A Romantic Day in Old Road Town

Old Road Town is a working fishing village, not a resort, so there are no luxury hotels, spa villas or overwater rooms here. What it does offer couples is a slow, lovely day: a garden under one of the oldest trees in the Caribbean, a glass of aged rum, a little adrenaline and supper by the water. Stay in Frigate Bay, the Southeast Peninsula or on Nevis and come over for the day.

Morning in Romney Manor gardens

Arrive close to the 9:00 am opening, before cruise groups reach the estate. The gardens spread over about 8 acres around a saman tree estimated at over 400 years old, whose canopy shades about half an acre. Sit on a bench, then browse the Caribelle batik studio, where artisans work wax and dye into sea island cotton.

  • Entry: US$5 per adult.
  • Hours: weekdays 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, with Saturday opening from November to April only.
  • Drinks: the Rainforest Bar on the grounds serves rum punch.

Romney Manor also hosts weddings, anniversaries and proposals in the gardens; send an enquiry through the Caribelle Batik weddings page .

A rum tasting at Wingfield

Next door at Wingfield Estate, the Old Road Rum Company bottles a rum aged 12 years in ex-bourbon casks with nothing added. The company dates its distillery to 1681 and calls it the oldest surviving rum distillery in the Caribbean. Tastings are by appointment only: contact the Old Road Rum Company before you go. No price is published.

A zipline race for two

The Sky Safari tour at Wingfield runs 5 lines, and the last one is a dual line where you race your partner side by side. Adults aged 14 to 64 pay US$99 each. Wear closed-toe shoes; the tour is not for anyone pregnant.

Supper by the sea

Sprat Net Bar and Grill sits on the shore at Old Road, a family-run place known for fish and lobster from its owners’ own boats, often with live music. It opens in the evening later in the week, so check before you plan around it. Watch the sun go down over the Caribbean from the west coast, then take a taxi home: agree the fare first, and expect a late-night surcharge.

Good to know

  • Old Road Bay is a fishing shore with dark stones and no lifeguards, so save a swim for Cockleshell Bay or South Friars Bay.
  • The taxi from Basseterre to Old Road is US$16 for up to 4 people on the 2021 government schedule.
  • US dollars are widely accepted, though change often comes in Eastern Caribbean dollars.

Read more: Things to do in Old Road Town and Couple activities .

To compare stays near the west coast, search Booking.com for Frigate Bay .