Bequia: Off the beaten track to Bequia Head
28th February 2013
Bequia:
Off the beaten track
One of things I have wanted to do since arriving on Bequia, is to go walking off the beaten track and visit the extreme corners of the island. I visited the Western end of the island, West Cay, a few weeks ago and this time I walked up to the Northern most point of Bequia, Bequia Head.
This time, I decided to go along with a guided group as there are a few plants on this island which can cause serious damage to skin tissue, if you touch them or rub up against them by accident, so I wanted to learn some bushcraft while also learning the routes and tracks across the Northern part of the island.
I joined up with a group being led by Donnaka who has lived on Bequia for many years and who not only runs regular walking.hiking trips across the island, but also manages the tracks, keeping them clear and free of debris, year round.
The hike was great fun, learning about the dangerous Brasil plants on the way and trying to follow some of the paths up through the thick bush that cover the North/Eastern part of the island. We started out at the Park Bay quarry, up through the bush to the ridge, where we met other tracks coming from Spring Top and up from the bay of L'Anse Chemin. From there, we continued to head out along a much better, wider, clearer and flatter trail along the ridge until we again came to a split in the trail, the right hand one going off towards Smugglers Cover and we took the left hand one, single file, towards Bequia Head.
Along the way we were finding lots to keep us busy, finding new plants, smelling the leaves; finding terminite nests; seeing the various type of plants, climbers, creepers and orchids that grown on the many different types of trees along the route. In addition, Donnaka kept us entertained with the history of the islands. A great trip, one that was very informative as well as being great fun.
On arrival at Bequia Head, the view out across the Bequia Channel towards St Vincent was stunning. Being up on top of a high clifftop, the view down towards the sea was blocked by the bush, trees and growth along the hill and cliffside, but the view out was amazing.
A great trip out to one of the points on Bequia that few get to see, and definitely worth the mornings walking. As we returned to our starting point, the vista out across Park Bay, out towards Industry Bay, opened up in front of us.
Off the beaten track
One of things I have wanted to do since arriving on Bequia, is to go walking off the beaten track and visit the extreme corners of the island. I visited the Western end of the island, West Cay, a few weeks ago and this time I walked up to the Northern most point of Bequia, Bequia Head.
This time, I decided to go along with a guided group as there are a few plants on this island which can cause serious damage to skin tissue, if you touch them or rub up against them by accident, so I wanted to learn some bushcraft while also learning the routes and tracks across the Northern part of the island.
I joined up with a group being led by Donnaka who has lived on Bequia for many years and who not only runs regular walking.hiking trips across the island, but also manages the tracks, keeping them clear and free of debris, year round.
The hike was great fun, learning about the dangerous Brasil plants on the way and trying to follow some of the paths up through the thick bush that cover the North/Eastern part of the island. We started out at the Park Bay quarry, up through the bush to the ridge, where we met other tracks coming from Spring Top and up from the bay of L'Anse Chemin. From there, we continued to head out along a much better, wider, clearer and flatter trail along the ridge until we again came to a split in the trail, the right hand one going off towards Smugglers Cover and we took the left hand one, single file, towards Bequia Head.
Along the way we were finding lots to keep us busy, finding new plants, smelling the leaves; finding terminite nests; seeing the various type of plants, climbers, creepers and orchids that grown on the many different types of trees along the route. In addition, Donnaka kept us entertained with the history of the islands. A great trip, one that was very informative as well as being great fun.
On arrival at Bequia Head, the view out across the Bequia Channel towards St Vincent was stunning. Being up on top of a high clifftop, the view down towards the sea was blocked by the bush, trees and growth along the hill and cliffside, but the view out was amazing.
A great trip out to one of the points on Bequia that few get to see, and definitely worth the mornings walking. As we returned to our starting point, the vista out across Park Bay, out towards Industry Bay, opened up in front of us.