Tobago / Special Interests / Historical Sites

Places with historical and cultural interest on Tobago include:

Arnos Vale Waterwheel Park, Arnos Vale Estate – a former sugar estate dating back to the 1850s. The estate had been developed as a park, with nature trails, a small museum, craft shop and a restaurant (both now closed) located next to the old sugar factory, and the restored waterwheel. The remains of a slave village and an Amerindian site have been located on the estate. Good spot for leisurely strolls and bird watching - guided tour available. 

Fort Bennett, Black Rock - Site dates back to the 1680s, good views along the coast.

Fort James, Plymouth - Site of the oldest settlement in Tobago. The partial ruins of the British fort, built in the early 1800s to replace the original dating back to the 1770s, are in a grassy expanse facing into Great Courland Bay. A good spot for sunsets and to watch diving pelicans. Next to the fort is located the mystery tombstone of Betty Stiven, which reads: “She was a mother without knowing it, and a wife without letting her husband know it, except by her kind indulgences to him”.

Fort King George, Scarborough - Built by the British around 1777-79, this is the largest military fort in Tobago. From its vantage point on the hillside above Scarborough, there are far-reaching views across the south-east coast and lowlands – on a clear day you can see Trinidad – and to the hills on the north-east coast. There is a fine collection of cannons, and a number of military buildings have been restored for use, one of which now houses the excellent Tobago Museum. A lighthouse was built within the grounds of the fort in 1843, and is still in operation.

Fort Milford, Crown Point - Ruins of an 18th Century British fort overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Not much left, but a good spot for watching the sunset.

Richmond Great House, Belle Garden - A restored plantation house with foundations dating back to 1766, when a Great House was built on the former sugar estate. 

Scarborough

Scarborough was not originally the capital of Tobago (that was actually George Town, located in Barbados Bay on the north shore of the island, established by the British in 1768), but the lower area of what is now Scarborough was developed by the Dutch, who built a fort there in 1674 called Sterreschan. In 1769 the British government was moved to Scarborough, which was thought to be a better location.

The town straggles along the coast of Rockley Bay and up the hillside towards Fort King George. It is really a large town, with a marketplace, a quirky town square and a jumble of shops, and snack shops. Inland there is a botanical garden and at the top of the hill, in the grounds of the fort, you will find the Tobago Museum. This is worth a visit for a slice of history and the stunning views.

Island Tours

If you would prefer to explore the island in the company of others and with a qualified guide, then there are guided tours that take in some of the island’s historical and heritage highlights such as the Tobago Cocoa Estate,  the fishing village of Charlotteville and Fort King George in Scarborough

Yes! Tourism - Local incoming tour (THTA & T&TITOA) operator offering sightseeing and special-interest tours by air-conditioned minibus. These might include an island tour covering local villages and waterfalls and a true off-road trip, in which you will see some of the island’s extraordinary scenery close up.