Christian's Cave

Christian's Cave, a dark opening high in the steep cliffs above Adamstown, is one of Pitcairn's most evocative and storied sites, bound up with the island's extraordinary origins. By long tradition, it was to this lonely eyrie that Fletcher Christian, the leader of the mutiny on the Bounty, would climb to sit alone, brooding over the fateful path he had chosen and keeping anxious watch over the empty ocean for any sign of a pursuing ship. Reached by a steep and demanding scramble up the hillside, the cave rewards the effort with commanding views over Adamstown, Bounty Bay and the vast surrounding Pacific. Atmospheric and deeply tied to the island's famous history, Christian's Cave is a fascinating and moving place to visit.

The landscape

• The clifftop cave - the dark opening high in the cliffs.
• The commanding views - the vistas over Adamstown and the sea.
• The Fletcher Christian story - the mutiny leader's lonely lookout.
• The steep climb - the demanding scramble to the cave.

When to go

April to October, the cooler, drier season, is the most comfortable time for the steep, demanding climb, avoiding the hotter, wetter months; the subtropical climate is mild year-round. Dry conditions make the challenging trail safer and the views clearest.

What to expect

Reaching Christian's Cave involves a steep, strenuous and sometimes precarious scramble up the hillside, so it requires reasonable fitness, care and ideally local guidance, and Pitcairn itself is extraordinarily remote. As the atmospheric clifftop lookout of the Bounty mutiny's leader, offering commanding views and a deep tie to the island's famous history, though, Christian's Cave is a genuinely evocative and rewarding site.

Nearby

Adamstown, Bounty Bay and the island's coast lie below.