Antigua and Barbuda / Special Interests / Hiking & Walking

There are some good opportunities for hiking in Antigua. The north of the island is fairly flat, and currently does not offer that much. In the south however, there is interest for two different reasons, the flora and particularly the history.

The Shekerley Mountains around Boggy Peak are high, with open land which has a different flora from the rest of the island. Around Wallings it becomes more like the rainforest of the Windward islands to the south. There is a rainforest trail, which takes you to the dam and along to the remote beach at Rendezvous Bay.

There are also trails through the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. Of the current five, the most popular one is the Middle Ground Trail, which is also used by some of the jeep tours. This leads from Pigeon Beach past military ruins up to Fort Berkeley. The Clarence House Trail leads from the historic house past a small area of mangroves, and the Jones Valley Trail goes up from Galleon Beach to Shirley Heights, from where the Lookout Trail then runs. The Carpenter Trail is a rocky route from Shirley Heights to Fort Charlotte. These trails were laid out and are maintained by the Royal Naval Tot Club of Antigua & Barbuda.

As always it is better if you take a guide, who as well as leading you in the right direction can teach you about the extraordinary tropical flora and fauna. Guides and organised hikes can be contacted through:

Nelson’s Dockyard National Parks, offer a number of guided tours including the Behind the Scenes tour (just under 2 hours) of the dockyard with a hike to Fort Berkely. Their Archaeology Tour is more in-depth. It includes the dockyard and then, with jeep transfers, Middle Ground Barracks, Indian Creek, Fort George Monks Hill, Shirley Heights and the Field Research Centre at Dows Hill. The tour takes around 3 hours and requires sturdy outdoor footwear and a good level of physical fitness. Lunch is included. This tour is subject to the availability of the archaeologists and must be requested at least a week in advance. See under Antigua Culture & Heritage - Archaeology for details.

The Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), occasionally arranges field trips. These can include hikes, usually on 3rd weekend of the month (either a Saturday or a Sunday).

Non-profit organisations and Government links:

Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), Museum of Anrtigua and Barbuda, Long Street, St John’s, t 462 6236 | eag@candw.ag | www.eagantigua.org

National Parks Authority, Nelson's Dockyard National Parks, PO Box 1283, St John's, t 481 5028 | natpark@candw.ag | www.nationalparksantigua.com