When travelling to Barbados take time to visit Bathsheba beach on the secluded east coast, with its breath-taking views that will have you captivated. It is a very rugged coastline with boundless stretches of beach, and colossal waves crashing belligerently onto tremendous bolder-like rock formations, creating the most spectacular panorama.

Having spent many years adventuring the Scottish coastal regions, Bathsheba was reminiscent of these tempestuous seafronts – so it is of no surprise the area is known as the Scottish District and you can find bars named accordingly nearby. With the powerful undertows and monstrous waves it should be noted that swimming is not permitted here due to the obvious reasons of safety.

It is however, encouraged to bathe and paddle in the rock pools named after Bathsheba – the wife of King David. Legend has it that Queen Bathsheba, renowned for her beautiful glowing soft skin, would bathe in milk which resembled the mineral rich foamy white waters that you will find here. The pools have been carved out of the inshore coral reef and are several feet deep so you can sit in them comfortably whilst watching the water swirl around – natures very own whirlpool. So why not breathe in the fresh sea air, soak in the invigorating natural pools to rejuvenate and unlock the secrets to a flawless, luminescent complexion!

Bathsheba is also referred to as the ‘Soup Bowl’ where you can watch world class surfing athletes ride the perilous waves. The WSL: Barbados Surf Pro Championships (in Memory of Zander Venezia) take place in April and is one of the islands most gripping, edge-of-the-seat sporting events. You will see Surfers ride swells that can rise over fifteen-feet here.

When we went along in April 2022, the Soup Bowl delivered three to five-foot swells for competitors to unleash their surfing talent. We spent hours in this beautiful setting, mesmerised by the sheer bravery and artistry of these young surfing pro’s carving and flipping at high speeds, navigating the waves with such skill and flair.

We were positioned by the steps that led onto the beach, alongside a great number of telescopic camera lenses capturing the event – so we could see the Pro Surfers psyching themselves up ahead of their performance. The atmosphere was intense and nerve-wracking, as you felt you were with the surfers every step of the way.

Despite the friendly enthusiastic audience, it was an incredibly chilled vibe – a family event that had all ages captivated. Even Ric’s mum was animatedly cheering, absorbed by the moment, so you do not have to be part of the cool surf scene to be welcome and feel part of the community. The event is fairly small but is gaining in popularity, so you will find a small number of stalls selling merchandise, food and drinks to keep you fuelled. It is definitely a sporting event that gets the spectators’ adrenaline pumping, so not to be missed.

Bathsheba on a typical day however, allows you to enjoy a stroll across the wondrous abounding beach up to a tremendous vast rock with swings affixed. This is where we positioned ourselves with a bottle of Deputy beer to take in the magnificent views.

There are lots of little hermit crabs that can be seen along the rocky seafront. It is fascinating watching them form orderly lines according to size. You can observe the largest crab occupying an empty scavenged mollusc shell to protect their fragile exoskeleton. Then after the largest crab enters his new home, the next crab in line takes his vacated shell, leaving an open shell for the crab behind him and it continues until all the hermit crabs have all successfully swapped and upgraded to their new larger homes.

Unfortunately, the sargassum is at its worst on the east coast, so you can see a big build up of this foul sulphurous smelling macro-algae – a rotten brown seaweed which attracts the fleas and sand flies in abundance making it unpleasant to be around. So ideally arrange to visit when the sargassum levels are low if possible.

The east provides the ultimate sanctuary experience, complete with ECO lodges and secluded island hideaways. A car is essential if staying or visiting this side of the island as public transport is scarce and many of the roads are mere dirt tracks. There is a small splattering of restaurants around this area – our favourite being Uncle Joe’s Bar & Grill for a casual, affordable refill. In the east, you are close to many eco-tourism spots with botanical gardens such as the Flower Forest and Huntes, plus Coco Forest and Peg Farm, so you can fully immerse yourself in nature – the perfect escapism.

THE SPECIFICS

When: The WSL surf competition is scheduled for 1-3 April 2023. Start time is dependent on the conditions on the day. Check the WSL site to keep informed.

Cost: Free admission to Bathsheba beach.

Sustenance: If coming for the WSL event, there will be food stalls available. If visiting Bathsheba generally, you can bring your own picnic, or there are some local eateries in the area such as Uncle Joe’s Bar and Grill and Round House which we recommend. (Avoid Dina’s Bar where possible, as very poor service)!

Toilets: There are some public washroom facilities behind Dina’s Bar.

Parking: Free on street parking. Uncle Joe’s and Round House have their own carparks should you be dining with them.

Location: The Soup Bowl, Bathsheba, St Joseph.