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For many, the rugged, little-explored east coast is the most
beautiful part of Barbados. Almost all year round, the Atlantic
waves crash in against this wild coastline, making for superb
surfing but difficult and sometimes dangerous swimming.
It's
certainly worth making the effort to explore since this is a very
different side of the island from the heavily visited south and
west; if possible, try to spend a night or two up here. If you can't
stay, do at least check out one of the excellent restaurants around
the laid-back old resort of Bathsheba for lunch.
Although the coastal scenery is the main attraction, there are a few
specific places that merit a visit, most notably the delightful
Andromeda Botanical Gardens . Specific sightseeing apart, this
is a lovely area to drive through, particularly under the
steep-sided Hackleton's Cliff that runs parallel to the
coast, where the road weaves through lush tropical forest, offering
stunning views over the ocean. You can also walk along the beaches
at Bath and Martin's Bay , watching the surf ride in.
Practicalities
A
handful of small but characterful accommodation on the east coast
offers a change from the built-up south and west of the island. It's
a great, quiet area to unwind for a couple of days, away from the
crowds. In Bathsheba try the Atlantis Hotel phone
246/433-9445; US$50-75), an ancient, faded and extremely welcoming
place overlooking Tent Bay with good food and eight modest rooms -
ask for one with a balcony.
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Just above the Atlantis and
surrounded by an acre of tropical garden is Sea-U Guest House
(phone 246/433-9030, US$75-100), a
friendly little German-managed guesthouse offering four studios with
kitchenettes and one guest room, and food is laid on if you don't
want to cook.
For lunch or dinner, you can't go wrong at the Round House Inn
(daily 11.30am-2.30pm & 6-10pm; phone 246/433-9678), which offers
top-quality cooking and a casual, family atmosphere, halfway
down the steep hill that plunges to Bathsheba Bay. The lunch and
dinner menus are similar - offering dishes like blackened snapper
for around B$35 - but you can also get sandwiches and salads at
lunchtime for B$14 and up. There's an ocean view and you can sit
indoors or on the verandah. It's also pretty much the only place to
find regular live music in the area, with a decent jazz or reggae
band on Tuesday and Saturday nights.
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Caribbean guide
Barbados Travel Guide
Barbados
Where to go
When to go
Getting there
Money and costs
Getting around
Food and drink
Phones, post
Brief history
Best of Barbados
Information, maps
Festivals, holidays
Sports, outdoor activities
Tours
Explore Barbados
-
Bridgetown
Eating, nightlife
Listings
Central Bridgetown
National Heroes Square
Old City
Central
Barbados
Explore Central Barbados
Flower Forest
Francia
Gun Hill
Harrison's Cave
Welchman Hall
Gully
East Coast
Explore East Coast
Andromeda Botanical Gardens
Bathsheba
Codrington College
St. John's Parish
Garrison
Hackletons Cliff & Scotland
Barbados Museum and
Gallery of Art
Savannah, Garrison area
Barbados
Wildlife Reserve
Cherry Tree
Hill
Farley Hill Nat'l Park
Grenade Hall
Morgan
Lewis Sugar Mill
St Nicholas
Abbey
Bridgetown
North
Mount Gay Rum Factory
Tyrol Cot
South Coast
Getting there and around
Eating and nightlife
South East
South Coast
Christ Church
Explore Christ Church
Hasting and Rockley
Oistins
Silver Sands and Long Beach
St. Lawrence Gap and Dover
Worthing
St. Philip:
St.
Philip
Foul Bay & Crane Beach
West Coast
West
HoleTown
-HoleTown
restaurants
Mullins Bay - N
Prospect
, Payness Bay- N
Sandy Lane
Speightstown
Nightlife
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