Rapidly becoming a luxury destination with high-priced villas and upscale resorts, Anguilla, the most northerly of the British Leeward Islands, retains the laid-back character of a sleepy backwater. Goats still wander the streets and reggae music blares from passing cars. Read the overview

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Inspiration

Points of interest

Prickly Pear Cays

For the best diving on Anguilla, head out to this underwater cavern, where nurse sharks and barracuda swim through rock formations not far from several sunken shipwrecks. Snorkelling, diving and day trip tour operators leave out of Sandy Ground.

Address

(about 15km (9mi) W of the mainland)

Transport

boat

Scrub Island

This 2.5mi (4km) long island is covered in scrubby vegetation and inhabited by herds of scruffy goats. It has a beach on its western side, an abandoned airstrip (rumoured to have once been used by cocaine runners) and some good snorkelling spots. There are no facilities, so bring your own picnic.

The short boat ride to Scrub Island can be arranged at Island Harbour.

Address

(just off Anguilla's NE tip)

Transport

boat

Shoal Bay East

You know that beach you picture in your mind's eye? The one where gentle trade winds waft your cares away and waves lap gently against your feet as you stroll the nearly deserted stretch of white sand? This is it.

Shoal Bay East (not to be confused with the far less spectacular alter ego Shoal Bay West) is still miraculously blight-free. There are just a handful of small resorts and villas and a beach bar, but it is surprisingly quiet, even in high season. Bring your snorkelling gear, as the glassy turquoise waters boast thoughtfully placed reefs perfect for jumping in for a quick snorkel.

Attractions

The Valley

The Valley, the island's only real town, is the geographic, commercial and political centre of Anguilla. It's a small, rambling area consisting of little more than a bunch of mini-malls, with an administrative relocation to St Kitts in 1825 explaining the lack of colonial architecture.

But there are jewels to be unearthed, such the historical displays of the Anguilla National Trust Museum, the exterior of Wallblake House, and the design of the adjacent church which has a unique decorative stone front, open-air sides and a ceiling shaped like the hull of a ship.

Shoal Bay East

Beach connoisseurs consider Shoal Bay East to be Anguilla's premier strand. On the northeastern side of the island, Shoal Bay East (sometimes called simply Shoal Bay, so don't confuse it with Shoal Bay West) is broad and long with radiant white sands and clear turquoise waters.

It's ideal for swimming, snorkelling and soaking up the sun. To add to its laid-back appeal, there are a couple of small hotels and restaurants on the beach, but virtually no other development in sight. Anguilla's top archaeological site, the Fountain, is nearby.

The digs consist of a huge underground cave containing scores of Amerindian petroglyphs, including a rare stalagmite carving of Jocahu, the Arawak God of Creation.

The Fountain is thought to have been a major regional worship site and a place of pilgrimage for Amerindians. The Fountain is currently a pilgrimage site only for archaeologists, and tourist access is restricted.