Unwind in Nevis

In April 2018 I visited the island of Nevis with my family. Nevis is one of two islands in the small country of St Kitts and Nevis. St Kitts is the bigger island, busier, more developed, but with areas of quiet and serenity. In comparison, Nevis is a small round volcanic island, quite undeveloped, with a nice choice of boutique, personal guesthouses and a couple of larger resorts. We stayed at the Four Seasons Resort on Pinney's Beach, on the west of the island, which ensures you can swim in the gentle waters of the Caribbean Sea rather than the rough waves of the Atlantic. Overlooked by the towering peak of Mount Nevis, the Four Seasons gives you all the facilities of a large resort, in a safe and friendly environment where it is easy to get out and explore the highlights of the island. It is also fabulously family friendly, offering children’s cutlery and beakers, healthy and tasty kids food, service at your lounger (for when your little one passes out after swimming), and a huge variety of kid’s club activities. So apart from splashing in the pools, strolling on the beach, snoozing on the loungers, what did we get up to? We learned to play the steel drum one evening, shaded by palm trees as the sun was setting. After an hour’s tuition, with everyone playing a different part, the group of six complete beginners managed a recognizable ‘Can’t help falling in love’ (Elvis/UB40 etc). A lovely experience in a magical setting. My husband Pete went to climb Nevis Peak one morning. And by climb, I mean climb! Not just a hike, it is a steep route covered with thick jungle. Scrambling over rocks, pulling yourself up ropes and hanging on to roots and vines you reach the top after two hours, where you may get a spectacular view of the island and waters surrounding it, or more likely the clouds surrounding you! Pete came back a sweaty, muddy, exhausted mess, but a satisfied one. On my afternoon off I chose to go diving. Just the dive leader and I, we decided to do some lobster hunting! If you catch a lobster, they will bring it back and cook it for your dinner. It had been quite a while since I had dived, but it’s kind of like riding a bike. The lobster catching was a bit trickier. Using a stick with a loop of wire on the end, you have to poke the stick past the lobster, loop the wire over the back of it, and then when the lobster withdraws into its hole the loop tightens and you pull it out. Sounds easy right? I failed. But that’s ok; I was only interested in the hunt, and it was great fun to try. We hired a car for one day and made our way around the island. It only takes an hour to drive the whole way round and it’s almost impossible to get lost. The first wonderful discovery we made was Cottle Church, a beautiful ruin but so much more than that; a plantation owner built it for his family and slaves to worship together, at a time when it was illegal for slaves to worship. A peaceful place for reflection and remembrance. The second highlight of our drive around the island was stopping at the Golden Rock Inn. High up on the slope, this is a boutique hotel and restaurant based in a sugar mill built back in the early 1800s. We only stopped for a drink, and spent ages exploring the gardens, following the hummingbirds, and watching the fish in the numerous ponds. And that’s about it! Overall Nevis is a calm, natural island with a small-town feel. Go for peace, sun and sea, a little activity, and you won’t be disappointed.