Barbados: A stunning Caribbean island vying for your attention
This stunning Caribbean island is vying for your attention.
BAJAN BEAUTY
It may lack the lush and mountainous terrain of nearby St Lucia but Barbados boasts a beauty that, while more subtle, is no less arresting.
Discover its most pleasing and picturesque spots with a morning's horse-riding through the forests and valleys around Farley Hill.
Then soak in the breathtaking scenery in the grounds of the once regal Farley Hill house, now a mansion in ruins, tucked away in a forest of mahogany trees high up on a hill overlooking the sea.
Trot onwards to the deserted, windswept and palm-fringed beach of Morgan Lewis on the rugged Atlantic Coast.
Farley Hill National Park, Highway 2, Benny Hall, Barbados
HEAVENLY HIDEAWAYS
Barbados is blessed with some of the best hotels and resorts in the world.
Its most famous five-star bolthole is Sandy Lane, where you stand a good chance of bumping into Simon Cowell or Gwyneth Paltrow.
Alternatively, check into The House, located just down the beach, on a stretch of flour-soft sand with just 34 suites surrounded by tropical gardens.
Planet Earth II works with The Barbados Sea Turtle Project
Staff even bring round free ice creams every afternoon.
Run by Elegant Hotels, this is a contemporary adults-only hotel, which is popular with couples.
The House, Paynes Bay, St James BB24023, Barbados. eleganthotels.com/the-house
FISHY FRIDAYS
There's only one place to be in Barbados on a Friday evening and that's in the coastal village of Oistins.
The Fish Fry has become something of an institution in Barbados, particularly at the end of the week.
This legendary open-air fry welcomes visitors and locals from across the island with its intoxicating mix of freshly caught barbequed fish, strong rum cocktails and loud reggae.
Expect a carnival atmosphere unlike any other. Try Chillin &Grillin at Oistins Place for the shrimp, barracuda and flying fish.
The family style living room offers a one-of-a-kind ambience, and plenty of fresh food.Chillin & Grillin, Stall F19, Oistins Bay, Barbados. chillinandgrillinbar.com
A CAPITAL IDEA
Home to around 100,000 people, Bridgetown - the island's lively capital - was founded in 1628 and was originally 'Indian Bridge' after a makeshift structure erected by an indigenous tribe.
Today, it oozes charm thanks to its old colonial architecture and neo-Gothic parliament building, which is more than 350 years old.barbadosparliament.com
UNDER THE SEA
As well as turtles, the tropical water around Barbados is home to all sorts of underwater creatures.
Good visibility in the clear warm water means the odds of seeing exotic species such as manta rays and seahorses are good. Serious divers will love Carlisle Bay, which has claimed many shipwrecks over the centuries.
Newbies can try a PADI Discovery Dive at GFish.
GFISH, Barbados Cruising Club, Aquatic Gap, Bridgetown. gfishbarbados.com 6
THE WILD SIDE
Get up close and personal with wild monkeys and other wildlife on a visit to Welchman Hall Gully, a verdant haven of native flora and fauna.
Walk among soaring rainforest trees, explore secret caves and marvel at the coastal views at this protected patch that offers an intriguing glimpse into how the island once was before colonisation.
Welchman Hall Gully, Welchman Hall, Saint Thomas, Barbados. welchmanhallgullybarbados.com Rum
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
With beachside eateries and restaurants perched on clifftops, eating out in Barbados is a feast fit for a king.
The island's most celebrated restaurant is arguably The Cliff, a fine dining option frequented by the likes of Beyoncé and the Beckhams.
Not only is the food heavenly but the candlelit setting - on a rocky promontory above the sound of crashing waves - promises a meal you'll never forget, especially with the Caribbean shrimp curry on the menu.
The Cliff - fine dining restaurant, Derricks, St James, Barbados. thecliffbarbados.com More things to see and do in Barbados
ON THE RUM
For many Barbadians, rum is not just a tipple for the weekend, it's away of life.
Colourful shacks swarming with thirsty and unwinding locals are scattered far and wide across the island, but to trace the origins of this hugely popular drink and understand its impact on Barbados, you have to venture to a quiet corner of Bridgetown.
Tour the Mount Gay distillery, the home of the iconic rum that first rose to popularity at the turn of the 18th century, to learn its secrets.
Mount Gay Rum Distillery, Bridgetown. mountgayrum.com
TIME TRAVEL
The island of Barbados has a rich and sometimes dark history to discover.
Long before it was taken by the British in the mid 1620s (when it was claimed by King James I), it was home to the Arawak and Carib tribes.
The arrival of the Europeans and the introduction of the sugar industry also saw the arrival of horrific slavery.
It's possible to trace much of the island's past at the Barbados Museum housed in a former 19th century military prison in Bridgetown.Barbados Museum, Dalkeith Rd, Bridgetown. barbmuse.org.bb Fact
ADVENTURE AHOY
In Barbados, adventures come in all shapes and sizes.
On land, enjoy a thrilling safari taking in sleepy parishes, wild stretches of jungle and blink-and-miss-them windswept bays aboard an open-air jeep, with tour operators like Island Safari.
Alternatively, head out into the open sea for a dose of water sports.
Choose between learning to windsurf, kayaking or simply relaxing on a luxurious catamaran before stopping en route to swim with turtles.
Don't forget the underwater camera.
Island Safari, Froster Hall, Barbados.