Though the island remains relatively flat, the surprising beauty of the hills and valleys that lay within the boundaries of Saint Andrew has often been likened to the rugged and mountainous terrains of our neighbouring Caribbean islands. From Mount Hillaby, the highest point in the island, which extends down towards the untouched beaches to hidden bays that meet the shores, the parish of St. Andrew remains an unspoiled wonder.
Top Places to Visit in St. Andrew
Mount Hillaby
Coming in at 1115 ft/ 343 meters above sea level, Mount Hillaby is the highest point in Barbados, offering epic views of the north and east of the island.
Turners Hall Woods
Turners Hall, is one of the few surviving tropical forests that once blanketed our entire island. This beautiful 50-acre wood should be one of the island's national treasures. Lush vegetation, winding paths, trails and a wide array of flora and fauna make this an interesting location to explore. It’s also an ideal location for those who love the great outdoors and the adventure seekers who love to hike.”Morgan Lewis Windmill
During December and April, the Barbados National Trust treats visitors to a walk down memory lane, the star attraction - Morgan Lewis Windmill - is put to work demonstrating the bygone process of grinding sugar cane into Sugar. This experience is unique to this hemisphere as Morgan Lewis remains as the only refurbished sugar mill in Barbados and one of only two in the Caribbean. Off-Season, the Mill offers a simple tour/ exhibit of the equipment that was once used to produce sugar and is a great place to stop for refreshments as you make your way around the island.
Scotland District
The only mountain in the island is hidden away within this district and at three hundred and forty (340) meters above sea level, our highest point Mount Hillaby is actually a summit. The summit of an extensive underwater mount range that extends beneath the depths of the ocean from Trinidad to as far north as Puerto Rico, peeping out of the water to create our island - a geological wonder.
Through locations like the Scotland District, we have come to appreciate our geological heritage. Our little island comprises clay stones, chalk and volcanic ash and has rock formations dating between 30 and 50 million years old, folded and sculpted to create unique sedimentary rock forms in the area.
Barclay’s Park
If you have an underlying desire to lounge on an expanse of lush green grass, in a quiet, remote area of the island while listening to the roar of the Atlantic ocean, then this may be the place for you! The park typically acts as a rest stop for weekly travellers exploring the countryside but on weekends it transforms from a quiet retreat to a bustling picnic area, where tourists and Bajan families enjoy the social ambience offered by an array of picnic tables and tall shady trees.
Cherry Tree Hill
No parish top 10 would be complete without an interesting story or a bit of folklore and for the parish of St. Andrew, its Cherry tree Hill.
A part of the famous St Nicholas Abbey, the hill itself, which derived its name from the endless cherry tree groves that once covered the entire area, stands eight hundred and fifty (850) ft above sea level and provides a picture-perfect vantage point for visitors to enjoy breathtaking views of the East coast of the island. The hill is arguably said to span two parishes, St. Andrew and St Peter, with start and endpoints which remain unclear.
However, those points aside, the hill is a point of much contention...On your way up the hill, just a mere stones’ throw away from Morgan Lewis Windmill, travellers will find an interesting anomaly. The hill is said to defy the laws of gravity! At just the right point, for those who know where, a parked car will roll uphill! Curious? Go try it for yourself as only a few of these sites exist in the entire world.
The Sleeping Giant
As the story goes, the hills of St. Andrew are home to a massive giant who sleeps never to wake again. A drive down the Ermy Bourne Highway reveals his massive structure laying across the top of one of the hills of the area. Upon close inspection, visitors to the area have been said to see his head, his tummy, and bent knees stretched out across the landscape. Comment to let us know if you saw it too
Walkers Reserve
Over the past 50 years, walkers quarry has served the island of Barbados with copious amounts of construction quality sand, in fact, almost every building in Barbados erected over that time has intermixed between its stones and excavated from walkers quarry. As time passed, and the massive dunes became depleted, it became obvious that with less sand to sell the massive new project would be needed to manage the 300-acre property. As such, in 2011, the wonderful idea of Walkers Reserve was crafted to repurpose the dunes into a beautiful reserve and transform the heavily mined land to:
- To create a sustainable habitat for migratory birds & endangered turtles;
- To create an opportunity for education, eco and agricultural tourism
- To create an opportunity for research
- To create an opportunity to restore the once bountiful forest that once likely covered the entire area.
How can you participate? Donate trees, provide a financial contribution, volunteer to plant a tree, or visit the reserve for an educational tour.
Email [email protected] for more information. (“WIRRED” stands for the Walker’s Institute for Regenerative Research and Design.)
Long Pond
Like the more famous Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary in Christ Church, Long Pond is another important environmental landscape and playground for migratory birds and wildlife. This haven for bird watchers is a part of Walkers Reserve and is home to a bevvy of birds such as Plovers, Belted Kingfishers, Herons, Sandpipers and occasionally a single predatory Osprey. The saltwater pond is flanked by crabgrass and a sandy bank separates the shallow long pond lagoon from the sea during the low tides.
Chalky Mount Potteries
Chalkly Mount stands as one of the few unique opportunities in St. Andrew to purchase authentic handcrafted Bajan pottery & souvenirs. You can also watch the potters at work utilising rich red potters clay which can only be found in this part of the island.
This parish has a history, natural attractions, handcrafted works and geological prowess, what else could you ask for on a visit to the country.