Woodlands Beach
A dark sand beach on the west coast with a shelter above it.
Updated 3 September 2026
Woodlands is one of the accessible beaches in the north of Montserrat, dark volcanic sand in a bay below a bluff with a picnic shelter on the height above it and steps down to the water. Turtles nest along this coast and the beach is one of the monitored sites. The swimming is straightforward when the sea is calm and the shelter makes it the standard local picnic spot. The bluff above the beach is one of the better places on this coast to watch the sun go down.
What's there
- The dark sand - the volcanic beach material the island produces.
- The picnic shelter - the covered spot on the bluff above.
- The turtle nesting - the monitored stretch along this coast.
- The steps - the descent from the shelter to the water.
When to go
December to April is the dry season. Swell makes swimming difficult at times. Turtle nesting runs through the middle of the year.
Good to know
The sea can be rough and there is no lifeguard. Facilities are the shelter and nothing more. Nesting turtles and their tracks should not be disturbed.
Nearby
Bunkum Bay is north, and the botanical garden is east.
What to pack for Woodlands Beach
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Reef-safe sunscreen - High SPF that will not bleach the coral you are swimming over. Find on Amazon
- Binoculars - The single best wildlife tool - even a compact pair transforms a sighting. Find on Amazon
- Quick-dry towel - A microfibre towel packs small and dries in minutes. Find on Amazon
- A zoom camera or long lens - Animals rarely come close; reach beats megapixels. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
