ENJOYING THE JAMAICAN OUTDOORS - Salubrious Newcastle, St Andrew, Jamaica

 Joan Williams, Contributor

Newcastle, nestled in the Blue and John Crow Mountain range, is built on a prime site at 4,200 feet above sea level. It is one of the nearest, easiest and most scenic places above the city of Kingston to visit to recharge one's batteries, get far from the maddening crowd, breathe good unpolluted mountain air, enjoy a change of climate, or just let it all hang out.

I really love the mountains overlooking Kingston and St Andrew. In fact, without even going there, I often feel extremely comforted each morning when I get up and see those lush, protective mountains hovering in the east. Protective, I say, as they act as a natural and very important buffer every hurricane season, protecting the capital city from severe devastation.

The actual compound known as Newcastle was established as a military base by the British in 1841, shortly after they beat their colonial subjects into submission in what was described as the Christmas rebellion, which led to the total emancipation of our ancestors. The idea of the hill station was conceptualised by Field Marshall William Gomm, who pointed out that while Up Park Camp was an ideal location for a barracks, it made soldiers more susceptible to the ravages of yellow fever. Death from yellow fever was not entirely averted at Newcastle, however, for soldiers still died there, but not to the extent that they fell victim to the epidemic on the plains, and the well-kept white tombstones in the military graveyard there gives us an idea of the toll.

Newcastle today remains a training centre for the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF), so when you visit or pass through the area, you are liable to see recruits in training, in full uniform in the main square or just relaxing near their poorly maintained barracks.

WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE

As you enter the main square, you see the wall above the cannons, covered with the insignia of the different regiments that have visited or resided there since inception.

When I speak of going to Newcastle, though, I am not speaking about visiting the burial ground or the barracks but the entire general surroundings, for once you start to climb, the view of the city, the mist-covered mountains, the gorgeous wild flowers, huge pine trees, calming bamboo plants, and even raspberries which we nibble on (when in season) as we ride or hike, make it a wonderful experience each and every time.

I can recall the first time riding up what seemed, at the time, an insurmountable hill with other friends from Fun and Thrills Adventure Club. I really never thought I could make it to the top, but after more than four hours and many rest and water stops, like Obama with his "Yes, I can" philosophy, I finally made it.

Newcastle lies on the Kingston to Buff Bay road within the Blue Mountain National Park. When hiking from Gordon Town, you get to discover the numerous villages, farms and trails that criss-cross the lower section of the range.

The main road to Newcastle is also one of the most scenic routes you will find anywhere in the Caribbean, although the road is narrow, winding and sometimes bushes protrude into the road as the JDF apparently no longer maintains that stretch. However, the banks are covered with ferns and huge trees as well as delicate wildflowers, ginger lilies and ground orchids which are always in bloom and the sound and sight of small waterfalls are intermittent and welcome. The air is also fresh and crisp, and while I estimate that in Newcastle it is always at least 10-15 degrees cooler than anywhere in Kingston or St Andrew, the view of Kingston and the surrounding hills is to die for.

The Forestry Department, an excellent division of government, maintains many well-defined trails into these areas, and from time to time they organise hikes from different locations in Kingston, to the hills. Their forest treks are well coordinated, fun and reasonably priced.

No Jamaican nor visitor to Kingston, therefore, has any excuse not to visit that scenic and invigorating area close to the capital, and I guarantee that once you do, you will become quickly addicted to the area, as I have.

Joan Williams, co-host of Justice on Power 106, describes herself as an unapologetic addict to the Jamaican outdoors. A foundation member of Fun and Thrills Adventure Club, she explores the island at any given opportunity cycling, hiking or swimming with that group, family, Jah 3 and anyone else who will have her. In 1995, she published the popular 'Tour Jamaica' and the fourth edition is now an ebook available at;http://www.amazon.com/Tour-Jamaica-Joan-Williams-ebook/dp/B00EJWCSHS/ref... gratestj@gmail.com.