James Bay

James Bay is the only place on St Helena where a ship can be worked, which is why the capital sits in the narrow valley behind it, a single main street of Georgian buildings running back between cliffs that rise on both sides. The seafront has the arch, the moat and the castle of the East India Company period. Jacob's Ladder climbs the eastern cliff in 699 steps, built in 1829 to haul goods up to Ladder Hill.

What you actually see

• Jacob's Ladder - 699 steps climbing the cliff, built in 1829 as an inclined tramway.
• The Georgian street - the main street running back up the narrow valley.
• The seafront works - the arch, moat and castle of the Company period.
• The anchorage - the island's only workable landing.

When to go

Year round; the coast is warm and dry in all seasons. Ship arrivals bring the town to life. The valley traps heat in the middle of the day.

Honest expectations

Jacob's Ladder is genuinely punishing and the steps are steep and uneven. The valley gets very hot at midday. Swell can make landing at the wharf difficult.

Nearby

Munden's Battery is above the eastern side, and Lemon Valley is southwest.