Cabrits National Park, Dominica:
Fort Shirley & Coastal Trails

Cabrits National Park sits on a wooded promontory just north of Portsmouth, where two extinct volcanic peaks rise straight out of the Caribbean Sea. The park covers 1,300 acres including a small marine reserve and the restored remains of an 18th-century British military complex. It's the cultural and historical counterpart to Dominica's nature parks: as much about colonial history, the slave trade, and a notable 1802 mutiny as it is about views and trails.

For most visitors, "Cabrits" effectively means Fort Shirley, the most-restored of the buildings. But the trails around the fort are good and the views from the walls are some of the best on the island.

Why visit

Three reasons:

• The history. Fort Shirley and the surrounding garrison structures tell a remarkable colonial story, including the 1802 Eighth West India Regiment Mutiny, when African soldiers rebelled against their British commanders and forced the empire to grant them their freedom and the same status as European troops. It's one of the most consequential events in Caribbean military history.
• The views. The fort sits ~150 m above the sea on the Cabrits promontory, with sightlines down to Prince Rupert Bay, across to Portsmouth, and on a clear day all the way north to Guadeloupe.
• The walks. Several short trails run around the fort and through the surrounding forest, none strenuous. Worth combining with the fort visit.

"A cultural must-see. It shows the story of colonisation and Indigenous people. The fort is in good condition and the views from the walls are amazing. Get a shot next to the cannons. The trails around the fort aren't strenuous but they're worth a look."

Drew

Fort Shirley

The headline attraction within the park, the British garrison built between 1770 and 1815. Originally a military complex of over 50 buildings, abandoned in 1854, swallowed by forest for over a century, and progressively restored from the 1980s onwards by Dominican historian Lennox Honychurch.

What's open today:

• The restored barracks with cannons set in their original positions on the walls.
• The Officers' Quarters, now a museum.
• The Powder Magazine and other military structures.
• A reconstructed slave village below the fort, recognising the African labour that built the complex.

Fee: covered by your Site Pass. Allow at least an hour to walk through the restored sections. See the dedicated Fort Shirley page for the full historical context.

The trails

Three main walks within the park:

• The fort circuit is a 30 to 45 minute loop around the restored walls and lower buildings. Easy walking on stone paths and short flights of steps.
• The East Cabrit trail climbs up the smaller of the two peaks. About 30 to 40 minutes round trip, with views back over the fort and the bay. Some uneven ground.
• The West Cabrit trail climbs the larger peak. About 60 to 75 minutes round trip, more elevation, slightly more challenging. Views from the summit clearing on a good day reach Guadeloupe.

None of the trails are strenuous compared to Dominica's interior hikes. Wear trail shoes or trail runners with grip; the trails are dry-ish but the stone paths in the fort are slick when wet.

The Cabrits Marine Section

A small marine reserve around the promontory, less famous than the Soufriere–Scotts Head Marine Reserve in the south but still worth a snorkel if you have time. Coral, schools of small reef fish, and the occasional turtle.

Most divers won't make Cabrits their priority dive day. Most snorkellers will skip it unless they're already at the park for the fort. See snorkelling in Dominica for site comparisons.

Cost and access

• Site Pass required to enter the fort and trails: US$5 day, US$12 week, US$40 annual.
• Parking is free at the park entrance.
• Mobile signal is decent at the lower fort, patchy on the trails.
• Toilets and a small café at the visitor centre.

Getting there

• From Portsmouth: ~5 minutes by car or a 30-minute walk along the bay.
• From Roseau: ~1 hour by car along the west coast road.
• Public transport: shared minibuses run between Roseau and Portsmouth regularly. From Portsmouth, the park is a short taxi ride or a 30-minute walk.

Pair with

A north-coast day works well as:

1. Morning Indian River boat trip.
2. Lunch in Portsmouth.
3. Afternoon at Cabrits and Fort Shirley.

If you have more time, add a swim at Mero Beach or Batibou Beach on the way back to Roseau.