Montserrat

Montserrat is an island in the Caribbean, owned by the British but very unique in its combination of Colonial rule and a Caribbean love of island life. Once a very popular tourist resort, the Georgian-era capital city of Plymouth was destroyed when the previously dormant volcano of Soufrière Hills erupted in spectacular fashion in 1995. Since then the tourism industry has bounced back, now featuring private tours of the restricted zone of the still-active volcano where you can see buildings poking through the ash like a modern-day Caribbean Pompeii.

Beyond the island’s explosive history, Montserrat is a very laid-back Caribbean island with all the trappings you might expect. One of its most popular destinations is Rendezvous Bay, a sparsely populated beach due to its tricky hike or boat journey to get there, the reward is one of splendid Caribbean sand and snorkelling for days. Other great beaches include Little Bay Beach or Woodlands Beach. Across Montserrat, there are also plenty of fantastic hiking trails that take in the largely untouched wilds, home to endemic species and unique beauty. Top trails include the Oriole Walkway Trail or a swift hike up to the Jack Boy Hill Viewing Facility to take a look over the steaming Soufrière Hills Volcano.