A lush, cool jungle valley teeming with local birds and full of exotic trees – come here for a change of scenery after days on the beach.
Over thousands of years, dripping rainwater gradually eroded the limestone rock of northern Barbados, forming vast underground caverns. When the roof of one of these caves collapsed more than 200 years ago, it created a secret rainforest valley, full of verdant life. Lush green moss thrives on the cool rocks of the collapsed cave. Here you’ll hear the gentle rustle of leaves and chattering birds, while you enjoy the peaceful and calm atmosphere.When the cave collapsed, the land owner at the time, Welshman Asygell Williams, planted tropical fruit trees and exotic plants here and eventually gave the valley its name: Welchman Hall Gully.In the kilometre-long valley, you can walk through the native palm area, past nutmeg groves and ornamental trees. Look carefully through the foliage and you may spot the stalactites and stalagmites, which betray this valley’s former life as a cave. At the start or end of your walk, climb the steps and you’ll find yourself rewarded with a staggeringly beautiful view of Barbados, from coast to coast, taking in the inland landscape at the same time.Down in the forest, take an identification guide with you to learn about some 150 different species of plants. Look out for the shiny leaves of the grapefruit tree as it’s believed to have originated here.At lunchtime, the staff at Welchman Hall Gully leave fruit near a bearded fig tree. You won’t need to wait long to see families of wild monkeys come down from the canopy. The green monkeys were brought to Barbados from West Africa by some of the first settlers on the island, and troops of these playful characters have roamed free in the forests ever since.Clear underground streams, tumbling waterfalls and crystalline formations await you at nearby Harrison’s Cave, where you can see how Welchman Hall Gully might have looked before it collapsed. Just around the corner, the Flower Forest and Hunter’s Gardens are also well worth a visit.
