Bathsheba & the Soup Bowl

On the east coast, the Atlantic breaks hard against huge rocks on the beach, which are old coral reef worn into odd shapes. The Soup Bowl, named for its churning white water, is a right-hand reef break that hosts local and international surf contests. You can watch it from the rum shops along the road. Bathsheba is still a fishing village with guesthouses and small cafés, and Bajans come here at weekends for the sea breeze. The open sea is dangerous: strong rip currents and undertow have pulled out even experienced surfers. Do not swim off the beach. Instead, use the shallow pools in the reef a few steps from the sand. They are safest at low tide, and locals cool off in them on hot days. Watch your footing on the coral. Andromeda Botanic Gardens is about a mile away, and the hilltop St Joseph Parish Church is nearby.