Hiking is one of the best ways to explore the remote island of St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean, soaking up its serene solitude and incredible array of climates and landscapes.
The British Overseas Territory is the ideal choice for clients who love being outdoors. In just a few steps the terrain can shift from lush cloud forests to rolling green pastures or arid coastal cliffs. This extraordinary environment is home to more than 500 plant and animal species found nowhere else on earth.
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A Breath of Fresh Air
To help visitors experience St Helena’s natural wonders, suggest following the Post Box Walks – a collection of 21 carefully curated hiking trails. Each walk ends at a post box, where visitors can leave their mark in a guestbook and collect a unique stamp as a keepsake.
These trails highlight the island’s diversity: some lead to waterfalls, others to endemic wirebird habitats, and some to secluded natural swimming pools.
The trails cater to all levels of ability, with distances ranging from 1.5km to 16km, taking anything from an hour to an entire day, and guides can lead the way on challenging trails.
Each year the island hosts the Festival of Walking, which takes place from 27 December 2024 until the end of March 2025. During the festival guests can join local guides including conservationists, avid walkers and historians, who will lead the way and share their knowledge.
The festival includes the launch of four new Post Box Walks, with options for all abilities, including:
1. A relaxed pace
For an easy, leisurely outing, the Mackintosh walk is ideal. This 1.5km woodland loop is perfect for families or those looking for a gentle stroll, taking roughly an hour at a relaxed pace.
2. A duo of easy walks
For a short and not too strenuous experience, walkers should head to Saddle Battery and Samson’s Battery. These historic sites, home to original cannons with commanding views of both areas, can be accessed via a moderate, 90-minute walk from Jamestown that includes some ridge walking. Alternatively, a quick and easy 45-minute route begins at Field Road.
3. Two longer hikes
Banks Battery and Buttermilk Point can be explored via two distinct routes. The first is a Flagstaff and Sugarloaf walk, a 13km trek that combines coastal views and inland trails, taking approximately 3.5 hours to complete. Alternatively, the coastal path from Jamestown offers a shorter, 8km option. Both walks are moderate in difficulty, featuring steep inclines and some cliffside sections.
4. A challenge for seasoned hikers
The reimagined Gill Point walk has been redesigned to provide rare views of the airport and its remarkable construction, and takes around 4.5 hours. Suggest this moderately difficult hike for experienced walkers due to its rope-assisted sections, cliffside paths, and exposure, making it unsuitable for those with vertigo.
St Helena Tourism can share advice on all of the Post Box Walks, to help you suggest the ideal route to your customers.
