TORTOLA'S WEST END |
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Surrounded by small mountains like Frenchman's Cay seen above, Soper's Hole imparts a great sense of place and physical intimacy. At the same time, its opening to a sea of islands stirs an alluring anticipation of coming adventure. |
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Jolly
Roger Inn.![]() The
Jolly Roger Inn
(495-4559) is also a good choice for dinner (see menu for their
sumptuous outsize deserts) or just a pizza outing. |
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Soper's Hole Wharf & |
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Land
Touring Take the next right for Soper's Hole Wharf and the next left for Kelly's and Frenchman's Cay resort.
Shopping Tour The shopping area is quite compact and nicely designed. The dock along the water interconnects the whole Wharf area. Taxis |
![]() Shops.
The Sea Urchin (495-4850) specializes in island and beach wear from sandals and sun dresses to island-print shirts and swimsuits as well as travel luggage and sun protection items like sunglasses, sunscreen and hats and boating needs such as deck shoes, snorkeling gear, disposable cameras, floating mattresses, seasickness pills--you name it!
More provisions are available from Ample Hamper Too at Frenchman's Cay marina. Serenity Spa offers massages, yoga, acupuncture, manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing and body treatments. Other shops include Ice Cream Delight (495-4013) with hand-dipped ice cream, bars and sodas, Culture Classic (495-4367) with clothing such as sarongs in all styles, hats, shoes and various souvenirs such as mobiles and bamboo charms, BVI Apparel Factory Outlet (494-5511) with clothing, t-shirts, and embroidering service, Latitude 18 with clothing and gifts, and Pusser's Landing offers clothing, Pusser's famous rum and nautical gifts at its company store. Hucksters has West Indian fine art and artifacts as well as maps, prints and gifts. |
The Blue Parrot Cafe, open for breakfast and lunch, doubles as a coffee shop. Upstairs, don't miss Maurice Handler's photography studio. Pisces Nearby is De Best Cup coffee shop with internet access..
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Cruising Soper's Hole. A good practice coming into any anchorage is to take a slow boat tour of the sights and check out your next water neighborhood. In this case the route is in the shape of a large "U" with deep water at the entrance, although there may be a tidal current of up to 3 knots. Motor or sail along the Tortola shore, giving plenty of room to the busy ferry dock (it's best to dinghy into customs). Next you'll pass the best anchoring areas in the northeast in 20-35' on a sandy bottom (much of the harbour is 60-70' deep), while leaving a traffic lane along the shore. |
Boat Dock Tour |
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Panorama
to Bay at Frenchman's Cay |
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Dinghy
Adventure The drive to The Wharf along the dinghy channel has intimate views to a thin layer of mangroves on the water side. |
On around the
"U" to the far right is the narrow dinghy channel under a low bridge to the bay
beyond (as shown in the above collage). On the Frenchman's Cay shore are two long
piers with a dinghy dock in between at Pusser's Landing for Soper's Hole Wharf.
Moorings are available offshore in this area as well as off the West End Slipway, a 200
ton railway for hauling large boats up into the yard (so keep clear). Nearby
Bay Groceries. Kelly's Restaurant. Kelly's Bayside Inn. |
Wildlife Watching.
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The name of a small,
lovely island that forms the "inland sea" shore of Soper's Hole,
Frenchman's Cay is the location of most of the activities at Soper's Hole
as well as Kelly's on the bay side and its namesake Frenchman's Cay Resort at its Channel point. The Clubhouse restaurant, at the Frenchman's Cay Resort (formerly The Watermark), has an Asian/ French fusion cuisine similar to The Dove in Road Town, its sister restaurant. Try whelk (escargot) baked in mushroom caps with garlic-lemon butter, Lobster Coquillage simmered in a saffron broth and Chocolate Mousse Cr�pes. Also popular is the Sunday buffet and the �Build Your Own� mojito happy hour. |
Land Touring
A great place for some moonlight madness in the tropics! |
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For information on Frenchman's Cay Resort, see Where to Stay on Tortola under Soper's Hole. | ||
Guide | BVI Map | Island Central |
Useful Info |
Honeymoons | Transport |
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