Chilterns - Schooner Bay

In Depth

Chilterns is one of 30 high quality, luxury Barbados apartment rentals and townhouses in the exclusive Schooner Bay development close to Speightstown. Completed in 2003, this select gated community occupies a prime beachfront location in what was one of the few remaining areas of the West Coast untouched by development. An air of nostalgia seems to permeate this part of Barbados, where many of the houses date back to the days when Barbados was known to only a few wealthy and privileged visitors. Speightstown itself even retains a touch of an older atmosphere, of what people now call “Old Barbados” and life is generally much slower paced than it is further down the coast. A few original buildings in the town still hark back to the 18th century when Speightstown was a thriving merchant town and when sugar was king. If you are looking for a more sedate area with some traditional charm and character, then this area of Barbados is a good option.

Located on two levels at a corner, Chilterns is a comfortable, well appointed modern one bedroom, two bathroom deluxe apartment, built on two levels. All of the one to four bedroom apartments and townhouses at Schooner Bay work well as Barbados condos for rent and feature pale marble floors, Italian kitchens with granite work surfaces and Smeg appliances, marble Master bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs, carved coral stone features and they are individually furnished to a high standard.

The ground floor of Chilterns comprises an open plan living and kitchen area, with a compact kitchen and breakfast bar in one corner and a comfortable sitting area with a navy upholstered sofabed that will sleep either one adult or a child. The room has cable TV, DVD and a CD player and also a full guest bathroom with shower. A French door opens out onto a small covered terrace with a romantic hammock, a small rattan dining table and chairs for four. It gives access across a patch of lawn to the central pool. Glimpses of the ocean can be seen, though the views from the balcony upstairs are naturally much better.

Upstairs, a very spacious bedroom is partially open to the lower level, having no wall to the inner side of the stairs, rather a low wrought iron rail. It means that if there is an additional guest staying downstairs, it is not entirely private. The bedroom is simply furnished with a teak, king size bed, matching bedside cabinets and a teak rocker, with a high exposed, bleached roof that adds to a sense of size. French doors give onto a private balcony where there are a couple of chairs for relaxing and enjoying the views over the pool and Caribbean Sea. A dressing room leads into a marble tiled bathroom with small whirlpool tub with shower. The apartment is fully air-conditioned and has ceiling fans.

Beach & Swimming

Schooner Bay is built in a horseshoe shape around a large, free form pool (2.6ft to 5.6ft deep) with surrounding sun deck, with steps (there is a shower for rinsing off) down onto Cobblers Cove, a half mile stretch of golden sandy beach which runs north of Cobblers Cove Hotel. Sun loungers are available for beach use. There are excellent spots for swimming and a small coral reef for snorkelling – beware of the black spiky sea urchins which are known locally as “cobblers” whose brittle spines will in-bed themselves if trodden on or brushed against roughly. The area is known for its turtles which are normally seen directly off Cobblers Cove Hotel.

Sports & Recreation

Schooner Bay has its own air-conditioned gym, located above the Property Management Office. The gym contains a Cybex MG500 Multi-Gym, a Cybex 500R Recumbent Cycle, a Cybex Tread Mill, and a bench and rack that holds free weights from 2 lbs – 50 lbs.

Tennis can be arranged and watersports are available from nearby Cobblers Cove hotel a short stroll along the beach - Radical Watersports, offer water skiing, banana & tube rides, knee & wake boarding. The nearest golf course is Royal Westmoreland about 20 minutes drive away, which has some tee times open to outsiders in the mid morning, otherwise there are the three courses at Sandy Lane about 30 minutes away which also has tennis courts. For tennis you could also try Sugar Hill just below Royal Westmoreland.

Locality

The Schooner Bay development is located on the edge of Speightstown, north of Cobblers Cove Hotel, with a couple of well established private holiday villas and exclusive homes nearby. The centre of Speightstown, the island’s second largest town, can easily be reached on foot. Once known as Little Bristol because of connections to Bristol on the west coast of England, Speightstown still has a feel of old time Barbados about it. There is a small fish market on the seafront, fruit and vegetable sellers known as “hucksters” on the road side, a couple of local restaurants and bars and a smattering of shops, plus a reasonably well stocked supermarket. The nearest good restaurants to the north are Mangos By the Sea and the Fish Pot at Little Good Harbour, the latter about 5 minutes by car. To the south The Terrace at Cobblers Cove Hotel is within walking distance and the celeb favourite Lone Star about 8 minutes by car.

A simple supper in one of the fishing villages to the north of St Peter or in St Lucy at Shermans or Half Moon Fort on a Friday or Saturday is an option, for this is when freshly caught fish is cooked by the roadside – this is becoming a popular alternative to the busier Oistins Fish Fry. Here you will find the small wooden fish stalls interspersed with make-shift bars right on the beach at the side of the road, or the occasional rustic dining area perched above the sea. Local fishing boats are still built in this area and can be seen along the road side.

Useful Hints

Ask your travel organiser or the management company (if booking direct) for initial food and drink supplies to be laid in for your arrival. The cook will then prepare a welcome meal. Thereafter, staff will shop for you during your stay if you wish to delegate this chore, however it is up to the guest to provide transportation and funds for the staff to do so. Rental rates for villas in Barbados do not include ‘tips’, about which you will find advice in the guest information book at the villa. Initial groceries and additional shopping, transfers, and any other incidentals such as crib, high chair, TV rental are subject to a 17.5% VAT and 15% Service Charge.

Meet & Greet

If you are booking direct ask the villa management company Altman Villa Rentals to send a taxi to meet you at the airport. Once you request their transfer service, they will have a representative at the airport outside the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name on it, who will direct you to your awaiting taxi. Your airport transfers are paid for locally and take approximately 50 minutes.

Alternatively, if you would prefer to be taken care of from the minute you arrive at the airport, with a range of services that can include limousine transfers and a Concierge Service is offered by St James Travel & Tours.

If you are booking through a travel organiser, it is likely that their representative will be at the airport to meet you. This service and your return airport transfers should be included in the cost of your holiday. Please check at the time of booking.

Getting Around

Although most things are relatively close at hand with Speightstown literally on the doorstep and Holetown easily reached by public transport, a hired car is strongly recommended for all private villa holidays, unless you prefer staff to call taxis for you as required. A car will be useful if you want to dine out at night or do lots of sightseeing and particularly when it comes to shopping for groceries. Book car hire via your travel organiser or direct with Stoutes Car Rentals and ask for your vehicle(s) to be delivered to the property approximately 3 hours after your scheduled time of arrival on Barbados or, if preferred, the following morning. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day.