For those seeking a peaceful escape surrounded by breathtaking scenery, the countryside beyond Rock Hall, St. Andrew, towards Sligoville offers the ideal picnic spot. With lush green landscapes, towering hills, and scattered wildflowers, this hidden gem provides a serene retreat from the bustling city. Pack a picnic basket, take a leisurely drive, and enjoy the fresh air and picturesque views in one of Jamaica’s most charming natural settings.

Published Thursday, March 6, 1975 

Intriguing territory beyond Rock Hall

Though Mr. Vincent Campbell and I have visited literally several hundred “Jamaica Places” over the years for this regular, continuing series here in THE DAILY GLEANER, until the other day, for some reason, we had never continued along the road beyond Rock Hall, in St. Andrew, towards Sligoville, in the parish of St. Catherine. This, we found on our leisurely exploratory trek, brought us into an absolutely fascinating and rather spectacular part of the island’s countryside!
The roadway is of remarkably good quality and takes one through a sparsely populated district, with only very scattered small homes and plots of the diverse agricultural products which are characteristic of this part of Jamaica. On all sides rise hills, several of these of considerable elevation, such as Pike Mountain, more than two thousand feet high, and nearer Sligoville itself, Montpelier, more than seventy-four hundred feet high. For the botanically or horticulturally inclined, a climb up some of these hills is fascinating. And I must say, a rather rugged experience since their slopes are often steep, and the narrow trails, which traverse them, are even in these drought-stricken times, somewhat slick in their surfaces.
As seen in the accompanying photograph, splendid big trumpet trees, of the genus Cecropia, abound in many parts of this landscape. I always found it interesting that the trunks and major branches of this common, handsome tree of the Fig family, which are hollow, do not contain the most vicious, biting, fire ants which inhabit the same species in almost all other parts of its range throughout Tropical America.
There are frequent clumps of showy bromeliads, or wild pines, growing both in the trees and on the rocky hillsides, especially towards the summits of these forested peaks, and we were pleased to locate a grand colony of one of our rarer ground orchids, set with graceful wand-like sprays of rich purple buds, which would soon expand into their elegant glory.
Journeying along in the direction of Sligoville, we passed across the way from a deep valley, and saw, on the other side, an especially handsome grassy sward upon which browsed and pranced several magnificent boars. What a grand and memorable sight – just the sort of totally unexpected thing which Mr. Campbell and I have found in so many of the different parts of Jamaica, which add so much to one's travels around and about.
A Visit
If your budget can afford the cost of the necessary gasoline, then please consider a visit, at your earliest convenience, to this utterly intriguing sector near the boundaries of St. Andrew and St. Catherine, beyond the pleasant small community of Rock Hall. Take your time, perhaps take along a picnic lunch, and enjoy some of the most pleasant scenery to be found within easy reach of the sadly dry Corporate Area.
Mr. John T. M. Girvan, of Kingston 10, has kindly written to me regarding my article on St. Ann's Bay, published in these “Jamaica Places” columns on February 20. Mr. Girvan states:
"I normally read your column on Jamaica Places with a great deal of satisfaction, as I am well acquainted with towns and places of interest in Jamaica. In today's issue of THE GLEANER, the town St. Ann’s Bay is featured, and the article is, as usual, very interesting.
“However, it is a great pity that the powers that be have neglected the building to such an extent that, in your article, it was necessary for you to mention, and I quote, ‘The Court House at St. Ann’s Bay is an attractive, though somewhat derelict, building.’ As far as I know, this courthouse was listed as one of the historic sites of the island, and I personally grieve to see the condition of this building.
“The St. Ann's Bay Court House was built by my great-grandfather, John Girvan, and was completed in 1866. There is no other building that I know of in Jamaica that has the Scales of Justice in the manner shown on this building.”

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