One of the many free range chickens

The local transportation is cheap and plentiful, so we took advantage of it.  For $1 US ($2 Barbados) we took the bus from Dover Beach to Holetown.   Holetown is on the west coast and has some high end shops, including Cartier and Louis Vuitton.   We walked through a small shopping center called Chattel House, which was very pretty, but very expensive.

Chattel House shopping area in Holetown, Barbados

Many of the local houses are brightly painted

We had packed our backpacks with swimsuits and towels.  We headed southbound along the beach from Holetown.

We made our way southbound along the beach starting in Holetown

The boardwalk area had some high end restaurants right along the shore

A restaurant along the boardwalk

The beaches here are not long stretches of white sand, but rather short sandy crescents, divided by rocky outcrops.   As we made our way southbound along the beach, we navigated through sand, the boardwalk, rocks with barely any sand, and then a few wide beaches.  The waves were stronger so the surfers were out.

The beaches we walked along in sequence southbound were: Folkestone, Sandy Lane, and Payne’s Beach.  The west coast was definitely more ritzy than the south coast.

Sandy Lane Bay

Some of the coastline we walked had barely any sand at all. The beaches and coastline are all open to the public, although some large homes’ property reaches right to the sea.

As sometimes happens, out of pure good luck we stumbled upon a true gem walking along the beach.   Feeling the need to stop for lunch, we found The Cliff Beach Club.  It has one of the best views I’ve ever seen (rivals Two Oceans at Cape of Good Hope) and was the best meal so far of the trip.   I would not miss this if I ever return to Barbados.

We stopped for lunch at The Cliff Beach Club

All the tables have a spectacular view

The best meal so far

View from the bar at The Cliff Beach Club

After lunch, we hopped another bus for $1 US back to the south coast.

The colors of the sunset