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Dover Beach'The sea is calm to-night.
Though penned in 1867 by poet Matthew Arnold about 'Dover Beach' in the UK, these lyrical words could just as effectively apply to a balmy Caribbean evening at Dover Beach in Barbados.
Dover Beach is located on Barbados' South Coast in the parish of Christ Church, with the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Accra Beach and Needham's Point Lighthouse to the west, and Maxwell Beach, Welches Beach and Oistins to the east. Situated at the southern end of the popular tourist area of St. Lawrence Gap, the lively, action-packed Dover Beach area is home to many family hotels, so perhaps not the best place to choose if you're looking for a relaxing place to spend your day.
A redevelopment project at Dover Beach area was however completed in November 2005, including new beach facilities, food and vending kiosks, timber boardwalk, lighting and hard and soft landscape works. Visitors choosing Dover Beach can therefore now expect to find everything they need for a day at the beach. Next to the beautiful expanse of soft golden sand are numerous stalls selling everything from drinks, ice creams and snacks to protective suntan lotions, hats and t-shirts, and from beach, swimming and snorkelling equipment to local crafts, jewellery, hair braiding and souvenirs. Picnic tables are scattered around the beach; beach chairs, umbrellas and loungers are all available for renting; and there are toilet and shower facilities.
The warm, shimmering ocean at Dover Beach is ideal, offering not only waters that are calm enough for swimming and have no dangerous currents or undertow and so are safe for children and recreational swimmers, but also small to medium sized waves that are lively enough to please visiting water sports enthusiasts. A beachside watersports shop rents out kayaks, Hobie cats, boogie boards, windsurfing and jet skis, and snorkellers will enjoy observing the marine life in the small reef at Dover Beach in Barbados. There are other beach activities, such as beach volleyball, and a children’s playground for the younger visitors. A lifeguard on duty every day adds that extra feeling of security and safety at this busy lively beach.
If you're more of a spectator than player, you might want to cross the road from the beach and go to the Dover Playing Fields where you can watch cricket and football matches played by Bajan and visiting teams.
There are parking facilities next to the beach if you travel by car to Dover Beach, and you could always end the day with either a shopping excursion at the nearby Sheraton Centre, or a more restful visit to the Globe, the only drive-in cinema in Barbados normally offering two films for each admission. If you'd prefer something more invigorating, try out the nightlife at The Gap, a 1.3 kilometre area in St. Lawrence where you can sample numerous bars, restaurants and nightclubs and experience a variety of entertainment from karaoke to live music.
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