fort duvernette

Fort Duvernette is easily accessible from the mainland by boat. However, my pro-tip is to take the free ferry to Young Island, walk to the back of the island with some snorkeling gear, and from there it is only about 50 meters of beautiful snorkeling over to the jetty. Bring some water shoes with you or some flip-flops and climb to the top! It only takes about 10-15 minutes and there are beautiful views, old fort ruins, cannons, and even the occasional iguana.

A 200 ft basalt rock rising straight out of the sea, next to Young Island off the South Coast of St. Vincent! I first visited back in the mid 90's and swam out from the mainland. Most recently, 2014, I took a little boat and we docked at the jetty. The irregular steps wind you up and up to the top. Cannon and stone building ruins are what remain of a British fort commanding a dominating position of the bay. You are transported to a time when European political battles were waged in the otherwise tranquil Caribbean. French vs English in a chess match for domination of the new world. Take your time to enjoy the view and serene setting. So quiet and tranquil. There is nothing here but a jetty, steps carved in the rock, old cannon and ruins. The steps do have a handrail and there is a beacon with solar panels on the top. Find you way here somehow and relax. Great at sunset and well worth it for the adventurous explorer.

A local where I was in Indian Bay, Nato did this trip for me for $20 EC although I paid him $40 EC, still a good deal because I did a lot of snorkelling as well. The stairs up the fort were paid for by the Finnish government, why I have no idea. It's a British fort, and they retreated there when they were defeated the local people. It's quite a climb and it's not a very big fort on top. It's certainly worth taking a few pictures from there and for the $25EC Nato charged someone else to go there its definitely worth the cost. Someone told me there was a lot of warfare in Africa before we got involved in the slave trade and a lot of the those slaves were hardened soldiers trained in guerilla warfae. The Bristish certainly had a hard time with them until their leader rather foolishly challenged the British leader to a duel. They might have won otherwise.

I went over there on a 3-minute-boat ride to Fort Duvernette, also locally known as Rock Fort. I hired a Rasta to get me just behind Young Island, drop me off and pick me back up 2 hours later, for EC$30 round-trip (approximately US$10). I brought my picnic (some samosas that I got to go from French Verandah Restaurant at Mariners Hotel), went up the 255 or so steps to the top, and ate my lunch sitting at the picnic table area. I took extremelly nice pictures of the enchanting panorama of Young Island, St. Vincent Island, downtown Kingstown, Bequi Island. Then I went back down, changed into my swimsuit, put my snorkel gear on and enjoyed 1 hour of discovering the local fishes and creatures that inhabit the waters. Be aware that there are strong currents when wind pick up and tides come in, so try to ask locals when is the best time to go out. A young couple were also brought over with a kayak and went from Rock Fort back to Villa Beach area in about 30 minutes. There was also a local man who came spear fishing. I had very pleasant afternoon.

The climb up is not too arduous and the views are excellent. However, it is not worth a special trip; visit only if you are it the area, and in a boat!

There is a warning about climbing the steps but the view is worth it.Don't go after a bad rain