Any sports fan with ambitions of owning an international property may well be tipped over the edge by Apes Hill - a golf club and community in Barbados, that incredibly loveable paradise that is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands.
Reopened under new ownership in 2023, Apes Hill has now become one of the most desirable places to live on the island, with a new course, a new community approach and a new emphasis on sustainable living.
The properties are as stunning as the course, but to live at Apes Hill is to be part of a forward-thinking environment that is uniquely attuned to the natural world. That famous Barbados hospitality is of course present, but even on our 4 day visit it was apparent that here was a special place, where you can’t help but believe in the benefits of breathing the pure air of the Atlantic Tradewinds.
It was hurricane season – September – when we had our trip out there, but actually hurricanes are a rarity out here, and it seems the off season weather amounts to occasional impressive downfalls before it gets back to the real Barbados business of glorious sunshine and cool breezes. It was on one of thesedays that we had a tour of the Apes Hill properties.
Our first stop was at what turned out to be our favourite property. Called Moondust, it is a beautifully put together home designed over one floor which has an incredible feel to the place, both homely and sociable.
Newly finished, it is on the market for £3.1 million which feels very reasonable for something this spectacular (if you have a certain level of wealth that is). Moondust has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, an office, and at the centre of this lovely flowing space over 4,856 sq ft is a huge open plan living room and kitchen which leads out onto an outdoor area with swimming pool. One look around here and me and my partner were already settling in and planning ways to get our personal fortunes above zilch.
Moondust is available to buy (we’ll race to you it), but the way it generally works at Apes Hill is for buyers is to select one of the lots on the massive site, and then build your house on it. Most people tend to choose one of the designs Apes Hill offers and then give them a little tweak according to personal taste and needs.
We took a look at a couple of designs in various stages of completion, the Windswept and the Dreamcatcher.
Dreamcatchers are over 6580 sq ft, two floors and four bedrooms, including a stunning master bedroom. The benefit of two floors is obviously the further elevation is gives you for the view, which cannot be over-estimated as a selling point. During our stay, we spent approximately 50 per cent of the time photographing the view of the sea, which hosted some spectacular sunsets. Again, the outdoor space here is the big deal.
The Windswept villa we stepped inside was not fully finished but again, the formula of clean modern design, huge amounts of natural light and an emphasis on showcases the breathtaking views from the hill, are hard to beat.
Yes, golfers will be in heaven. We woke up each morning - in our Courtyard Villa, which holidaymakers can hire out - to views over course, and it truly is one of, if not the, most stunning on the island, making the most of its elevated position 1000ft above sea level, to offer incredible views across the island, including Hole Twelve where you have views of both the west coast and the Caribbean Sea, and the east coast and the Atlantic. Indeed one of the benefits of Apes Hill is the way it balances contemporary luxury with rugged charm nudges the Scotland district down to the east, which looks a bit like the Highlands but is actually, remarkably, a mountain range that was once underwater - the rock here is made of coral.
Such natural splendor also requires you to avoid the monkeys on the course who like to sit and watch you play.
Membership for the course comes from owning a property, meaning purchasing a place here comes with serious benefits.
But Apes Hill goes way beyond golf. The 475 acres of land that makes up Apes Hill are all about sustainability, the preservation and promotion of the natural land. The entire project is about integrating luxury with the environment and guests and residents are encouraged to experiences the natural side, not just on the courses but with their gully nature trails, the on-site reservoir where you can fish, and just by embracing the outdoors life which is enhanced by a plant and flowers nursery. Tasting their home-grown produce as part of their increasing farm-to-fork at the clubhouse restaurants, is just the most obvious example of a place putting responsibility together with wellbeing.
Developments to come are a new gym, plus a children’s club to ensure a much more rounded experience for the generations who will be visiting. Of course the Padel courts will remain see a lot of the action but things are moving on several fronts, for those whose kicks don’t involve sport.
While the west coast beach remains a big deal for visitors, and a two hour float in the warm waters of the Caribbean certainly dissolves away all London stresses, really Barbados offers a hell of a lot more than that. Fun as hell Barbados may be, but it rewards a deeper approach, one attuned to life and nature here – Apes Hill are leading the way in this. As a place to buy internationally, you can’t get much better.
