Fort Fincastle

Fort Fincastle was built in 1793 on the ridge above Nassau and is shaped, from above, like the bow of a ship, which is what every guide points out first. It is small, never fired a shot in anger, and served longer as a lighthouse and signal station than as a battery. What it has is position: the ridge gives a view over the harbour, Paradise Island and the town, and the Queen's Staircase runs down the limestone to the street below.

What you actually see

• The ship-shaped plan - the pointed bow-like form the fort was built to.
• The ridge view - Nassau harbour, Paradise Island and the town from the walls.
• The old cannon - guns still on the terrace facing the water.
• The water tower - the tall tower on the same hill, the highest structure on the island.

When to go

November to April is the dry season and the most comfortable. Cruise-ship days fill the site; asking which days are heavy is worth doing. Mornings are cooler on the exposed limestone.

Honest expectations

The fort is tiny and the visit takes twenty minutes. Guides attach themselves at the staircase and the arrangement should be agreed up front. The water tower has been closed to visitors for long stretches.

Nearby

The Queen's Staircase runs down from the fort, and Fort Charlotte is west along the ridge.