Wallings Dam to Falmouth via Rendez-vous Bay
Level: Easy/Moderate
Duration: 1½ hrs to Rendez Vous Bay
3 hrs to Falmouth
Elevation: 200 downhill to Rendez-vous
100 uphill/ downhill to Falmouth
Duration: 1½ hrs to Rendez Vous Bay
3 hrs to Falmouth
Elevation: 200 downhill to Rendez-vous
100 uphill/ downhill to Falmouth
This is a great hike that takes you all the way back to Falmouth from Wallings dam. The dam is easily reached by taxi, or get someone to drop you off. Buses going through Fig Tree Drive are not very frequent.
Set off in the same way from the dam as for the Signall Hil hike, but once you reach the ridge take the right hand path. You willl go down towards the sea for while, then slightly up., then come to a lemon grass clearing, from which you will get a good view on the valley seawards and Rendez Vous Bay.
Set off in the same way from the dam as for the Signall Hil hike, but once you reach the ridge take the right hand path. You willl go down towards the sea for while, then slightly up., then come to a lemon grass clearing, from which you will get a good view on the valley seawards and Rendez Vous Bay.
It is all downhill from here, walking through the forest along a clear path with no turn offs. As you reach level grounds at the bottom of the valley, the path becomes wider and follows a rusty fence.
You will soon meet the Rendez-vous piggies, a group of fairly large semi wild animals that have as far as I know been quite well behaved with no outright inclination towards aggressive behaviour; it might be wise not to put this last point to test.
The path turns into a track here, following the beach on the inland side of a small lagoon. The first turn off to the right will bring you to Rendez-vous beach proper... maybe the best deserted beach in Antigua.
You will soon meet the Rendez-vous piggies, a group of fairly large semi wild animals that have as far as I know been quite well behaved with no outright inclination towards aggressive behaviour; it might be wise not to put this last point to test.
The path turns into a track here, following the beach on the inland side of a small lagoon. The first turn off to the right will bring you to Rendez-vous beach proper... maybe the best deserted beach in Antigua.
Going straight on will bring you around a small headland with great views; continue to the next, pebbley, beach along the way from where you follow the recently graded and much improved track over the hill back to Falmouth. On the way up, have a wonder on how long it might take the property developpers responsible for the road improvements to destroy the isolation of this secluded little piece of paradise - not very long is my rough guess, so best enjoy it now.
From the pebbley beach you can also take the alternative trail to the south western tip of Falmouth bay itself.
The start of the trail is however hard to find (it is quite far up the hillside above the beach) and this section of the walk is better done the other way for those unfamiliar with the area- talking from experience here!!
The start of the trail is however hard to find (it is quite far up the hillside above the beach) and this section of the walk is better done the other way for those unfamiliar with the area- talking from experience here!!
