EMERALD POOL 
This is a small pool fed by a little waterfall 
which plunges off the edge of a fern-covered 
cliff. This is one of the easiest trails to follow 
and along the way you will see incredible 
examples of tropical flora. The trail to the 
Emerald Pool is accessed on the north of 
the park along the Castle Bruce Road. Part 
of the trail is the route of the old Castle 
Bruce Road laid in 1828 and before 1965 
this was the only land link between Castle 
Bruce and Roseau. There are two lookout 
points along the way where you can see the 
forest from above and look down onto the 
rough sea of the east coast. The beginning 
of the Emerald Pool trail is clearly marked 
along the Castle Bruce road. 
FRESHWATER LAKE 
The Freshwater Lake was dammed and is 
now a reservoir. Accessed from the Laudat 
Village road entrance, it is the source of the 
Roseau River. Many myths have been 
created about the lake including one in 1666 
by an historian who said that a single-eyed 
monster with gem carbuncles lived in it. 
From a lookout above the lake you can see 
the east coast of Rosalie and you can 
continue down into the valley until you come 
to the road leading to the east coast. 
MIDDLEHAM 
FALLS 
The Middleham is a tall, thin fall at the 
bottom of which is a round, clear pool. The 
trail, accessed from the Cochrane village 
road, takes you to the top of the waterfall 
and requires a steep climb down to the pool. 
There are more falls nearby called the Fond 
England Falls but these are less accessible. 
If you wish to go by a different route, the trail 
to Middleham Falls continues on to the 
Laudat road. 
(Research information provided with the kind permission of Lennox Honychurch. 
Cabrits National Park. 
The National Park is 260 hectares of 
pure history. Cabrits, the patois word for 
goats, came about when early explorers 
left live animals behind to breed and 
provide food for future trips. The park is 
surrounded on three sides by the sea and it 
was from this ideal vantage point that the 
British started to build an immense garrison 
in 1770 to defend against the French. 
Between 1770 and 1815 over fifty major 
structures were erected to protect the 
island and the naval vessels at anchor in 
nearby Prince Rupert's Bay. There was one 
fort, seven gun batteries, seven cisterns, 
14 
A B R I TS’ TELL - TAL E i 
Sightseeing at the Cabrits National Park is 
one of the easier tours that Dominica has 
to offer. Depending on how thoroughly you 
want to examine all the 18th century ruins, 
you can see the place in less than a day 
and the gently sloping terrain with well laid 
out pathways makes it a relatively simple 
hike. 
powder magazines, ordnance storehouses, 
barracks and officers' quarters to 
accommodate over 600 men. Built by 
slaves and white artisans from local 
volcanic stone and clay bricks from 
England, the whole thing was cemented 
together with pounded coral limestone and 
bound with water and molasses. 
Most of the buildings are spread out 
over and around the twin peaks of the 
Cabrits peninsula with a concentration of 
important structures located at Fort Shirley. 
The garrison was most active during the 
American War of Independence, the 
French Revolution and the Napoleonic 
Wars. The Battle of the Saints between the 
French and British navies in 1782 
happened within sight of the Cabrits. The 
8th West India Regiment, a unit of negro 
soldiers, rebelled against the conditions at 
Cabrits and took control of the garrison for 
three days. 
Cabrits was abandoned in 1854 and the 
forest crept in to take over the buildings. 
Extensive restoration work has revealed 
many of the important structures and Fort 
Shirley has benefitted from some 
painstaking work. There is also a small 
museum at the fort. Signposts point the 
way to other parts of Cabrits where you'll 
find the Douglas Bay Battery as well as the 
Outer and Inner Cabrits defence sites. 
Entrance to the park is free and in 
addition to all the fascinating artifacts to be 
seen on land, Douglas Bay is a marine 
park and offers some great snorkeling. 
Cabrits is also a popular berth for visiting 
cruise ships and the extensive facilities 
include a souvenir shop. Refreshments 
can be purchased at Prince Rupert's 
Tavern. 
At Cabrits you can go it alone or hire a 
knowledgeable driver from KHATTS or 
Antours to take you around. Ken at 
KFIATTS is a real expert and makes the trip 
an interesting and educational tour. Don't 
forget your swimsuit, snorkeling gear and 
camera. 
