Great Runs in Barbados
Note: For the Full Guide to Running in Barbados, see the GR Website
Barbados is a small island country and British commonwealth nation in the eastern Caribbean. The country’s west coast is dotted with white sand beaches and turquoise water, while its east side, on the Atlantic Ocean features a more rugged coastline and is famous for surfing. The interior of the island is hilly. Finding a good spot to run in Barbados can be a challenge, owing to the heat, narrow roads, and lack of major multi-use paths. But there are some good spots to run in the more visited parts of Barbados, from lovely beaches to nice coastal roads, plus some challenge along the pastoral roads of the hilly interior.
Bay St. Esplanade & Bridgetown Tour: A tour of historic Bridgetown. Waterfront sections to Pelican Craft Center, Bay St. Esplanade to Needhams Point, and a loop around historic Garrison Savannah.
South Coast Boardwalk: Pleasant, flat coastal running between Rockley Beach and the Needhams Point lighthouse. Combination road and boardwalk, with nice water views in parts.
West Coast Boardwalk: A nice off-road running opportunity near Holetown, the boardwalk goes for 2.5 km Sandy Lane Beach, north to Heron Bay. Some sections are boardwalk, others are on the beach.
Speightstown/Port St. Charles: Some nice waterfront running in Speightstown. Roads along the water, a jaunt around the Port St. Charles marina, and a quiet waterfront road to Half Moon Fort.
St. Lucy: Create your own route on the quiet roads in the St. Lucy area. A series of unnamed, fairly narrow roads between Highways 1B and 1C offer good rolling hill terrain. No shoulder/sidewalk but not trafficked.
East Coast: Good running on the coastal road on Barbados’ more rugged east coast. Quietest section is ~1.5 km from Bathsheba Park heading north, but very runnable and pretty as far as Lakes Beach.
Cherry Tree Hill and St. Nicholas Abbey: A challenging 12 km loop featuring interesting sights and great views, on generally quiet roads. First 3 km is a steep climb!
Atlantic Shores/South Point: The best bet for running on the southern coast is the 5 km out and back along a waterfront road from Miami Beach to just past the South Point Lighthouse. Quiet road, occasional water views.
Beach Running: The best bets for beach running on Barbados are Rockley/Accra and Worthing Beach, Bathsheba/Cattlewash/ Lakes Beach, and Walkers/ Morgan Lewis Beach.
For the full running guide to running in Barbados, see greatruns.com.
