Walking: Speyside to Charlotteville

Iain G · Post by **Iain G** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 5:50 pm

First post to hello to all and thanks to everyone for making this an excellent and informative site.

I imagine walking isn't the best form of transport but I was wondering how long it would take to walk from BWI at Speyside to Charlotteville (Pirate's Bay). Thanks in advance.

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 7:03 pm

Hi Iain

Welcome aboard!

If you manage that walk, then you're a considerably fitter bloke than me. I don't know how long it takes to walk, but its the best part of a 15 minute drive to the centre of Charlotteville, then a 10-15 minute walk to Pirates Bay. Its not just the 1-1½ hours it must take, its more the fact that you've got to cross a high ridge - so half the walk is steeply uphill and then down the other side.

Iain G · Post by **Iain G** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 5:55 am

Steve Wooler wrote:Hi Iain

Welcome aboard!

If you manage that walk, then you're a considerably fitter bloke than me. I don't know how long it takes to walk, but its the best part of a 15 minute drive to the centre of Charlotteville, then a 10-15 minute walk to Pirates Bay. Its not just the 1-1½ hours it must take, its more the fact that you've got to cross a high ridge - so half the walk is steeply uphill and then down the other side.

Thanks - I'm pleased to join the jolly ship HMS MyTobago

We'll be staying at BWI for a week so will probably hire a car for two days to see other parts of the Island (maybe we need more to do the Island justice but I also want to spend time exploring the North End - snorkelling, kayaking, birdwatching, walking etc etc. This site really puts guide books to shame so I'm sure I'll be firing more questions in the near future. Have a good day all wherever you may be.

Achim Lewandowski · Post by **Achim Lewandowski** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 5:53 pm

Hi,

I walked both ways (to be exact: Mr. Neptune from Belle Aire Appartment in Charlotteville brought me to the junction to Flagstaff Hill, I walked the 2 km to the viewpoint, from there back to the road and down to Speyside).

On a different day, I walked from Speyside to Charlotteville. It is indeed very steep, but mostly shady. 1h 30min is a good guess for one way.

The most exhausting were the 1000m from the forest border to Speyside. It was such hot that I couldn't move in the sun and tried hitch-hiking. But nobody understood that I desperately tried to get a lift just to Speyside and everybody told me that Speyside was just around the corner (which I already knew...).

Somewhere on the road between the two villages, you can catch a glimpse of the highest mountain (was it Pigeon Hill?). Despite its relatively low height of only about 570 m, it looked a little bit *too* steep to me.

Achim

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 5:59 pm

Respect, Achim!

I thought it was only mad dogs and Englishmen that went out and did things like that.

I'm glad that my estimate was reasonably accurate. I thought I was being generous at 1-1½ hours, but reckoned that if I said 1½-2 hours some fit young stud would come along and tell me that I'm just an old fxxx who can't hack it any longer.

Yes, Pigeon Hill is the name, but you've got the height wrong. Its 572m.

Cornelia Montgomery · Post by **Cornelia Montgomery** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 9:53 pm

I think this couple did a good job in words and photos describing their walk from the BWI to Charlotteville. However, I do believe they are in much better shape than most tourists, very much including me.

http://ktravers.smugmug.com/gallery/73820/1/2556878

David Watkins · Post by **David Watkins** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:56 am

I remember that couple.I drove past them on my way to Scarborough in the morning,they were heading to C'ville.I remember the photo of the girl on the crash barrier being taken.I saw them coming back in the afternoon walking the other way about four or five hours later.
David(149

)

Achim Lewandowski · Post by **Achim Lewandowski** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 5:04 pm

Hi,

this is a picture of the road from Speyside to Charlotteville:

http://www.alewand.de/fotos/tobago/fo89.htm

The small sign in the foreground says "Steep Hill".

Achim