The varied landscapes of Central Barbados evolve from the rolling agricultural lands of St George, watched over by Gun Hill Signal Station – the best preserved of the six colonial-era military signal stations – to hillier, lusher terrain, as you move north into St Joseph, St Thomas and St Andrew, home to the mountainous Scotland District – yes, seriously.

These north-central areas, which receive more rainfall, are traversed by gullies that are brimming with luxuriant tropical vegetation. One such example is Welchman Hall Gully, which offers an informative self-guided trail. Several of these limestone gullies were formed from collapsed cave systems, such as the one at Harrison’s Cave, one of the island’s top tourist draws.

Several attractions make the most of their verdant setting, including the magical tropical Flower Forest and carefully curated Hunte’s Gardens. In nearby Coco Hill Forest, the focus is more on trees and hiking trails. Tropical Garden, formerly Orchid World, recently changed its name, to broaden its appeal, but there are still a number of orchids here.