St David: Ruins, Gardens and Rum Tradition

A French town in ruins, a path made of nutmeg shells and a mangrove estuary: St David brings together a wide range of impressions. Add gardens, coastal landscapes and a rum tradition. You can shape your stay around your interests in history, nature or local production.

History and Culture in Saint David

The French town of Bourg de Megrin was founded at St David’s Point by 1735 at the latest. Today, it lies in ruins. La Sagesse is also one of the places in the Parish of Saint David with Amerindian archaeological sites. Historic Carib/Kalinago carbets, or villages, are located near Petit Bacaye.

The St David’s Day Celebration highlights the natural beauty and culture of rural Saint David Parish. The St David’s Day Planning Committee has organised the celebration since 1987. If you would like to include it in your travel plans, check the current event dates.

Coastal Landscapes and Gardens

La Sagesse includes a mangrove estuary, a salt pond and three beaches. The landscape also features geological formations, coral reefs, littoral woodland and thorny cactus scrub. The area provides habitat for migratory and water birds. Its diversity brings wetlands, coastal scenery and woodland habitats together in one named location.

Petit Bacaye offers a different landscape: its secluded beach of grey sand and coconut palms lies on the coast in the southeastern part of Saint David Parish. Along with the landscape features of La Sagesse, it gives you an idea of the variety of nature and coastal experiences in St David.

Palm Tree Gardens in Laura covers two acres and features more than 300 plant species, including 40 palm species. Its garden features include a lily pond with large pink and green lotus flowers, as well as red-footed tortoises. Guided tours of the well-maintained gardens last about 45 minutes.

Laura’s Herb & Spice Garden is located in Perdmontemps. A tour follows a path paved with nutmeg shells. The hands-on spice experience includes cinnamon, ginger, allspice, chadon beni and nutmeg, which visitors are welcome to touch and smell. The focus is on plants and sensory experiences, while Palm Tree Gardens highlights its biodiversity and guided garden tour.

Rum and Local Produce

Sugar cane for rum production is grown in one of the few remaining areas in Saint David Parish. Westerhall Estate is a rum distillery in Westerhall that preserves the history of fine rum production. On a distillery tour, you can see the rum-making process; the tours also include a tasting of different rums from the Westerhall portfolio.

Bayleaf is also based in St. David’s, Grenada. The company makes artisanal herbal teas from hand-picked, naturally dried leaves. Along with sugar cane cultivation and rum production, processing plants and spices is one of the diverse themes that shape St David.

Grenada as a Wider Travel Destination

At the broader destination level of Grenada, the Grenada National Museum presents the heritage of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Its visitor complex hosts concerts, lectures, art exhibitions and other special events throughout the year. The complex also includes a building whose foundations were laid in the mid-18th century. These attractions are part of Grenada as a wider travel destination and should be distinguished from the places described in St David.

Experiences to Help Plan Your Trip

When planning, you can compare activities by what they offer: Palm Tree Gardens gives an approximate tour duration of 45 minutes, Westerhall Estate combines an insight into rum production with a tasting, and Laura’s Herb & Spice Garden focuses on smelling and touching spices. La Sagesse and Petit Bacaye offer different landscapes. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip to St David, it helps to first decide which of these themes you want to shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Crochu, Saint John, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, Saint Patrick, St George, Saint Andrew

For the broader travel overview: Grenada.