Barbados Tourist Attractions on the East Coast
The east coast of Barbados takes in the parishes of St. Peter, St. Andrew, St. Joseph, St. John, and St. Philip therefore, you will find an abundance of tourist attractions on the east coast of Barbados and plenty to keep everyone amused.
Starting at the top of the east coast in St. Peter, this parish is unusual as it runs from the east of Barbados right over to the west coast; therefore for attractions in this parish on the west, please read our article on west coast tourist attractions or just the St. Peter tourist attractions article.
On the east coast, the only tourist attraction in St. Peter in St. Nicholas Abbey, one of the single three remaining Jacobean properties left in the western hemisphere.
The east coast is the most stunning coastline and is breathtaking, from some points such as Cherry Tree Hill in St. Peter, it doesn’t look real, so make sure you take your camera for a classic picture postcard moment. This area is currently undergoing reforestation of mahogany trees.
Moving down the east coast brings you into the parish of St. Andrew, where you will find the highest point in Barbados, which is Mount Hillaby; this area is similar to Scotland and is therefore known as the Scotland District of Barbados. Please see the article below on Mount Hillaby for more information.
There are some lovely beaches on the east coast, but only some are suitable for swimming in rock pools as the reef stops the rough Atlantic waters from crashing in. One of the great beaches to go for a long walk is from Walkers Beach, which then turns into Lakes Beach and then Morgan Lewis Beach.
Just next to Walker’s Beach, you will find St. Andrew’s Parish Church, which is a beautiful old Anglican church that you can look around. Other Anglican churches on the east coast include St. Joseph’s Parish Church, St. Ann’s Church, St. Margaret’s Church, St. John’s Parish Church, St. Mark’s Church, Mount Tabor Church, St. Martins Church, St. Philips Parish Church, St. Catherine’s and Holy Trinity Church.
At Morgan Lewis Beach, you will also find Morgan Lewis Mill, which is open to the public and is one of the last mills to be in operation in Barbados since it was restored in 1996. For more information, please read the article below.
There are a couple of good forests in this area either for hiking or for the more adventurous maybe you fancy going through the woods on horseback. Either way, try Turner’s Hall Woods or the Grenade Hall Forest and Signal Station. You can read full articles on both at the bottom of this page.
If you fancy some action and adventure, then you could go quad biking here at ATV Quest, this can be a hazardous sport and therefore is not suitable for children.
However, something suitable for the younger members of the family is a trip to the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, which is a great day out for the entire family, here you will find an unspoiled nature park, which is home to lots of green monkeys, turtles, and other exciting wildlife.
A great spot to stop for a picnic and getting wet is the rock pools at Barclays Park, a national park given to the country by Barclays Bank as a gift for Independence in 1966.
This area is densely populated with tourist attractions, and another place to visit is the West Indies Sugar Plantation, where there is a full refinery for sugar and a gift shop to purchase the final product.
For great gifts and to see potters at work, visit the Chalky Mount Potteries, which is an area where potters have worked for generations.
Another place that you have to visit while in this part of the island is Farley Hill National Park, which was once home to the most beautiful mansion on Barbados, sadly this house burned down in a fire, however, the remains still stand and now the park is used for festivals such as Jazz on the Hill and Reggae on the Hill. For more information about the house and the festivals, please click on the links at the bottom of this page.
As you continue your descent southwards down the east coast, the next parish you come in to is St. Joseph, which is home to the most picturesque part of the island, and everyone will tell you to visit Bathsheba at some point during your stay in Barbados.
Bathsheba is best known for the ‘soup bowl‘, a great surf spot for professional surfers, and this is where international surfing competitions are held every November. The best place to watch the surfing action is from the Roundhouse, a bar, and a restaurant on the top of the hill.
Bathsheba is a very tranquil place with a very laid back feel; it is a great place to go and relax and has some excellent bars, restaurants, and hotels such as the Edgewater Inn and the Atlantis Hotel, which is one of the oldest in Barbados.
If you are driving through the area on Sunday, then an excellent place for lunch is Fisherpond Great House, you will need to call and make a reservation, but it is like going to someone’s home for Sunday lunch and an experience that you will not forget.
There is so much natural beauty on this side of the island that you are spoilt for choice as to where to go. Next, we would recommend that you visit Andromeda Botanical Gardens and the Tropical Rain Forest while in this area.
Now continuing south on the east coast will bring you into the parish of St. John, where you will find Bath, which has a beautiful beach, picnic benches, and beach facilities including a children’s playground. A coral reef protects the bay here, so it is safe for swimming and great for snorkeling.
This is a popular place for locals to rent a beach house for the weekend as it is so relaxing and seems so far away from the hustle and bustle of life on the south and west coasts.
Also in St. John, you will find Codrington College, which is an international theological college and comprehensive school for children. The grounds here are spectacular, so do go and have a look around.
In this parish, you will also find Villa Nova, once a very grand plantation house, that was then turned in to a hotel; at present (May 2008), the property is closed down.
Here you will also find the fishing village in Consett Bay, where there is a fish market for fresh fish, and you can go to the fish fry on a Friday evening to taste fish cooked by the locals.
Finally, your last stop while in St. John has to be at a renowned rum shop called Lemon Arbour, which is packed every Saturday lunchtime and infamous for its plates of pork.
The next parish that you will come to is St. Philip, which is home to some ‘out of this world’ beaches such as Bottom Bay, Harrismiths, Sam Lord’s Castle, Foul Bay and The Crane, which was voted as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. Currents on these beaches can be strong but are generally safe for swimming once you get past the shore break.
One of the main tourist attractions in St. Philip is Sunbury Plantation House, which is open to the public and has an excellent restaurant in the courtyard. Here you can wander around the country house and appreciate a bygone era of Barbados with grand mahogany furniture and an impressive collection of horse-drawn carriages and bugs. Just up the road from here, you will find an exciting place for gifts and souvenirs at Daphne’s Sea Shell Studio.
Another great house in St. Philip is Sam Lord’s Castle, however, at present (May 2020), this is also closed down. For further information on the property and its history, please read the article below.
Next stop is the Four Square Rum Distillery & Heritage Park, where you can take a tour of the factory and enjoy the beautiful park that surrounds it, there is also a gift shop and a restaurant for refreshments.
If you are interested in motor racing, then in this part of the island, you will find Bushy Park. You will need to check local press for details of meetings or read the article below on motorsports in Barbados.
The last tourist attraction on this coast is Kendal Sporting Range, where they have a variety of shooting options such as clay pigeon, handgun, archery, and paintballing. It is a family orientated facility with a swimming pool and a full games room with refreshments available.
By: Brett Callaghan
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