun Hill.

At the stop junction turn left signposted “Bridgetown via Ebenezer” and then take the immediate right turn signposted “St.John’s Church“. Follow this road for about 10 minutes – meandering through rural St.John. Eventually you will see St. John’s Primary school on your right. Just after the school the road forks. Take the right fork signposted “St.John’s Church” in yellow as well as “Bathsheba Foster Hall”. This wonderful old church offers a combination of beautiful architecture, a stunning view and an interesting history.

On leaving St.John’s Church, turn right. Take the next right signposted “Martin’s Bay via Church View NewCastle”. Down the hill at the stop junction continue straight ahead to Martin’s Bay, signposted “Zores via Martin’s Bay”. You will pass Sparkey’s Restaurant and Bar on your right.

On your left you will see a brown rum shop on the corner, take a left down this road and proceed downhill. Continuing downhill you arrive in Martin’s Bay – a Barbadian secret – well known for the quality and quantity of its lobsters. Turn right at this T-junction and find a place to park. It’s worth a quick stop to enjoy the views and the scenery and maybe even a quick dip in one of the rock pools at low tide.

After you’ve taken your fill continue as you were and take the first right turn to head back up the hill to the junction with Sparkey’s Restaurant and Bar now on your left.

Take a left at this junction to go through the black and white stone walls. You are now driving out of the area where most of Barbados’ bananas and plantains are cultivated. Keep driving for about 5 minutes until you come to a sign on the left indicating “Public Access to Bath”.

Bath was a thriving sugar plantation in its day, but is now better known as a seaside park where Bajans go to picnic on public holidays.

It is a lovely spot for a picnic stop with lots of trees for shade. Please note that the only way out is the way you came in. Once you’ve made your way back to the junction with the Public Access sign at the top of the hill turn left and follow the road up the steep hill. At the top of the hill continue straight ahead, through the village, until the road enters a wooded area.

On the left you will see a magnificent row of Royal Palms lining the splendid entrance way to Codrington College, built in 1743 after the estate and a considerable amount of money had been donated by Christopher Codrington to endow an institution of higher education. The setting and grounds of Codrington College are quite beautiful. A brochure outlines the history of both Christopher Codrington and the College.

Upon leaving Codrington turn left and continue on through the village. Look out for the Hinkson’s Inc. pink and grey shop ahead. This is one of the few well preserved and maintained traditional hardware corner shops left on the island.

As was traditional, the store is downstairs and the home is upstairs. They sell everything you can think of, except food! Pass Hinkson’s and continuing along the road, you eventually go downhill. You are now entering St.Philip.

At the T-junction with a park on your right turn left. The curious can take the signposted left turn off this road into Skeete’s Bay – a small fishing community with a fish market; otherwise continue until you come to a road on the left signposted “Highway 5 via Marley Vale Merricks”.

You will eventually see a sign posted “Lighthouse” which will take you down to East Point Lighthouse located at Ragged Point, well worth a visit for the spectacular and rugged coastal scenery, and the magnificent view along the entire East coast as far as Pico Tenerife in the North. Note that some of this land is privately owned so please respect the property.

On leaving the lighthouse, at the main road, turn left again and follow the winding road until you come to a sign pointing left towards the sea to “Bottom Bay via Apple Hall”. The road ends at the top of the cliff, alongside the wall of Bottom Bay House. Park here. The steps down to the beach are right in front of you. This is a great beach to have a picnic. It’s a bit of a chore to carry everything down the steps but well worth it. The sea is quite rough with big waves but it is safe to swim, once you follow the basic safety rules. Bottom Bay is very picturesque with ample scope for photography.

Once you’ve taken in your fill of Bottom Bay, turn left at the main road, follow the road around a sharp left corner and then a sharp right corner, and turn left at the sign posted “Crane via Sam Lord’s Belair”.

At the next T-junction turn right, signposted “Airport via Belair Crane”. Keep straight along this long stretch of road.

Turn left at the T-junction signposted “Bridgetown via Airport”. You will come to a little roundabout, heading straight will take you to the public access to the Crane Beach where we end our tour.

Voted one of the ten best beaches in the world by Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, this beach truly is a piece of paradise. Alternatively, you can enter through The Crane Resort & Residences by taking a right at the roundabout.

You will pass Cutters along the way on your right. Open every day except Tuesday from 10am to 5pm, they sell quality foods great for packing a picnic.

Shortly afterwards you will see the entrance to the Crane on your left. The hotel may charge you $25 BDS for right of entry as an access to the beach, but this is redeemable at the bar and restaurant. If you don’t fancy a beach stop visitors are welcome to come in just for a drink or lunch without an entry charge.