Explore Big Bay and No Man’s Land

This vast landscape because of its rugged nature remained abandoned and used mainly to pasteurise cattle and sheep. The beach referred to by villagers as Big Bay was once a cocoa estate and evidence of this still exists.

In 1889, Tobago became united with Trinidad and at that time the economy of the two islands depended on sugar cane and cocoa. With the collapse of the cocoa industry in 1921 many estates became bankrupt and all that are left today are the struggling cacao trees and dilapidated forest trails.

The exploration of Big Bay starts from Culloden and the walk along the rocky coast will take an hour.

The landscape consists of undulating hills with a steep descend to the bay. Fifteen minutes along the way, the trail comes to a scenic inlet called Little Bay, which is also a lovely beach and provides an option for those not wishing to walk further. Big Bay, half-a-mile long, feels like “heaven on earth” and timeless in a lost paradise. The sand beach with its crystal blue waters is calm and relaxing. On the right end of the beach, there is a reef that attracts a variety of small marine fish. Big manta rays are sometimes seen swimming harmlessly alongside the bay.

September 24 - Cotton Bay in Tobago Assembly: 7.30 am at the Esplanade, Milford Road, Scarborough Depart 8.30 am along North Coast Road to Culloden.

No-Man’s Land is a breath-taking peninsula situated in the Bon Accord Lagoon fringed by mangrove, coconut trees, and swampland. The calm, soothing waters and magnificent scenery of the lagoon make it a must place to visit for any Trinbagonian.

The beach is a favourite spot for barbecues and access to get there is mainly by boat. The flat walk to get there is along the coast from Buccoo’s Bay and will take 45 minutes. There are plans to build a Sandals Resort at the location, and soon access may be restricted.

September 25 - No Man’s Land Assembly: 8 am at Buccoo’s Beach Facility.

Rating: 2 easy For more info: visit www.islandhikers.

com