The Baths - day 7 of 10

After finally leaving Leverick Bay/Bitter End we headed south. The veteran BVIers wanted us to see a spectacular geologic beach formation known as The Baths.




The Baths on Virgin Gorda are such a spectacular natural feature that they warrant their own section. The Baths are located at the southern end of Virgin Gorda and they are on their own a good enough reason to visit the island. The Baths are a collection of giant boulders which form spectacular pools and grottos that flood with sea water at high tide.

The hundreds of huge boulders and rock formations are worn smooth by rain and sea water and form a maze that leads to Devil's Bay beach. I've read that The Baths/Devil's Bay beach may be the most popular and visited location in the BVI. After our visit I'm sure of it. The up side being all the little sand dollies scattered about.

The name "baths" comes from the warm sheltered pools of water in and around the rocks which flood at high tide. Large caves and a huge tunnel through one of the boulders is a result of erosion. These features can be explored by visitors clambering inside and underneath the massive granite boulders.

The oldest rocks were thrown together as a result of volcanic eruptions. Newly formed volcanic lava on the seabed over 70 million years ago eventually turned to granite and around 20 million years ago a fault occurred on the seabed and the rocks which we see today were lifted up. The boulders would have been much larger and worn down and rounded by millions of years of erosion from rain, wind and the sea.

The area covered by boulders is around half a mile long and covers the baths itself and neighboring Devil's Bay to the south and Spring Bay and Big Trunk Bay to the north.

Though it seems that most people come from the opposite direction, it's possible to spelunk your way through to the other end (some would say the beginning) where there is a bar. I'm sure that you're familiar with the term "Timing is everything". We were unfortunate enough to be headed through when a bus-load (at least) of tourists came through from the opposite direction. Imagine two rats being driven through a sewer pipe from opposite directions and you'll get some idea of how it was.

There are many areas along the way where there are stairs and/or ropes necessary to get through and when there are 50 people coming from the opposite direction the stream seems endless. You finally have to jump out and demand that your side gets a turn.