Hike Antigua – Monk’s Hill (Fort George) Trail Description & Local Hiking Guides
Overview of hiking Antigua – Monk’s Hill / Fort George:
- Time required: Less than an hour round trip (or longer, depending on how much time you spend at the top enjoying the views)
- Degree of Difficulty: 5 out of 10 (very short, but a little steep)
- Height: About 650 feet (200m) to the peak
- Distance: Just under 2 miles (3km) round trip
- Guide Required: No, but – While the trail/road itself is fairly obvious, the trail-head is not marked, so a local guide can help you start at the right place.
Located directly north of Falmouth Harbour along the south coastal area of Antigua, this is a short but rewarding hike. The trail-head is somewhat hard to find, however you can reach it by driving north from English Harbour up to Cobbs Cross Primary School. Go behind the school, staying left at a couple of forks in the road. Eventually the road transitions into a dirt/stone road – This is the starting point for hiking up Monk’s Hill to Fort George.
The narrow stone road is the actual trail. The road is shaped like a giant question mark, with a couple of wiggles and hooks along the way. Near the top of the mountain there’s a bit of a hairpin turn as a result of the stone wall that makes up part of the old fortification. You then pass through a stone archway and enter the fort, although there’s still a short straightaway to walk before reaching the top of the mountain.
Walking on a steady but gentle inclining, this is a very pleasant stroll, especially when you’re enjoying beautiful warm Caribbean weather. The enjoyable landscape for this Antigua hike is an interesting combination of tropical forest and dry scrub desert. There’s a lot of green, as well as plenty of cacti, both large and small, dotting the landscape.
The trail ends as it passes the remains of a stone gatehouse and you eventually reach the flatter surfaces on the peak. There’s not much left in terms of structures within the old fort, however you will notice the remains of a stone building of some sort to the right as you approach the edge of the escarpment. You can walk right up to the top of the cliff and enjoy the breeze and stunning views.
You’ll immediately be spell bound by the southerly views down over Falmouth Harbour – with English Harbour farther off in the distance to the left. Standing here it’s fairly obvious why this location was chosen as a fortification, as it has a commanding perspective of the bays and natural harbours below. A perfect place for the placement of 17th century cannons.
A short walk to the other side of the mountain top provides spectacular views to the north. The sights include the stone remains of an old mill, as well well as a fairly large solar farm well of in the distance. You can also see the ocean along the north/east coastline. Once you’ve exhausted the views, the return trip down is on the same trail that you came up.
In summary, this is a very pleasant, moderately steep and relatively short Antigua hike that culminates with the remains of a 17th century English fortification and spectacular views. The landscape is fairly dry and there’s near full exposure to the wind and sun on the peak. It’s worth noting that there’s a spur trail about a quarter of the way up to Monk’s Hill, that journeys to the east to another Telco antenna emplacement – This peak is slightly lower then Monk’s Hill. This spur trails appears to continue all the way to a road further east of Cobbs Cross School – This could provide an alternative, longer route to Fort George.
To hike Antigua’s Monk’s Hill / Fort George, these local Tour Operators / Hiking Guides will take good care of you (Click on a Tour Operator below for more details):
For a more colourful review, check out our personal Antigua hiking experience with our Monk’s Hill Hike – Blog Post
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