Adderley's Plantation

Adderley's Plantation stands on a headland near Stella Maris, the remains of a cotton estate established by Loyalists who came to the Bahamas after the American Revolution and tried to grow cotton on thin island soil. It failed within a few decades, as most of them did. Three buildings survive to roof height, built of coral stone, with the bush growing through and around them and the sea a short walk beyond. The site is unmarked and unmanaged.

What you actually see

• The stone buildings - three roofless structures standing to wall height in coral stone.
• The bush - coppice grown up through and around the ruins.
• The headland - the position above the water the estate was built on.
• The Loyalist story - the failed cotton experiment that put these buildings here.

When to go

November to April is the dry season and the best for the walk in. The track is overgrown and easier when things are dry. Mornings are cooler.

Honest expectations

The track in is unmarked and overgrown and finding it takes local directions. There is no interpretation on site. Long trousers help: the bush includes poisonwood, which causes a serious rash.

Nearby

Stella Maris is nearby, and Cape Santa Maria is at the northern tip.