Hawksbill House - Review Page 1
Review by Steve & Jill Wooler in March 2010
Hawksbill House is situated just a few yards from one of Tobago’s nicest beaches. It is one of three luxury self-catering holiday rental villas collectively known as Tobago Beach Villas. The same team also have a lovely three-bedroom rental villa, Mahogany Villa, on the attractive Villas On The Green secure development bordering the golf course at the foot of Mount Irvine.
Surprisingly few Tobago holiday rental properties are within walking distance of a beautiful beach with good swimming. With Tobago’s high daytime temperatures, a five minute walk can be arduous and ten minutes is more than most visitors would consider acceptable. Only a tiny handful of properties are genuinely beachside. By our definition, this means within a 30 seconds walk of the beach. Tobago Beach Villas (owned by retired British racing driver, Peter Westbury) falls into this prestigious group.
Given the shared ownership, management and proximity of the three villas, we would normally conduct a single review of one sample property. However, the size and architectural style of these villas vary and each has a different ambience. They also represent the type of accommodation aspired to by most visitors seeking a Caribbean beach holiday. Given the limited choice of beachside accommodation, we have therefore decided to review two of the villas
So, how did we choose which to review? Well, we simply picked the two villas furthest apart, physically and alphabetically – Hawksbill House and Yellowbird Villa. Although furnished and equipped to the same high standards, the middle villa, Sandpebbles Villa, is the smallest of the three and of more modern architectural style. We endorse the sentiments of friendly and efficient manager, Liz Sloper: Hawksbill House has a grand old colonial ambience compared to Yellowbird’s cottage feel and Sandpebbles’ smaller more modern villa feel.
It should be admitted that our reviews of Hawksbill and Yellowbird are very similar – in fact the introductory and location sections are virtually identical, for obvious reasons. Clearly our description of the building, rooms and furnishings does vary, but these are the only points of material difference. These reviews also represent a fairly safe general guide to Sandpebbles Villa.
The Location
The three villas comprising Tobago Beach Villas are located on a shallow hillside rising from beautiful Grafton Beach in Stonehaven Bay. The adjacent aerial photograph (click to enlarge) is an accurate illustration of the stunning location and the relationship of the villas to each other, and the surrounding landscape. Hawksbill House is the topmost villa, furthest from the beach – not that anyone is likely to argue at the 40 metre difference between the two.
A narrow road runs beside the beach. It is hard to believe that this sleepy lane was the main north coast road in years gone by. These days it is nothing more than a quiet access lane to the beach and the few prestigious properties that border it.
Grafton Beach is sandwiched between the village of Black Rock, to the north, and the hamlet of Pleasant Prospect, to the south. The former will be of little interest to the average visitor, but the Tobago Beach Villas are within easy walking distance of the latter.
Anyone familiar with Tobago’s Caribbean coast road is sure to be familiar with Pleasant Prospect. The hamlet is home to the excellent Fish Pot Restaurant, Pizza Boys, Marie’s Place (mini-mart/store), an ATM cash machine and two or three local bars and cafes/takeaways. Although not visible from the house, these establishments are highly useful, even essential, and lie within five minutes’ walk of Hawksbill House.
The Shirvan Road, which runs along the lower part of the Caribbean north coast, has become something of a restaurant strip. More than half dozen of the island’s most popular restaurants are housed along, or adjacent to, this mile-or-two of coast road – all within a 5-minute drive of Pleasant Prospect. The Seahorse Inn, generally perceived as one of the best restaurants on Tobago, is just a three or four minute walk along the beach from Hawksbill. The Fish Pot Restaurant, a five minute walk the other way, is also equally deserving of a place in the island’s restaurant premier league.
The Crown Point beaches of Store Bay and Pigeon Point are attractive and popular, but have become over-commercialised. They are often crowded; excessively so when a cruise liner is docked in Scarborough. The beaches along the Caribbean coast are much quieter and more natural.Other than a few beach traders, these beaches are largely free from commercialisation (by world standards). The best beach, in our opinion, is Grafton beach, immediately in front of Tobago Beach Villas. There are several other beautiful beaches within a three or four minute drive.
When one combines these factors, Tobago Beach Villas truly have one of the best locations on the island. They are situated within a 15-20 minute drive of every notable business or feature in the main Crown Point-Plymouth-Scarborough triangle and ideally placed for visits to Tobago’s beautiful northern coastline and rainforest.
To get the best from a holiday on Tobago, it is normally vital to have your own transport. The island is small, but few properties are within walking distance of more than one or two shops, restaurants, beaches or other facilities. It would be a shame to stay at Tobago Beach Villas without transport, but having said that, they are one of the few places where it would be genuinely possible.
Hawksbill House is located on a relatively shallow hillside. All three bedrooms are situated on the upper floor and the house itself sits a number of steps above ground level. It has to be said that the house and location are not best suited to those with serious mobility issues or who rely on a wheelchair.
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