TO the uninitiated, tropical paradise is solely synonymous with white sand beaches, clear-blue seas and perhaps a fruity rum punch. Yet, those more familiar with the Caribbean region will tell you it has more to offer than a turquoise sea and vitamin D—it is a playground for activity junkies of every kind, which makes it even more appealing to today’s property hunters. ‘Buyers here used to want a pretty house near the beach or in a golf community, where they could relax for a week or two every year,’ says James Burdess, head of Caribbean sales at Savills. ‘Now people can work from anywhere, they want somewhere where they can do the things they love. Properties also need to suit the needs of multiple generations who will be coming and going throughout the winter,’ he adds.
Anchor down
Getting out and onto the water is one of the first activities visitors want to do when they arrive in the Caribbean. ‘Sailing goes right through the culture on Antigua at all levels,’ says Mr Burdess. ‘Everywhere you go you’ll see children learning to sail, beginners pottering around the island, holidaymakers chartering a sailboat with a skipper and a crew for a week and yacht owners meeting their boat as it arrives from the Med.’ A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nelson’s Dockyard lies at the heart of the fiercely competitive racing season on the island, which runs from December to May and includes the Antigua 360 and the RORC Caribbean 600 in February and the Classic Yacht Regatta and Antigua Sailing Week in April.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery
