Saint Helena Things to Do

  With friends in Half Tree Hollow
by AlettaCrofton
 
  • With friends in Half Tree Hollow
      With friends in Half Tree Hollow
    by AlettaCrofton
  • Standing on Jacob's Ladder
      Standing on Jacob's Ladder
    by AlettaCrofton
  • With friends in Levelwood
      With friends in Levelwood
    by AlettaCrofton
  • Walking down Lemon Valley to the fishing waters
      Walking down Lemon Valley to the fishing...
    by AlettaCrofton
  • Mervyn and friends
      Mervyn and friends
    by AlettaCrofton
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Climb Jacob's Ladder in Jamestown

by AlettaCrofton

I would suggest you rather climb UP the ladder from Jamestown to Ladder Hill, Half-Tree-Hollow. I walked down the ladder and could not walk for two days!The ladder was built in 1829 and consists of 699 steps!

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Go and see Napoleon's House in Longwood

by AlettaCrofton

Longwood House This was Napoleon's last residence where he spent the final six years of his life. The property is now a Museum and maintained by the Government of France; the house is filled with Napoleonic memorabilia.

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Visit Jonathan, the world's oldest tortoise

by AlettaCrofton

At Plantation house on the lawns you will find him. When I sat down next to him and looked into his one eye (the other eye is covered with a cateract) - we immediately "bonded".I held his head on my hand and stroke his neck. He is so tame. He has such personality. Don't miss a visit to this magnificent animal.They say in his young days Jonathan used to scare many a lady visiting Plantation house for a tea part on the lawns, by pulling her chair over!

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Circumnavigate the island in a motor boat

by AlettaCrofton

Although we did not do this, were were often invited to join friends as they take tourists on a trip around the island in an outboard motor boat.Saints will show you all the places of interest around the coast of the island.And you are bound to stop at Lemon Valley for a swim and a picnic.You may even see dolphins swimming next to the boat.

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Walk to the island's highest point: Diana's Peak

by AlettaCrofton

Everyone was very keen for us to walk up Diana's Peak and eventually uncle Vernie agreed to accompany us. When he picked us up in his 1950 chev he told us that we could not wait until the next day, because the rain was coming and would make it impossible for us to walk up.We walked over lush fields of soft grass, through flax bushes and slowly made our way up to the highest point from where uncle Vernie pointed out the famous rocks named ass' ears and Lot and Lot's wife.On top of the peak there was a little wooden "post box" with a book and stamp which visitors can use to stamp as a remembrance the words "I was on Diana's Peak".As we returned to the car, the rain came. But fortunately uncle Vernie's wife, aunty Doreen, had thick vegetable soup with dumplings waiting on her open wood-fire stove in the kitchen.From that day onwards the rain did not stop for at least two weeks. So CHECKTHE...

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Go fishing with the locals

by AlettaCrofton

We were invited by George and his two children to walk down to Lemon Valley where they showed us how to fish with home made fishing rods. They caught huge fish - the names escape me - as well as eel - which is very popular on the island.Another time we walked with friends the precarious path to Lot's Ponds where we fished from the rocks under uncle Vernie's supervision while the rest of the men went over the rocks to catch eels.For anyone keen on fishing, St Helena Island is the place to be!

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The Archives

by MikeAtSea

The records at the Archives are among the finest in the world; some dating back to the year 1673. They provide valuable information for historical and genealogical research and are accessible by visitors without charge. However for those persons living abroad, the custodians will research information for a small fee of £1.50 per hour subject to a minimum charge of £20.00.

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The Valley of the Tomb

by MikeAtSea

Napoleon died on 5th May 1821. His funeral took place on 9th May and he was laid to rest in this valley. This position was chosen by Napoleon himself during a walk in the cool valley.His tomb remains there to this day although his body was later exhumed and taken to France. The twelve cypress trees that once surrounded the tomb were planted in 1840 in memory of Napoleon's twelve great victories. The Norfolk pines were planted when France became the owner of the valley, the olive tree was planted by the Prince of Wales in 1925, and the wild olive was planted by Prince Phillip in 1957. In 1921 an olive tree was planted in the name of Marshall Foch to mark the centenary of the death of Napoleon. Three other trees commemorate the visits of the "Jeanne d'Arc" in 1935, 1958 and 1963.

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The Briars Pavilion

by MikeAtSea

Napoleon resided in this property from 17 October 1815 to 10th December 1815. The Briars estate at that time belonged to the Balcombe family. By a strange coincidence Arthur Wellesley, later to become the Duke of Wellington, had stayed at this place during a short stop at St Helena

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Longwood House

by MikeAtSea

The French possessions on St Helena comprise Longwood House and its gardens, the Valley of the Tomb and The Briars Pavilion. They are managed by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 1858, the year when the French acquired two of the properties, namely Longwood House and The Valley of the Tomb, a French representative has always lived on the island.Napoleon lived in this house until he died. He died on 5 May 1821 and was interred in the Valley of the Tomb on 9 May 1821. Nineteen years later on 15 October his remains were exhumed and taken to France on the ship "La Belle-Poulle". His body was then laid to rest in Les Invalides in Paris.

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  I have a Visa to St Helena and I am worried on how to leave Nigeria for St Helena, since it has no airport. I was told I could go... 

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A: I am sorry this is a travel forum - we have no way of being able to check a visa for you. We give advice, if we can, about traveling. Transport, hotels, stuff like... 

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