Jamestown is the capital of the remote island of St Helena, situated in the South Atlantic Ocean. This

Georgian seaport nestles in a deep valley and retains a remarkable heritage; a 500- year history waiting to be discovered. The town’s streets echo with impressions recalling the past – Napoleon walked this way as did the Duke of Wellington, Captain Bligh, Edmund Halley, Charles Darwin and Captain James Cook. Jamestown’s overwhelming texture tells of colonial conquest, slavery, imperialist ideals, the age of sailing ships, war and exile. Jamestown has a unique quality; it’s a town which brings

the past boldly into the present.

One of the best ways to tackle walking on St Helena is to start with the Post Box Walks, devised by the St Helena Nature Conservation Group (SNCG). With quirky names such as Lot’s Wife’s Ponds, Sharks Valley and Flagstaff, these walks cover some of the most scenic and untouched parts of the

island. The 21 walks are rated on a difficulty scale of 1 to 10.

At the end of each walk is a post box containing an ink stamp and a visitors’ book. Many of the less strenuous walks are scattered throughout St Helena’s lush interior whilst the more challenging are in the coastal zone which are often on steep, narrow tracks with loose surfaces. The more arduous walks are not for the faint-hearted and walks rated 5/10 and above should only be attempted in the company of an experienced guide.

A “Post Box Walks of St Helena” booklet is available from the Tourist Office and provides detailed descriptions, maps and points of interest.

Plantation House is open for house tours. The tour takes visitors on a viewing of both the ground and first floor, with a look at Jonathan and his companions through the Tortoise Corridor ending with a complimentary cup of tea or St Helena coffee (guests can also purchase cream scones/cakes and souvenirs).

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and children are welcome, provided they are accompanied by an adult. It is possible to view the tortoises at any time along the Tortoise Corridor, located below Plantation House.

Plantation House Library is also available for visitors to enjoy the large volumes of books available for their reading pleasure.

St Helena coffee and tea is available next to the fireplace under the carved marble mantelpiece. For more information on booking a tour or visiting the Library, please contact the Tourist Office.

Nearly 750 marine species have so far been recorded, with at least 50 of those being endemic. Divers and snorkelers will encounter a vast array of marine life including fish (of which 16 species are endemic) and various invertebrates including sea slugs and anemones (about 40 of which are endemic). Green and Hawksbill turtles are often seen and visits from devil rays are not uncommon. The island also has resident populations of Pantropical Spotted, Bottlenose and Rough-toothed dolphin and is seasonally visited by a number of transient species, including Humpback whales which can be spotted from June to December.

One of St Helena’s greatest attractions is its unique culture. The friendliness of the people; the feeling that one has stepped back in time to an era where greeting passers-by and chatting on the side of the road is a way of life; a great sense of community and pride in traditions and customs – these are

but a few of the reasons why visitors to St Helena become enchanted with this rocky outcrop in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. Saint-ness is experienced with all of the senses, be it the taste of delicious local fishcakes, the wafting aroma of a cup of premium St Helena coffee, the sounds of a

local band drifting up from the Wharf, the vibrant colours of a local parade or the straining of mind and muscle as you race up Jacob’s Ladder. Want to be a Saint? Here’s how to speak like a Saint, eat like a Saint, dance and sing like a Saint, celebrate like a Saint and even greet and drive like a Saint.

St Helena’s built heritage provides a significant legacy of historic buildings, fortifications and monuments, including what has been described as “the quintessential Atlantic port”, Jamestown.