GUN HILL STATION

Two years after the slave revolt of 1816 led by Bussa, the British colonial authorities inaugurated a chain of six signal stations, designed to keep watch over the island to counter both external and internal enemies. Strategically placed on a hill overlooking the west and south coasts, Gun Hill has been magnificently restored after falling into disuse and abandonment. It is reached via a path through a beautiful tropical garden. In addition to the station building itself (where you can imagine the solitude of the two soldiers who served there), you can admire a collection of military memorabilia, maps of Barbados and other signal stations and, above all, the majestic view that justifies Gun Hill's raison d'être, from a balcony. Bridgetown and its harbour are clearly visible, and if you've come on a cruise, there's no doubt you'll spot your cruise ship.

Further down the hill is a statue of a white lion, its paw firmly planted on a red globe. Clearly not the work of a great artist, it was created by a team of soldiers in 1868: Captain Henry Wilkinson and four of his colleagues. It overlooks an inscription in Latin to the glory of the United Kingdom: "It shall rule from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth".

If you're not pressed for time, why not stop off at the Fusiliers Bar & Cafe for a snack or refreshment? The view from its patio is just as sublime.