A trip to Pigeon Island

I know, this sounds more like the title of a Famous Five story. And Pigeon Island isn't even an island. It used to be, but the St Lucians decided to use the spoil from digging out nearby Rodney Bay Marina to create a causeway from the mainland to Pigeon Island and stick a couple of resorts on the beach they made in between. As is clear on the view below.

Pigeon Island is owned by the St Lucia National Trust, but they seem rather less energetic than our version. The little guidebook claims dramatic changes since it took over in1983, but lists only building a little jetty,


 so one can arrive by boat, and a restaurant to replace the rustic shack that existed before. But since said restaurant, though sweet and in a great place, still looks like a shack, I am not sure how much worse its predecessor was.

 And there is an interpretation centre. But alas closed for renovation. No re-opening advertised. When I say closed for renovation, I mean it was clearly closed but there were no renovations going on. So I think all they do is cut the grass and collect the entrance fee.

But its well worth the visit. First one is confronted with the welcoming sight of an old letter box.

The ruins of the 18th/19th century barracks,

 powder magazine etc

 are not too exciting it has to be said. But what one really goes for is the setting. Which is lovely. Be it the beach at the bottom,

the wide lawn (set up with a little gazebo for weddings),

the interpretation centre

or above all, the two peaks which made it such an excellent spot for a fort. The lower one has the cannons in situ and is really spectacular and worth the climb. As is the higher point, Signal Peak, although the climb is more arduous as its pretty steep at the end. But gives wonderful views all round, including across to Martinique. And the wind when you get to the top is quite something. It does make you a little nervous as you could just imagine being blown off.

St Lucia had a checkered history, switching hands between the English and the French no fewer than 7 times. Sometimes we just handed it back in peace treaties, but in one of those we got Canada instead so I feel we got a fair deal in terms of square feet.

Fine flora and fauna too. Flowers and trees nice, butterflies too fleeting to catch on camera and the only mammal is apparently, according to the guidebook, the mangoose. Presumably half human / half christmas dinner.

Having caught a taxi up here I returned as far as I could by the beach, so got a close up of the resort built on the causeway - pretty swish -



and the marina - pretty extensive.