BARBADOS


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or most visitors to Barbados, an introduction to the island’s culture may come in the form of a deliciously sweet rum «ÕnVh] Ìhi ÕnmiÃÌ>k>Lli Ãmill ov > wÃh vÀÞ oÀ the rousing beat of calypso music – but for us, our brush with Bajan tradition involves a workshop, red clay and a fair amount of mess. We’re at Hamilton’s Pottery in the parish of St Thomas, where local potter Hamilton Wiltshire is giving us a masterclass in clay craftmanship. Following his expert lead, we each have a go at throwing pots, which – after our creations collapse and we end up wearing most of Ìhi Vl>Þ q V>n VonwÀm ià much harder than it looks. Our lack of success in becoming sculpting specialists, however, does little to dampen my mood. Our visit to Hamilton’s Pottery, where raw earth sourced from the island’s Scotland District is transformed into one-of-a-kind ceramic pieces, serves as a proud symbol of traditional Bajan artistry – and a formidable reminder of how much this well-loved isle has to uncover.


Hotel hotspots There’s no denying that part of the appeal of Barbados lies in its sought-after collection of high-end resorts, many of which are nestled on the island’s west coast. It is here, among platinum sands and palms whispering in the gentle breeze, that our home for the next three days can be found. Colony Club,


a Luxury Collection Resort, Barbados has recently undergone a series of renovations that saw it reopen in July last year as the wÀÃÌ ÕÝÕÀÞ olliVÌion «Ào«iÀÌÞ vÀom


International on the island. With 96 rooms and suites, the resort


Part of Barbados’s appeal lies in its sought-after collection of high-end


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resorts, many of which are nestled on the west coast


effortlessly weaves elegant design touches with authentic Bajan hospitality, offering garden-to-table dinners and beachfront rum tastings, as well as four pools and a swim-up bar, all cocooned by expansive shrouds of tropical greenery. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts also has an enviable stake in the island, namely with its Royal Pavilion property, which has stood proudly on a half-mile stretch of the soft white sands of Alleynes Bay for more than three decades. It’s here we spend oÕÀ wÀÃÌ iÛinin}] Ìhi ÀiÃoÀ̽Ã


Palm Terrace providing the perfect


backdrop for a sumptuous four-course dinner accompanied by the sound of softly lapping waves just steps away. Elsewhere, landscapes don’t get more lush than at Apes Hill. A vast expanse of greenery that houses everything from acres of fruit trees to a championship golf course; what this inland property lacks in beach >VViÃà iÌ m>kià ի voÀ in iÝ«iÀiinVið ÕiÃÌà are invited to join nature walks, yoga classes and padel sessions, or simply to relax in one of the fully serviced villas – the most lavish of which are the four-bedroom Hilltop Villas that opened last year.


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OPPOSITE: FIRST ROW: Bathsheba Beach; masterclass at Hamilton’s Pottery SECOND ROW: Villa Oasis at Apes Hill; writer Lucy Huxley tries her hand at pottery; Local & Co restaurant THIRD ROW: Fairmont Royal Pavilion FOURTH ROW: Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown; Colony Club, a Luxury Collection Resort, Barbados PREVIOUS PAGE: Sunset over St James Credits: -hÕÌÌiÀÃÌoVkÉƂn`Ài>Ã 6o}il] wÛiÌonini]


>Àio >}in] ,oLiÀÌ >À`in} 6i`ioÆ iki /oÞÆ 86 ASPIRE JANUARY 2026 À>h>m illi aspiretravelclub.co.uk


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