Hike Barbados started in 1983 with twelve hikers and is now experienced by over 8,000 people per year in Barbados. For the details and directions of each hike in 2008, please view the Hike Barbados schedule at the bottom of this page or contact them at (246) 426-2421.
Objective: to help Barbadians enjoy and understand this amazing country - scenery, people, plants, animals, buildings, beauty, ugliness, history, geology, sea, sky weather, hopes, fears...
Visitors are warmly welcomed - come and join us!
The hikes are FREE but donations are welcomed for the work of the Barbados National Trust (preserving our built and natural environment).
Hike Details
We do all we can to make the routes interesting and fun. This means following tracks and paths which are sometimes far from easy. Leaders make every effort to bring you back safely to the starting point, but please see disclaimer below.
Hikes last for 3 hours. In the morning there are four grades.
» "Stop 'n Stare" (c.6 miles)
» "Medium and Fast Medium" (c.9 miles)
» "Grin 'n Bear" (c. 2 miles)
» The afternoon hike repeats the morning's "Stop 'n Stare" route.
» Morning Hikes begin at 6.00am.
» Afternoon Hikes start at 3.30pm except for the Moonlight Hikes, which start at 5.30pm.
Make sure you have strong footwear and a hat. Bring a bottle of water and a snack if you wish. A torch is needed for the Moonlight Hikes. Refreshments are usually on sale after the Hikes.
Disclaimer
Participants in our Hikes are advised that they do so AT THEIR OWN RISK. The Barbados National Trust, Butterfield Bank and Treading Lightly, their Agents and Employees accept NO LIABILITY for injury, loss or damage to any participant or their property by any cause whatsoever. Cars are parked at their owner's risk.
Other organisations associated with the Hikes include:
» Barbados Heart Foundation
» Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
Walking Tips for Hike Barbados
» Make a plan - Schedule a time to join the walk, plan your route; and decide how long you will walk. Stick to that plan.
» Find a buddy - Walking with a buddy is more fun and a great motivator. Hint: look for the people with a spring in their step, a smile on their face and a positive attitude that will lead to success! Do a "Talk Test" you should be able to maintain a conversation with your buddy without getting winded. If you can't, slow down a bit.
» Be safe - Avoid paths with uneven pavements/sidewalks. Observe all traffic laws. Whenever you share the road with traffic, walk facing oncoming traffic. Carry personal identification with you.
» Wear proper clothing and shoes - Wear clothes that are light coloured as this helps to reflect the sun's heat. Use sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Don't wear tight clothing - go for a loose top and shorts, or light weight trousers.
» Drink water - When you exercise, you need extra water to maintain normal body temperature and cool your muscles. Drink before, during, and after your walk (1-1.5 cups of water for a 20-minute walk). Drink small amounts of water often, instead of a half a bottle at a time. Even if you don't feel thirsty you should still have a drink at least every 15 minutes as the older we get then the less we are aware of our thirsty feelings.
» Learn to walk properly - There is a proper technique!
» Keep your chin up and your shoulders back.
» Walk so that the heel of your foot touches the ground first then roll your
weight forward.
» If you want an intense walking experience swing your arms as you walk.
» Start and finish technique - A few minutes of gentle stretching allows the heart rate and muscles to return to normal.
» Motivate yourself - Planning a healthy reward for yourself when you reach a certain goal.
» ENJOY YOURSELF!! - If it's paining you're not necessarily gaining. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion potentially are very serious so if you get a headache or feel dizzy then stop walking immediately, have a rest, a drink and cool down.
Hike Barbados Schedule for 2008
January 6th Cove Bay
January 13th Foul Bay
January 20th St. Thomas Post Office (Moonlight Hike)
January 28th Turners Hall Wood
February 3rd District C Police Station
February 10th Haggatt's Old Sugar Factory
February 17th Independence Square (Colin Hudson Great Train Hike). No other hike on that day.
February 24th Applewaites Plantation Yard.
March 2nd Indian Ground Sports Field.
March 9th Gun Hill - After Hike Picnic
March 16th Barclays Park (Moonlight Hike)
March 23rd Bottom Bay
March 30th Lester Vaughn
April 13th Pool Plantation Yard
April 20th Conrad Hunte Cricket Ground (Moonlight Hike)
April 27th Walkes Spring Plantation
May 4th Skeete's Bay - After Hike Picnic
May 11th Wildlife Reserve
May. 18th Chalky Mount
May 25th Lodge school
June 1st Hackleton's Cliff Top
June 8th Cove Bay
June 13th Codrington College (Moonlight Hike)
June 20th Long Beach
June 29th Rock Hall Plantation
July 6th Heywoods Beach - After Hike Picnic
July 13th National Stadium
July 20th Andrews Factory
July 27th Archers Bay
August 3rd Bulkeley Plantation
August 10th Bathsheba Community Center
August 17th Spring Hall Old Sugar Factory (Moonlight Hike)
August 26th Portvale Sugar Factory
August 31st Drax Hall Plantation
September 7th Bath
September 14th Haymans Old Sugar Factory (Moonlight Hike)
September 21st Carrington's Old Sugar Factory
September 28th Orange Hill Pavillion - After Hike Picnic
October 5th Castle Plantation Yard
October 12th Kendal Plantation Yard (Moonlight Hike)
October 21st Holetown
October 28th Turners Hall Wood
November 2nd Windsor Plantation Yard
November 9th Barclays Park (Moonlight Hike)
November 16th Graeme Hall - Min. Agriculture
November 25th Holetown
November 30th Brandons Beach - After Hike Picnic
December 7th Andrews Sugar Factory (Moonlight Hike)
December 14th Searles Old Sugar Factory
December 21st Codrington College
December 28th BNT HQ - Wildey House
* Note: All after hike picnics are from 6pm -7:30pm.
Directions to Get to Barbados Hikes
January 6th Cove Bay. At Pie Corner, take the Cove track all the way to an old windmill tower.
January 13th Foul Bay. Turn right half mile before Crane. Park down by the beach (Foul Bay New Road).
January 20th St. Thomas Post Office. The Post Office is at the west end of Welchman Hall Village.
January 27th Turners Hall. Highway 2D to Farmers and Mose Bottom; turn right (towards Bawdens). Meeting point is at junction about half a mile down the road - formerly site of Turners Hall Plantation.
February 3rd District 'C' Police Station. Highway 4B - turn left a mile east of St. Philip's Church.
February 10th Haggatts Old Sugar Factory. A few hundred yards south of Belleplaine - park in the old factory yard (not the Soil Conservation Station).
February 17th Independence Square. (Colin Hudson Great Train Hike) Car park on south side of Careenage.
February 24th Applewaites Plantation Yard. After Hothersal Turning, go through Bibby's Lane (Highway E). After Exchange, bear right (dangerous junction) just before Proutes and look for old factory chimney. Park in plantation yard.
March 2nd Indian Ground. Highway 2A until right turn towards the Rock, bear left in Sailor Gully and at top of road go right. Sports field is east of road.
March 9th Gun Hill. Follow the road past the Lion, keep left up hill and take second left, which is the sign posted to Gun Hill.
March 16th Barclays Park. Meet at the side of the road by the restaurant, opposite the casuarina trees.
March 23rd Bottom Bay. Follow Highway 5 to Phinneys and turn right at sign for Bottom Bay (good road, though not always shown on maps).
March 30th Lester Vaughn School. Via Sharon Moravian Church, left to Shop Hill, school is on the right. 3
April 6th Robert's Manufacturing. West of Charles Rowe Bridge.
April 13th Pool Plantation. Half a mile east of Four Cross Roads.
April 20th Conrad Hunte Cricket Ground. Going North from St. Andrew's Church, take the road towards Morgan Lewis Mill but turn right to Shorey Village and cricket ground.
April 27th Walkes Spring Plantation. Turn right(dangerous corner) off Highway 2 after Hopewell; cross Jack-in-Box gully and keep to left. Yard is straight ahead of you.
May 4th Skeetes Bay. Directions: Highway 4B, past Thickets, Three Houses to Bayfield, turn left.
May 11th Wildlife Reserve.
May 18th Chalky Mount. The School is on your left as you turn into Chalky Mount Village. Park in school yard.
May 25th Lodge School. Via Four Cross Roads, Gall Hill and follow the road to the cemetery. Turn right, go straight on and past Colleton Plantation.
June 1st Hackleton's Cliff Top. North of Villa Nova to Malvern and then follow signpost to Hackletons Cliff.
June 15th Codrington College. Meet at College car park.
June 22nd Long Beach. Through Oistins and fork right via Ealing Grove and Chancery Lane to Long Beach.
June 29th Rock Hall Plantation. NOT Rock Hall Village, but Plantation in St. Peter. First right off highway 2A off Bakers/Mullins via Black Bess quarries.
July 6th Heywoods Beach. Car park to north of Almond Beach Village Hotel.
July 8th Cove Bay. At Pie Corner, take the Cove track all the way to an old windmill tower.
July 13th National Stadium. Park on South side.
July 20th Andrews Sugar Factory. Highway 3, about halfway to Bathsheba.
July 27th Archers Bay. Pass Crab Hill Police Station (be careful at intersections) and continue North to end of road.
August 3rd Bulkeley Plantation. Park at Plantation up short road opposite factory (not at house or factory).
August 10th Bathsheba Community Center. The community centre is at Hill Crest, just down the hill from Andromeda Botanic Gardens.
August 17th Spring Hall Old Sugar Factory. Bear right after St. Lucy's Church. 1 1/2 miles along Highway 1C towards River Bay.
August 24th Portvale Sugar Factory. Highway 2A, just north of St. Thomas Parish Church.
August 31st Drax Hall Plantation. Highway 4. Don't take road to Drax Hall Village, but next right to the Plantation.
September 7th Bath Beach. Turn left at bottom of Coach Hill, first right at old sugar factory.
September 14th Hayman's Old Sugar Factory. Turn off Highway 2A where sign-posted to Haymans and Speightstown.
September 21st Carrington's Old Sugar Factory. Directions: Just over a mile west of Six Cross Roads on Highway 5
September 28th Orange Hill Pavillion. Turn east off Highway 2A. Midway up the hill look for pavilion on the right. Park in parking lot.
October 5th Castle Plantation. Not Castle Village but the Plantation. Reached by a cart track to the left soon after leaving
Diamond Corner.
October 12th Kendal Plantation. Follow Highway 4 until you see pond on the left, and old factory on right.
October 19th Holetown. Park opposite Police Station.
October 26th Turners Hall. Highway 2D to Farmers and Mose Bottom; turn right (towards Bawdens). Meeting point is at junction about half a mile down the road - formerly site of Turners Hall Plantation.
November 2nd Windsor Plantation. Turn left off Highway 5, 1 1/2 miles after Boarded Hall (District B) Police Station.
November 9th Barclays Park. Meet at the side of the road by the restaurant, opposite the casuarina trees.
November 16th Graeme Hall. Ministry of Agriculture car park on Spur Road from Graeme Hall roundabout on ABC highway.
November 23rd Holetown. Park opposite Police Station.
November 30th Brandons Beach. Turn off Spring Garden Highway opposite Malibu.
December 7th Andrews Sugar Factory. Highway 3, about halfway to Bathsheba.
December 14th Searles Old Sugar Factory. Take highway 6 towards St. Patricks Church. Old factory on South side of road, not Plantation on North side.
December 21st Codrington College. Meet at College car park.
December 28th Barbados National Trust Headquarters - Wildey House. Next door to Carter's Complex, travelling South towards traffic lights at BET. First left after car park.
Barbados National Trust
Headquarters
Wildey House,Wildey,St.Michael
Tel: (246) 436-9033 or 426-2421
Fax: (246) 429-9055
E-mail: natrust@sunbeach.net
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