Barbados Island Tour: Gun Hill, Bathsheba and St Nicholas Abbey
Overview
Most visitors never leave the beach coasts, which is a shame: the rest of Barbados is hilly, green and completely different. This guided day tour takes you across the island with a local driver-guide who knows the stories behind every village and plantation.
The first stop is Gun Hill Signal Station, a restored 19th-century military lookout with views over the parishes of St George and St Thomas, and the white limestone lion carved into the hillside below. From there the road drops to the Atlantic coast at Bathsheba, where waves break around giant rock stacks and surfers ride the famous Soup Bowl. Lunch is at a local restaurant on the east coast.
In the afternoon you head north through the Scotland District to Cherry Tree Hill for the view back down the coast, then walk up the mahogany avenue to St Nicholas Abbey. Built in 1658, it's one of only three Jacobean mansions in the Western Hemisphere, and today it's also a working rum distillery. Visit the great house, watch the vintage 1930s plantation film and taste the estate's rum before returning to your hotel.
Highlights
- Gun Hill Signal Station and its limestone lion
- Atlantic rock stacks and surf at Bathsheba
- Lunch at a local east-coast restaurant
- View from Cherry Tree Hill
- St Nicholas Abbey great house and rum tasting
What's included
- Local driver-guide
- Air-conditioned transport
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (west and south coasts)
- Lunch
- Entrance to St Nicholas Abbey with rum tasting
- Bottled water
- Other drinks
- Tips
- Gun Hill entrance fee (if not included by the supplier)
Request this tour
Send us your dates and a SkyRay advisor will confirm availability and price.
Itinerary
Frequently asked questions
The Atlantic coast has strong currents and is not safe for casual swimming, so the stop there is for photos and a walk.
St Nicholas Abbey opens Sunday to Friday, so the full route doesn't run on Saturdays. We'll confirm the best day for your stay.
Yes. Private tours can add stops such as Hunte's Gardens, Andromeda Gardens or Animal Flower Cave.
