The cannons
Facing the water.
georama — CC BY 3.0 · georama — CC BY 3.0 · JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD — CC BY-SA 3.0 · David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada — CC BY 2.0 · georama — CC BY 3.0 · José Anjo — Public domain
Fort James is a small 18th-century fort on a rocky headland at the mouth of St John's Harbour, the capital of Antigua. Old iron cannons on their carriages look over turquoise water, with low stone walls and a sandy beach below. The fort was built to guard the entrance to St John's Harbour, its guns facing incoming ships. Early 20th-century pictures show cannons lined up along the wall and a garrison building. Today the wall, some of the cannons and stone ruins remain. You walk the path between the cannons along the rock edge, looking over the harbour, small islands and cruise ships in the distance. Below the fort is a beach where townspeople swim. The place is quiet and open, and loveliest late in the day. The fort is 2.3 km in a straight line north-west of central St John's. Entry is free. The edge is high and unfenced in places, so watch children.
Facing the water.
On the rock edge.
Below the fort.
Headland at the mouth of St John's Harbour, north-west of town
Yes.
Yes, with care near the high edge.