The main attraction of Roaring River Park is the underground Roaring River Cave. Inside the cave is a mineral spring where visitors can swim. The park is a heritage and nature park on the Shrewsbury Estate near Negril in Westmoreland. If you plan to visit the cave, check before your visit whether access is currently possible.
Cave, River and History
Roaring River Estate was once a slave plantation and is named after the gurgling waters of the river. Nature and local history thus offer two distinct points of connection with the name Roaring River.
Bluefields: Coast and Natural History
Bluefields has a sheltered bay with a small, pleasant white-sand beach. Bluefields Beach consists mostly of fine-grained white sand and is moderately eroded. This makes Bluefields a coastal contrast to the underground cave and mineral spring at Roaring River.
Natural history also has a specific historical connection to Bluefields: the English naturalist Philip Henry Gosse spent eighteen months there in 1844, collecting specimens of the local flora and fauna. This stay offers another perspective on Bluefields: nature as a subject of historical research, alongside the coastal landscape.
Buildings and Stone Remains
Negril Point Lighthouse has a white concrete tower that rises 66 feet above the ground; its beacon is 100 feet above sea level. These two measurements have different reference points: one is measured from the ground, the other from sea level.
In Savanna-La-Mar, near the courthouse, stands a Corinthian fluted cast-iron fountain. “Fluted” describes its grooved finish; its form and material are thus both defining features of the fountain.
The ruins of Ackendown Castle consist of stone remains of an eastern and a western tower, which are said to have been connected by a supposed underground passage. Here, the described tower remains are set against a connection whose existence is only conjectured.
Westmoreland and Its Activities
Westmoreland lies at the western tip of Jamaica. Westmoreland and its capital, Savanna-La-Mar, are associated with beaches and sunsets. Activities offered in the parish include river tubing, ATV rides, tours of a pineapple farm and opportunities to learn about Rastafari culture. River tubing and ATV rides offer a more active focus; farm tours and learning about Rastafari culture provide agricultural and cultural perspectives, respectively.
Culture in the Broader Jamaican Context
Across the wider destination of Jamaica, reggae is a central part of the culture. Ackee and saltfish is Jamaica’s national dish and a popular local breakfast. Depending on the season, it may be served with items such as fried dumplings, callaloo, green bananas, avocado and plantains.
Discover more destinations: Negril, Darliston, Savanna-La-Mar, Bluefields, Grange Hill, Little Bay, White House, Manchester Parish.
For the broader travel overview: Jamaica.
