Fort Bullen

Fort Bullen stands at Barra on the north bank of the river mouth, built by the British in 1826 for the specific purpose of stopping slave ships leaving the Gambia after the trade was outlawed, its guns covering the channel opposite Banjul. It is one of the sites inscribed by UNESCO together with Kunta Kinteh Island, and it was used again as a defensive position during the Second World War.

Highlights

• The river mouth guns - positions covering the channel opposite Banjul.
• The 1826 purpose - a fort built to enforce the ban on the slave trade.
• The bastioned walls - the compact fort layout on the point.
• The World Heritage listing - one of the sites inscribed with Kunta Kinteh Island.

When to go

November to February is the cool dry season. The ferry crossing from Banjul runs through the day and can be slow. Mornings are cooler for walking the walls.

Things to know

The Banjul ferry is unreliable and crossings can take much longer than scheduled. The fort is small and interpretation is limited. There is little shade on the site.

Nearby

Barra is beside it, and Juffureh is upriver.

Key facts