Nevis is the quieter yet beautiful sister island to larger St. Kitts, but its charm and history make it a compelling destination in its own right.
The Nevis Historical Association has identified a list of signature sights around the island as constituting its Heritage trail. The Heritage Trail sights are spread out around the island, and provide a glimpse into the island’s sugar industry past, forts from the days when the French and British battled for control of the Caribbean, its connections to Alexander Hamilton and its many charming churches and buildings.
Nevis’s main road makes a 21-mile circuit through its five parishes. This driving tour makes for a fun way to combine seeing the sites, enjoying the Atlantic vistas and discovering some of the most memorable places to eat. To fully enjoy the tour, you need comfortable shoes, as most sites require some walking to reach, sometimes over uneven terrain with no specific paths to follow.
Nisbet Plantation provides a lovely base from which to explore, perched at the northern tip of the island, and is itself one of the Heritage Trail historic sights of Nevis. This is the former home of Fanny Nisbet, who married Horatio Nelson in 1787 here on Nevis.
Your driver will pick you up after your breakfast at 10 a.m. This drive heads east and down the less populated Atlantic coast and to the southern end of the island with its sugar plantation ruins and sea views. From Nisbet, if you have a beautiful morning, your reward may be a clear view of majestic Nevis Peak, whose often cloud-covered summit originally inspired Columbus to name the island Nuestra Senora de las Nieves, or our lady of the snows, due to its white-capped summit.
Top stops will include:
St. James Anglican Church c. 1750—Stone church building with white shutters and sweeping views down to the sea.
Eden Brown Estate – An old sugar plantation and the location of a well-known ghost story about lost love. The front of the house has a commanding view of the Atlantic Ocean.
New River and Coconut Walk Estates – Site of one of the largest former sugar mills on Nevis.
Golden Rock Estate- Some of most beautiful stone buildings and gardens on Nevis. Now an Inn of Nevis, it has been meticulously restored using existing buildings. A nature trail encircles the estate and regular monkey sightings are common. Have a delightful lunch here at the restaurant that spills onto the patio, with a stone gazebo overlooking the decorative pool on the terrace. From here on high there are views down to the sea over and through the treetops.
Old Manor Estate Hotel – This finely preserved factory works and Great House shell was once an Inn of Nevis.
Botanical Gardens -Spend some time strolling around the beautiful gardens at the southern end of the island.
Hermitage Estate – Reported to be the oldest existing wooden house in the Caribbean, today it is one of a number of Inns of Nevis all built around historic plantation homes and sugar buildings. It contains one of the finest restaurants on the island, and is a fine choice to have dinner in lovely surroundings.
Your driver will return you to your accommodations after your meal.
