Grand Bay and Geneva Estate

Grand Bay in the south has a reputation for holding onto its traditions more firmly than anywhere else on the island, in music, in the masquerade at carnival and in Creole language use, and the Geneva estate beside it was one of the largest sugar plantations, burned during unrest more than once. Jean Rhys, who wrote Wide Sargasso Sea, spent childhood time on the estate, which her family owned. A heritage park now occupies part of the ground.

What you actually see

• The estate ruins - the remains of one of the island's largest sugar plantations.
• The heritage park - the interpreted ground on part of the old estate.
• The village traditions - music, masquerade and Creole strongly maintained here.
• The Jean Rhys connection - the writer's childhood link to the estate.

When to go

December to April is dry and comfortable. Carnival in February is when the village's traditions are most visible. The heritage park keeps daytime hours.

Honest expectations

The estate is largely ruin with limited interpretation on the ground. Facilities in the village are basic. The road over from Roseau is winding and slow.

Nearby

Bois Cotlette is west, and Soufriere is beyond it.