Barbados, Taste of the
Caribbean 2017
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beaches, sites of fascinating history
and vibrant culture as you enjoy short
walks and sightseeing around the
island. Walks are generally between 15 miles (1.5-8km), with only short
sections of ascent. Extensions to some
walks may be possible.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Barbados
After being met at the airport and
transferred to the hotel, you will have
time to swim and explore the hotel
and surrounding area before dinner.
(Meals included: dinner)
Day 2: Speightstown and Holetown
We begin our exploration of the island
by taking a tour of historic
Speightstown (Little Bristol), a
settlement which has remained
virtually unchanged over the last 100
years.
We have programmed an
unforgettable holiday to show you the
best of Barbados, the most easterly of
the Caribbean islands. This island offers
historical interest, unique geology and
fascinating flora and fauna.
UK and Barbados have had close links
for over 400 years, mainly due to the
cultivation of sugar cane, as a result of
which Barbados has gained the
nickname of ‘Little England’.
Barbados was the only island that did
not change ownership in the
Caribbean as the ambitions of
European powers continued to
change during the 17th and 18th
centuries. Barbados also offered
George III a sanctuary if Napoleon got
too close to London, and supported
Britain in the Second World War. It is
interesting to note that Elizabethan
words, now unknown in the UK, can still
be heard on the island.
Our walk includes a section of the
Arbib Trail. We walk through the town
and pass a house that was the
prototype of early dwellings in South
Carolina, and a fort that was part of
the island’s historical defences.
This holiday offers you the chance to
relax and soak up scenes of tropical
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We are then shuttled to Heron Bay,
where we enjoy a short walk along its
west coast to Folkestone Marine Park
and then on to Holetown, where the
first European settlers landed. The walk
visits the place where the island was
claimed for the Crown (Distance:
approx 2.5 miles/4km in total).
We’ll lunch at a seaside restaurant
before returning to hotel in the early
afternoon, giving us plenty of time to
relax.
We walk along the magnificent white
sands of Long Beach to Chancery
Lane swamp, one of the best
archaeological sites on the island. This
is also an important resting area for
migratory birds. After lunch we
continue our walk to Silver Sands
Beach (Distance: 5 miles/8km in total).
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch &
dinner)
Day 3: Farley Hill/St. Nicholas Abbey
We start out from the Farley Hill
National Park, the location of the
historic Farley Hill Great House ruins. By
way of cart roads we make our way
past the Wild Life Reserve, through a
nearby farm and onto the village of
Moore Hill. We then proceed through
the grounds of an outstanding
heritage site, St. Nicholas Abbey, a 355
year old Jacobean styled plantation
great house, and also have lunch. Our
trail continues on up to the very scenic
lookout point of Cherry Tree Hill.
Descending Cherry Tree Hill we pass
by another heritage site, the Morgan
Lewis Sugar Mill. (Distance 4
miles/6km)
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch &
dinner)
Day 5: Free day
(Meals included: breakfast, dinner)
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch &
dinner)
Day 6: Turner’s Hall Woods
Our morning walk today enjoys an
exploration of Turners Hall Woods. With
at least 32 different species of trees
and 30 species of shrubs, this is the
only remaining area of the original
forest that greeted English settlers
when they arrived in 1627. The
Day 4: Pre-European Barbados
Today we explore pre-European
Barbados with an easy walk from
Gemswick and the Salt Cave Cove,
passing the old gun (HARP project)
behind the Barbados Defence Force.
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removal of the forest and some
remarkable agricultural developments
led to Barbados becoming the richest
place in the English-speaking world by
1650’s and a significant coloniser of
North America (Distance: 3.5
miles/6km).
Day 8: Andromeda & Old Train Route
We start at one of the signal stations
constructed in the early 1800s to
improve island wide communications,
walking on the paved country road for
a few minutes before we arrive at St.
Joseph’s Parish Church. Then it’s off
road through the Hackleton’s Cliff
Forest main trail down to the St.
Elizabeth Primary School. Along this
shaded forest trail we will see flora,
fauna and history and the significance
of the Hackleton Cliff area.
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch &
dinner)
Day 7: Bridgetown/Garrison
We visit the capital city of Barbados,
Bridgetown, for a walk to discover the
history of the city. We will see the
Nidhei Israel Synagogue, originally built
in 1654, and the Parliament Buildings,
and we’ll learn about the country’s
constitution, one of the oldest in the
Commonwealth. We’ll have the
opportunity to hear about the
country’s development, politics,
battles and religion, before we enjoy a
picnic lunch.
We walk downhill from the
Andromeda Botanic Gardens, named
after the mythical Greek maiden who
was tied to a rock as a sacrifice for a
sea monster, to the coastal
community of Bathsheba. We
continue along this rugged coast to
our lunch venue on the terrace at the
historic Round House overlooking the
Atlantic Ocean. As we walk along the
old railway route, be treated to
memorable stories and train photos of
Barbados’ 50 year old train service.
(Distance Approx 5 miles/8km)
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch &
dinner)
There’s time to swim after lunch,
before we go on to explore the
Garrison site, where the fort dates
back to 1702, and is home to a
Cromwellian cannon.
Day 9: Sunbury Great House
Today we start our walking from Long
Bay to Bottom Bay, followed by a short
drive to Culpepper Island. Culpepper
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch &
dinner)
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is a rock formation in the sea located
about 250 feet off Barbados. We
continue our walk to Skeete’s Bay, a
picturesque bay in a quaint fishing
village. After a 10 minute drive we’ll
arrive at the historical Sunbury
Plantation where we’ll enjoy a buffet
lunch followed by a tour of the great
house (Distance: approx 3 miles / 5km
in total).
(Distance Approx 2 miles/3km)
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch &
dinner)
Day 10 Harrisons Cave & Welchman
Hall Gully
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch &
dinner)
Day 11: Departure day
This morning we drive to Harrisons
Cave where a solar-charged train
takes us through the Cave, one of the
largest caves in the Caribbean and a
popular attraction on the island.
Take time to relax, swim or just take a
leisurely stroll around the area before
transferring to the airport for the return
flight.
After the tour we will then take a
second walk, through Welchman Hall
Gully, an area developed as a
national park and a home to a host of
exotic plants and fruits. We board the
bus for a short drive to the Flower
Forest for our walk through this
magnificent garden, approximately 12
acres of tropical flowers, plants and
trees sourced from all over the world.
(Meals included: breakfast)
After the tour we enjoy a light lunch at
the Flower Forest café, before
returning to the hotel.
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The tropically decorated, air
conditioned rooms include fridge,
microwave, toaster, satellite TV,
personal safe and either a balcony or
patio.
Accommodation
We stay at the Coconut Court Beach
Hotel, located on a white-sand beach
on the south coast of Barbados. This is
a comfortable hotel with excellent
facilities, including a swimming pool, a
cold water spa tub, beachfront dining,
and poolside barbecues.
Most evenings at the Coconut Court
Beach Hotel offer opportunities to
listen to local music, dance, try a little
cocktail, or to do some star-gazing
under the tropical night skies.
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Kit List
Before your holiday
Please try to keep luggage to a
minimum as you will need to carry it
yourself at airports and between your
transport and your hotel.
We hope you find this information
comprehensive – if not please visit our
website for more details or contact us.
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All details correct at time of writing
(May 2016). Passport and visa
requirements are subject to change;
please check with your consulate
before you travel.
We would advise that you check your
government’s travel advisory before
travelling. For UK travellers, please
check www.fco.gov.uk
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In all instances during your holiday,
your first point of contact should be
your HF Holidays’ leader or local
leader. If for any reason this is not
possible, HF Holidays’ emergency
contact details are as follows:
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Mon - Fri 9am - 7pm
Tel +44 (0)345 470 7558
or +44(0)20 8732 1250 ( from overseas)
Fri - Mon 7pm - 9am
Tel +44 (0)7918 737777
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Airport parking and accommodation
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If you require airport
parking or
accommodation
before your flight, we
recommend our partner Holiday
Extras. Call 0871 360 2750 and quote
HX031 or book online at
www.holidayextras.co.uk/hfholidays
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Walking boots – (worn in) with
good ankle support and spare
bootlaces. You may prefer to
take walking (‘approach’)
trainers as well/instead of your
boots, depending on the level
of ankle support you require
Walking sandals.
Walking socks
Lightweight fleece
Lightweight waterproof trousers
and jacket
Shorts
Long trousers and long-sleeved
light coloured shirts with collars
to protect from the sun − your
clothing should ideally be pretreated with insect repellent and
in-built sun protection (available
from specialist clothing stores
such as Rohan, Cotswold
Outdoor)
Sun hat
Comfortable clothes and shoes
for evenings and sightseeing
Sun protection – sunglasses, high
factor sunscreen and lip
protection
Water bottle – at least 2 litre
capacity
Lightweight survival bag
Small/medium rucksack (30 litre)
– a bin liner will keep contents
dry if it rains
Soap and hand sanitizer gel
Insect repellent
Universal adaptor plug
Universal sink plug
Personal first aid kit including:
personal medication, tissues,
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plasters, blister kit, painkillers,
antiseptic wipes, Imodium,
rehydration sachets
Passport (and copies); booking
confirmation; insurance cover
note; HF Holidays’ registration
form
Optional: trekking poles, (if you
usually use poles at home, you
may find them useful on this
holiday), camera, umbrella,
binoculars, swimming costume,
snorkelling gear and towel.
If arranging your own travel insurance,
please ensure it is adequate for your
specific itinerary.
Health advice
This is subject to change and we
would highly recommend that you
consult your doctor before travelling.
For further information on country
specific advice, visit
www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or
www.traveldoctor.co.uk
Hepatitis A and Tetanus vaccinations
are recommended. Diphtheria and
Typhoid vaccines are sometimes
recommended too. Please be aware
that cases of Dengue Fever and Zika
virus have been found in Barbados, so
please take steps to avoid being
bitten by mosquitoes.
Please ensure you have access to
emergency funds should you need
them; carrying a credit card is
probably the most convenient
method.
Please note that your HF Holidays’
leader reserves the right to refuse to
take any guest on a walk should they
consider that a lack of suitable
clothing/footwear may affect safety.
Please note: the use or possession of
some common prescription or overthe-counter medicines is banned in
some countries. If you will be carrying
medication, please check with the
country’s embassy/ consulate prior to
travel. As an extra precaution:
Baggage allowance
1 piece checked-in luggage (max
23kg).
Please check details of your airline’s
baggage allowance, as shown on
your e-ticket. Remember to also check
any connecting flights you may have
booked.
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Passports & visas
Passports must be valid for the
duration of stay. Visas are not required
for UK, Australian, Canadian, USA
passport holders staying for less than
six months. Other countries should
consult the embassy for advice.
Keep your medication in its
original packet
Take a copy of your prescription
too
If possible, ask your chemist to
write the name of your
medication in the language of
the country that you’re visiting
Dietary requirements
Please contact us as far in advance as
possible if you have any specific
dietary requirements. We will do our
best to accommodate you. If you
require a specific meal on the flight,
please let us know as soon as possible,
Travel insurance
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and no later than 96 hours before
travel.
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Travel tips for a comfortable flight
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We’ve put together a few simple tips
to help make your flight as
comfortable as possible, ensuring you
begin your holiday in tip-top shape.
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you, as your eyes may feel dryer
than usual
Stay loose. Wear loose fitting,
comfortable shoes and clothes
Flight socks are recommended
to help prevent DVT on longhaul flights
Lost/damaged luggage
Move about. Change position
and avoid crossing your legs.
Immobility poses the greatest risk
in the development of clotting
disorders. Get out of your seat
and walk around as regularly as
possible to improve circulation
No pills. Unless advised by your
doctor, do not take sleeping
tablets on the flight; this will
reduce your mobility and make
you feel sluggish
Protect your ears. If you
experience discomfort due to
the cabin pressure changes,
suck a sweet, chew, or hold
your nostrils and gently blow
through your nose; this should
equalise the pressure. If you still
experience problems, speak to
a member of the cabin crew
Drink plenty. Ask a member of
the cabin crew if you are thirsty.
Avoid alcohol, tea, coffee or
carbonated drinks as these will
dehydrate you. Instead, try to
drink plenty of fruit juices or
water
Eat light. Avoid heavy meals
and foods – air expands at
altitude and heavy meals will
result in that bloated feeling
Moisturise. Your skin, especially
your lips and nostrils, may feel
dry so moisturising creams may
help. If you wear contact lenses,
always carry your glasses with
If your bag or its contents are
damaged or lost while in the airline’s
care, this should be reported to the
baggage service agents at the
airport. They will assess the damage
and in some cases the airline may
decide to settle your claim
immediately. You will be given a
reference to quote to your insurance
company if settlement cannot be
reached. In many cases baggage
claims can only be accepted in
writing. A baggage claim form must
be obtained from the airport.
HF Holidays’ with-flight guests
For those travelling on our HF Holidays’
group flight, please proceed to the
arrivals hall once you have passed
through passport control, customs and
baggage reclaim, when you arrive at
your destination. Your leader or local
leader will assemble the group in the
arrivals hall. Look out for the
HF Holidays’ sign.
Independent travellers
If you are arriving ahead of the group,
and are meeting them at the first
hotel, please leave a message at the
hotel reception for the HF Holidays’
leader or local leader, detailing your
room number, and a mobile
telephone number if possible. The
leader will contact you once the
group arrives. If you are arriving after
the group, a message will be left for
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you at the hotel reception, welcoming
you and giving details of the time and
place to meet the group. If your flight
arrives before the group flight and you
would like to join the transfer to the first
hotel, please contact our Abroad
Administration team on (0)20 8732
1271. They will have a list of the
relevant transfer costs.
Tips have been included in your
holiday price for key services such as
local guides/ driver/restaurants. Any
additional tips are at your own
discretion.
Climate
The island has a delightful climate with
mild subtropical weather that varies
little throughout the year. The lowest
recorded temperature on Barbados is
15ºC. During the winter the evenings
can be cool. Rain, which usually
consists of short showers, is most likely
to occur from July through to
November. Most of the walks take
place either in the early morning or in
the afternoon - the period between
11am and 2pm tends to be the hottest
part of the day making walking less
comfortable.
Safety on your holiday
Once you have made your booking,
you will receive a pre-holiday
questionnaire where we ask for details
of next of kin, and insurance details.
We need to have this from you at least
4 weeks before travel.
Please also inform us of any medical
situation which may affect your
enjoyment of the holiday
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Please listen to any safety
instructions from the leader
Keep group members in view,
especially if weather or visibility
is poor
If you become separated from
the group, please stay where
you are, the leader will retrace
their steps to find you
Each leader carries a first aid kit
but is not allowed to supply any
medication including aspirin,
paracetamol, antihistamines,
and antiseptic cream. You may
wish to bring these items with
you
Local currency & money matters
Barbados Dollars (BD$). Credit cards
are widely accepted. Cash should be
in US Dollars. Traveller’s cheques are
not advised.
Suggested reading and Maps
Barbados – Footprint Handbook
To Hell or Barbados – Sean
O’Callaghan
The Sugar Barons – Matthew Parker
Maps can be obtained in advance
from The Mapshop
www.themapshop.co.uk
In the unlikely event that your leader is
incapacitated, please use any
emergency kit in their rucksack and
call emergency services on 119.
Please then call our emergency
number (see page 7) and let us know
there is a problem.
Electricity
115V, 2 pin flat blade plugs
Time difference
GMT/UTC -4 hrs
Tipping
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HF Holidays Ltd, Catalyst House, Centennial
Court, Elstree, Borehamwood, WD6 3SY, UK
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