Bottom Bay

Bottom Bay sits on the rugged southeast corner of Barbados, where the calm turquoise of the west coast gives way to open Atlantic, and it is the beach that appears on postcards of the island. A short flight of steps drops from a clifftop car park to a curve of pale sand enclosed by coral cliffs, with a cluster of coconut palms leaning over the beach and rollers coming in off the ocean. Because the surf and currents here are strong, it is more a place to admire, paddle and photograph than to swim, and that keeps the crowds down: on many days you can have the cove almost to yourself. The clifftop above gives a wide view along the coast, and the whole southeast is a wilder, less developed side of the island.

The landscape

• The cove and cliffs - the pale sand enclosed by coral cliffs.
• The leaning palms - the cluster of coconut palms over the beach.
• The clifftop view - the wide outlook along the southeast coast.
• Atlantic surf - the rollers coming in off the open ocean.

When to go

December to May, the drier and calmer season, though the Atlantic here is lively year-round. Mornings are quietest and best for photographs before the light gets harsh. Weekdays see fewer visitors.

Things to know

The surf and currents are strong and there are no lifeguards, so this is not a safe swimming beach; wading and admiring are the sensible limit. The steps down are steep and there are no facilities, no shade beyond the palms and no vendors, so bring water. The clifftop road is quiet and the area is undeveloped, which is the appeal.

Nearby

Crane Beach and the southeast coast beaches are close; Sam Lord's Castle area lies nearby.

Key facts