Bathsheba, Barbados

The road from the gardens drops you down into BATHSHEBA. Picturesque, easy-going and caressed by Atlantic breezes, this has long been a favoured resort for Bajans, though surprisingly few tourists visit. Small holiday homes and the odd rum shop line the roadside as it runs along the sea and, in high season, the odd stall springs up flogging jewellery, beach towels and the like. If the bay dotted with large boulders looks familiar, it's because this is one of the most painted landscapes in Barbados. Also known as the "soup bowl" because of the surf that crashes here pretty much all year round, the area is a popular surfing spot and the site of several annual tournaments. Unfortunately the currents make it a dangerous place to swim, but the attractive golden beach is pleasant to walk along; alternatively, you might prefer a slightly more energetic hike north to the village of Cattlewash along the route of the old railway track below the Round House and the New Edgewater Hotel, or south to Bath Beach.