Best beaches in Christ Church & St Lawrence Gap

You’ll find almost-white sands instead of white cliffs in this Dover, but that’s alright with us. Slap bang in the centre of St Lawrence Gap, the wide beach offers all kinds of watersports on its gentle, bright blue waters – windsurf, bodyboard, sail, swim and snorkel your socks off (or just hire a lounger and soak up the south coast sunshine). Stalls sell food, drink and souvenirs, and the restaurants and bars of The Gap are within easy reach.

Golden sand, lush palms, clear sea, dazzling sunshine – a cluster of colours come together to make Rainbow Beach spectacular. Whilst still being in the buzzing St Lawrence Gap area, this is a quieter beach than Dover, being a little further away from the big hotels and off the main road. Swimmers love the calm nature of the sea here – sometimes you find yourself paddling with the turtles who nest nearby.

It’s as if this place has taken the best qualities of all Barbados beaches then offered them together in one stretch. Home to the Accra and South Beach hotels, the south end of this beach has lagoon-like waters to paddle in, while other, choppier parts are brilliant for bodyboarding. There’s oodles of soft, pale sand to stretch out on under the sunshine, plus dozens of sea grape trees if you’re seeking shade. Browse market stalls for souvenirs, buy fresh fishcakes and chilled Banks beer, or head up west along the south coast boardwalk.

Almost deserted for morning beach walks on the whiteish sand; alive in the evenings with games of beach cricket as the palms are silhouetted against the sunset. The waves are small enough for children and swimmers, and water activities include hobie cats, jet-skiing and bodyboarding. A handful of hotels are based here, including the Bougainvillea Beach Resort, Turtle Beach, Sandals Royal Barbados and Sandals Barbados. When hunger strikes, it’s a short wander into Oistins for fabulously fresh seafood.

Silver Sands is one of the best spots on the island for kitesurfing, surfing, windsurfing and SUP - look up local legend Brian Talma at the deAction shop for lessons and equipment rentals. It’s also brilliant if you prefer to spectate from the shore, with soft, white sands to dig your toes into while you watch the waves roll in. Families love it here too, with a cracking little play area for kids and picnic benches to set up camp around.

Sometimes called Little Bay, the water here’s amazingly shallow at low tide, making it perfect for paddling. It’s protected by rocks and a reef which you can swim out to, snorkel around and sometimes spot turtles in. Kayakers and kitesurfers like it here too.

Welches is a looker, with a wide stretch of yellow-white sand and wonderfully calm water for swimming. To the east, you can spot the South Point Lighthouse, while westwards, the sunsets are incredible. It’s one of the quieter spots on the south coast, but still conveniently located – within walking distance of Maxwell Beach and the fishing village of Oistins. One of the nearest hotels is Sea Breeze Beach House, located between Welches Beach and Maxwell Beach.

Just as it says on the tin, this is a top spot for surfing, windsurfing, kiting and bodyboarding and you can sort out hire and classes through Zed’s Surfing Adventures. But you don’t have to be leashed to a board to have a good time here – the beach is gorgeous, with palms, bright tropical flowers and rugged rocky outcrops. Nab a bench or spot of sand and watch the action in the sunshine, or pootle around the terrific little rock pools hunting for treasures.

On the south west of the island, Drill Hall has a mix of gentle waves for bodyboarding and beginner surfers, and calm spots for paddling and swimming. There’s lots of shade beneath the trees – perfect for picnics and watching tiny turtles scuttle into the sea. You can also take the boardwalk up to Bridgetown, or eastwards to Rockley Beach. Check out Sugar Bay Hotel in Drill Hall Beach.

Well worth a visit, Worthing brings together palms, seagrapes, white sand and shallow water. Swim out to snorkel with turtles around the coral reef, or join a diving tour to the shipwrecked Stavronikita. Stay until the sun sets, best accompanied by the drinks and music at Crustal Waters Beach Bar on the east end.

Being in the village of Enterprise sometimes sees this beach called Enterprise Beach. It’s a popular one with the locals, where you can watch the fishing boats come in and out of neighbouring Oistins. The waters to the west are calm for paddling and swimming, while there slightly bigger swells to the east. At lunchtime, pop over to the Mr. Delicious food truck for the ultimate Barbados beach picnic of fish cutters. One of our favourite hotels near Miami Beach is Little Arches Boutique Hotel.

Where the south coast meets the west, Needham’s Point sits between Drill Hall Beach and Pebble Beach at the bottom of Carlisle Bay. For swimmers, the water is almost still here – and clear as can be. There are a number of nearby fish stands for refreshments, and behind sits St Anne’s Fort which was built in the 1700’s and plays a big role in island history.

Take the steps down to Bottom Bay and you find yourself in the kind of place screen savers are made of – clusters of coconut trees, bright green sea grape trees, rocky outcrops, pale sugary sand and the bluest sea you’ll ever see. Lean back on a rock, wiggle your toes in the sand and watch the waves crash against the cliffs – then find a palm tree to cling onto stubbornly come home time.

There’s a LOT of competition, but without a doubt Crane’s one of the prettiest beaches on the island, and if you’ve managed to bag a room in The Crane Hotel you’re in for a treat. The Atlantic mixes with the Caribbean here, resulting in a broad stretch of talc-soft sand backed by sloping cliffs and coconut trees, with crazily turquoise, choppy waters (bodyboarders & bodysurfers, rejoice).

You have to blink a few times before you accept this is real life – but it won’t take a second to know it’s absolutely anything but foul. Think: powdery white sand backed by cliffs, palm trees swaying and lots of bright, lush greenery. And the sea – ridiculously bright blue and whipping up tons of fun for bodyboarders.

At low tide, you can walk here around the rocks from Crane Beach to find yourself in the midst of wraparound cliffs and rugged caves. Quite possibly yours’ll be the only footprints marking the white sand, leaving you free to stretch out under rustling palms, wander about collecting driftwood or fling yourself into the waves for a spot of bodysurfing.