Montserrat

 

The mountainous landscape of Montserrat holds many treasures, from lush rain-forests to fruit-laden trees of mango, papaya, coconut and banana.

The island's tropical beauty is often best experienced on foot. It features a number of walking trails suited to new and experienced walkers alike. Some of the trails are quite strenuous, so if you are not an experienced hiker and are going for the first time, we advise you to go with a guide.

The lush, forested Centre Hills are renowned for their biological diversity, and are home to the thirty-four (34) species of resident land birds and migrant songbirds that inhabit the island.

At the Montserrat Tourist Board website www.montserratnationaltrust.ms you can get a handy plastic card showing all the birds of Montserrat.

Guides are available through the Montserrat National Trust and hikes are organized by request.

The majority of the island's trails run through the Centre Hills region and include:

Oriole Walkway
This trail traverses the Centre Hills region, which is renowned for its biological diversity, rich habitat and vegetation. This trail is a tropical birdwatchers' paradise, with the chance to spot Montserrat's rare national bird, the Oriole, as well as the rare Forest Thrush, the shy Bridled Quail-Dove, the Mangrove Cuckoo, the Trembler and the Purple-Throated Carib.

Trail to 'The Cot'
The hike through the lush vegetation offers breathtaking views of the surrounding villages including some of the Exclusion Zone. The trail ascends along a dirt track to the ruins of 'The Cot', the one time summer cottage of the influential Sturge family, which is situated in the Centre Hills.

Blackwood Allen Trail
This trail through the Centre Hills incorporates some challenging steep climbs and deep valleys. The route traverses the Blackwood Allen stream, where a variety of fresh water fish species can be found. The vegetation along the route includes an abundance of heliconia, Montserrat's national flower, and many other attractive plants.

Runaway Ghaut
Legend has it that anyone drinking the cool spring water flowing to the drinking fountain at Runaway Ghaut will be drawn to return to Montserrat again and again. This mini-trail offers the perfect route for a relaxing afternoon stroll or a family picnic in a remarkable setting.

Silver Hills Trail
Silver Hills, situated at the northern tip of Montserrat, is one of the island's oldest volcanic centres. The defunct volcano presents a very diverse appearance, having been heavily dissected, faulted and eroded. The view from the Silver Hills provides an insight into how recent volcanic deposits in the south could appear with the passage of millions of years.

Trail from Little Bay to Rendezvous Bay
Rendezvous Bay holds unique status as Montserrat's only white sand beach, offering excellent swimming, snorkeling and diving in the most pristine underwater area on the island. This trail includes the contrast of a white and black sand beach, where hikers can cool down with a dip in the sea after a demanding hike. The walk follows a steep mountain trail over a bluff, with the option to make the return journey by boat with one of the many boat ride operators on the island.

 

For more information about Montserrat, please have a look at the Tourist Board web site information pages: http://www.visitmontserrat.com