was once known as ‘ Queen of the Caribbees ’ because of her graceful society and grand plantation houses . This sense of grace and elegance , coupled with a charm and cosiness , is still evident in Nevis today , not just in the obvious Great Houses of the old plantations - many of which are featured here - but also in the friendliness of the people and in the way they have proudly preserved links with their past . In the centre of the island is Mount Nevis , more often than not with its summit covered in cloud . All around are visible signs of the old plantations : sugar and cotton used to be the main crops but now ruined great houses , chimneys and boiling houses are being swallowed up by encroaching vegetation . As well as the calm Caribbean waters that lap Pinney ’ s Beach and the rest of the west coast , there is also surf on the Atlantic east coast . Nevis offers excellent standards of hotel accommodation , a relaxing ambience and numerous places of interest for sightseeing .

TRAVEL POINTERS Access to Nevis is via St Kitts or Antigua . Flying time London to Antigua or St Kitts is approximately 8 hours . British Airways has a twice a week direct flight to St Kitts . British Airways has direct flights from London Gatwick to Antigua . Virgin Atlantic has direct flights from London Gatwick to Antigua . From St Kitts you can transfer by car and boat to Nevis . From Antigua you fly with Liat or have a private charter .

NEWCASTLE AIRPORT

FOUR SEASONS RESORT NEVIS

CHARLESTOWN

NISBET PLANTATION

MONTPELIER PLANTATION

TWO-CENTRE RECOMMENDATIONS Anguilla and Antigua . Grenada and Barbados if you want to be more adventurous .

LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS The local rum is CSR produced on St Kitts and drunk with Ting , the local grapefruit soft drink or neat with ice and water . Carnival on Nevis is called Culturama and it takes place at the end of July . Nevis is famous for its first day cover stamps usually depicting the island ’ s flora and fauna , sea life , history and carnival . In Charlestown there are several shops selling local crafts and a gallery selling the prints , oils and water colours of Kate Spencer that depict island life . Beachcomber bar and restaurant on Pinney ’ s Beach and Prinderellas further north .

GETTING OUT AND ABOUT With the island being so small , it is very easy to get to see the whole of it , the furthest hotel still only being about 30 minutes ’ drive from the airport . For the hotels not on a beach , there are usually shuttle buses to take guests to the beach . Taxis are easy to hire and can be arranged through the hotels . You might like a hire car to have the independence to explore at your leisure and certainly there are countless places of interest on Nevis . Walkers and historians discover plenty of material exploring the grounds of the old sugar estates . Nevis has numerous museums including the Museum of Nevis History , the Alexander Hamilton House , the Horatio Nelson Museum . Pinney ’ s Beach , over 3 miles of sand , is ideal for walking and several beach bars and restaurants provide welcome relief from the heat . The architecture of Charlestown is some of the best preserved in the Caribbean with its balconied and gingerbread houses .

FACTUAL INFORMATION Capital : Charlestown . Airport : Newcastle . Size of the island : 6 miles by 8 miles . Population : 9,000 approx on Nevis alone . Average temperature : about 26 degrees Centigrade with locals saying that changing weather patterns are making May to early August an increasingly good time to visit . Even in July a pleasant breeze makes the heat of the summer sun very bearable .

“ ONE OF OUR FAVOURITE ISLANDS : FOR ITS CHARM , FRIENDLINESS AND GENTLE BUT LUSH LANDSCAPE . QUITE A GEM ”

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