Shirley Heights and the Rugged Coast

Beyond its beaches, Antigua offers dramatic viewpoints and wild coastal scenery. Shirley Heights, a restored eighteenth-century military lookout on a hilltop above English Harbour, commands one of the finest panoramas in the Caribbean, gazing down over the historic harbours, yachts and coastline, especially magical at sunset and during its famous Sunday party. On the island's rugged Atlantic-facing east coast, the ceaseless pounding of the ocean has carved Devil's Bridge, a striking natural limestone arch where waves crash and spout dramatically through blowholes, a wild contrast to the calm leeward beaches and a testament to the raw power of the open Atlantic.

What you actually see

• Shirley Heights - the hilltop lookout over English Harbour.
• The sunset views - the panorama at sunset and the Sunday party.
• Devil's Bridge - the natural limestone arch on the Atlantic coast.
• The rugged east coast - the wild windward shore and blowholes.

When to go

December to April, the dry season, for the clearest weather and best views; Shirley Heights is spectacular at sunset, and its Sunday-evening party with steel band and barbecue is a beloved highlight. Devil's Bridge is most dramatic when the Atlantic swell is up, sending spray through its blowholes.

Honest expectations

Shirley Heights is a viewpoint and party spot rather than an extensive site, and it can get crowded on Sunday evenings, while Devil's Bridge is a natural arch best appreciated when the surf is up, with care needed near the slippery, powerful blowholes. As a combination of the finest panoramic lookout in Antigua, with its historic setting and sunset views, and the wild Atlantic drama of Devil's Bridge, though, these sights offer a scenic contrast to the beaches and are well worth seeing.

Nearby

Nelson's Dockyard, the beaches and the capital St. John's are within reach.