An offshore coral reef shapes Bath Beach on the east coast of Barbados: the beach is considered one of the few calm ones on this coast. At Martin’s Bay, reefs protect the beach from strong Atlantic currents, making it suitable for swimming in shallow water. Bath Beach is known for its calm beach character, while Martin’s Bay offers sheltered shallow water for swimming.
Coast, Waterfall and Legend
A waterfall associated with Bath Beach is considered the only above-ground waterfall in Barbados. Hackleton Cliff is also linked to a local story: according to legend, the cliff was named after a resident who took his own life after losing the love of his life, riding over the cliff on his horse.
Architecture and History at Codrington College
Codrington College combines architectural details with a distinctive institutional status. The main building was designed to resemble an Oxford quadrangle. The chapel has a vaulted coffered ceiling and an altar made of ebony and Cordin wood. A coffered ceiling divides the ceiling surface into individual panels; here, the vault adds another architectural feature. The college is considered the oldest theological college of the Anglican Church in the Western Hemisphere.
The grounds include benches and picnic tables that serve as picnic areas, as well as a playground for children. Alongside the main building and chapel, the college also offers specific outdoor spaces. Its architecture, institutional history and the described facilities provide different points of interest for exploring the site.
More Perspectives on Barbados
On Barbados, Andromeda Botanic Gardens adds a perspective on plant diversity and garden history. The garden lies between the parishes of St. Joseph and St. John, about 300 yards from the Atlantic on the east coast. The six-acre site is home to more than 500 different plant species. It was established both as an ornamental garden and as a botanical garden for research. Its size and number of plant species convey the scale of the site; its two original purposes bring together garden design and botany.
Historic Bridgetown offers another historical perspective on Barbados. The well-preserved old town, dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, is an outstanding example of British colonial architecture. Bridgetown and its Garrison are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hunte’s Gardens is also among Barbados’s historic sites: the garden is located on the grounds of a former sugar plantation.
The Barbados Museum’s galleries are housed in 19th-century military prison buildings within the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The former plantation grounds of Hunte’s Gardens and the museum’s military buildings represent different historical contexts in Barbados. Visitors can also learn about rum production and sample rum at distilleries in Barbados; offerings may vary from one distillery to another.
Discover more destinations: Guinea, Clifton Hall, St Andrew, Saint George, Saint Michael, St Peter, St Lucy, Saint Philip.
Back to the main travel guide: Barbados.
