Down Rope Beach and Petroglyphs

Down Rope, on the rugged southeastern coast of Pitcairn, is the island's only true sandy beach and one of its most intriguing spots, combining natural beauty with deep mystery. Reached by a steep descent down the cliffs, once aided by a rope that gave the place its name, the secluded little beach of reddish sand meets the clear Pacific in a wild, dramatic setting. Above it, carved into the rock face, are the island's famous petroglyphs, enigmatic ancient engravings left by the Polynesians who inhabited Pitcairn for centuries long before the Bounty mutineers arrived and mysteriously vanished. These silent carvings are a poignant reminder of the island's forgotten first people. Remote, beautiful and steeped in mystery, Down Rope is a fascinating corner of Pitcairn.

What you actually see

• The sandy beach - the island's only true beach of reddish sand.
• The petroglyphs - the ancient Polynesian rock carvings.
• The steep descent - the dramatic clifftop trail down.
• The forgotten first people - the traces of Pitcairn's ancient inhabitants.

When to go

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

Honest expectations

Down Rope is reached by a steep, demanding descent down the cliffs, so it requires reasonable fitness, care and ideally local guidance, and the beach itself is small and wild. As Pitcairn's only sandy beach, set dramatically beneath cliffs and guarded by mysterious ancient petroglyphs of the island's forgotten first people, though, Down Rope is a genuinely fascinating and beautiful spot.

Nearby

Adamstown and the island's cliffs and heritage sites lie inland.