The sugar cane industry - a tour down memory lane
On a trip to Barbados you’ll no doubt taste the locally produced rum in many traditional drinks and cakes. To enjoy a tour of a fully functioning rum facility, head to the world famous Mount Gay Rum Distillery in Bridgetown.
In contrast to the rum industry, the sugar cane industry has seen major decline, leaving behind a residue of grand properties that are a must visit. The parish of St Peter is home to St Nicholas Abbey, which used to be at the heart of a huge sugar cane plantation and small refinery.

The beautiful house, built in 1658, is one of the few original Jacobean style houses in the Western Hemisphere. Explore the inside and manicured gardens, which even include an old windmill. The owners screen an interesting family film from the 1930s showing the sea voyage to Barbados from England, and life on the former plantation.
Also in St Peter is Farley Hill National Park, once the grounds of a rich plantation house, which was reduced to a shell after a fire. The remains are nestled among flowers on the picturesque hillside garden, which is surrounded by a 17-acre park filled with a forest of mahogany trees. Stand behind the house to enjoy the wonderful views of the ocean and rolling palm-covered hills.