Princess Margaret Trail In Bequia Damaged and Out of Use

By Admin. Updated 4:28 p.m., Friday, August 16, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

Action Bequia says that the Princess Margaret Beach Trail is out of use due to damage sustained by Hurricane Beryl.

The trail is a popular trail in the Grenadine island of Bequia.

In a Facebook post, Action Bequia which built the trail said damage sustained to the trail from Hurricane Beryl include the destruction of the newly repaired overwater section of The Princess Margaret Trail.

“Unfortunately, this has resulted in many using the cliff-side path instead. The original signs warning of the dangers of doing so were ripped away by the hurricane but our stance remains the same, and even more so,” Action Bequia said.

“Much like the recent landslide at Moonhole, this unstable cliff is a potential disaster waiting to happen (recent heavy rainfall has substantially increased this possibility),” the organization said.

Action Bequia said actions will be taken to replace warning signs in the area and that people must desist from using the trail.

“Replacement warning signs will be installed soon but we urge all to stop using this cliff-side route immediately! In addition, new signs will be placed at the Plantation and Jack’s Bar ends of the Trail indicating that the entire Trail is closed and will remain so for everyone’s safety until repairs to the 300 yard overwater section has been completed,” the organization said.

This is the second time in recent years that the trail has been closed after the impact of a natural disaster.

According to Searchlight Newspaper, in 2014, the creation of a hiking trail starting from the end of the beach in front of Bequia Plantation Hotel and extending around the headland towards Princess Margaret Beach was Action Bequia’s lead project. Unfortunately, the original offshore section of this trail was badly damaged by subsequent storms and as a result a new route adjacent to the cliff was established which functioned effectively for several years.

“However, in 2022, due to rock falls from parts of the cliff, the need to distance from these dangerous cliffside sections and re-establish the offshore route became apparent,” Searchlight Newspaper reported.

That task was completed in September 2023.