Benches and pavilions stand on the grounds of Fort Bennett. Stonehaven Bay lies below you. The view reaches south to Pigeon Point and north to Turtle Beach. Black Rock is a village with a life of its own, and the big hotels sit down by the bay.
- People, 2011 census (CSO community)
- 1,358
- Fort Bennett laid out
- 1680
- Rum bars in the village
- 2
- Coast
- Caribbean side
Rough Guides describes Black Rock as a lively, friendly village with two rum bars and several grocery shops. Robert Bennet laid out the fort in 1680. How many people live here depends on how you count. The CSO community of Black Rock had 1,358 residents in the 2011 census, while Wikidata gives 1,923 because it includes the neighbouring Mt. Irvine/Black Rock community. In 2023 the village hosted the beach volleyball of the Commonwealth Youth Games.
At Stonehaven Bay, also called Grafton Beach, the sand is coarse. The surf can be very strong, the tourism agency warns, with dangerous currents. Rough Guides, on the other hand, calls the swimming good. Leatherback turtles nest here, from March to June according to the tourism agency, from March to August according to Rough Guides. And the southern end of Turtle Beach is reached by side roads from Black Rock.
Getting there, sleeping, eating
- Getting there
- Shared taxis run from Scarborough to Black Rock (Wikivoyage). Side roads lead from the village to the southern end of Turtle Beach.
- Sleeping
- Two large hotels on Stonehaven Bay (Rough Guides). Which places our booking partner lists here is on the accommodation page.
- Eating
- Two rum bars and several grocery shops in the village (Rough Guides), and a beach restaurant run by the two hotels on Stonehaven Bay (tourism agency, as of 2020).
- Sights
- Fort Bennett with benches, pavilions and a view along the coast.
- Turtles
- Stonehaven Bay and Turtle Beach are leatherback nesting sites. More on the turtles of Tobago page.
Our tipAt Stonehaven Bay stay close to the shore and swim at the northern end. According to the tourism agency the water is calmest there.
Black Rock: frequently asked questions
How many people live in Black Rock?
It depends on how you count. The CSO community of Black Rock had 1,358 residents in the 2011 census, while Wikidata gives 1,923 because it adds the neighbouring Mt. Irvine/Black Rock community.
What is Fort Bennett in Black Rock?
Fort Bennett is a fortification above Stonehaven Bay laid out by Robert Bennet in 1680. Today it has benches and pavilions, with a view as far as Pigeon Point and Turtle Beach.
Can you swim at Stonehaven Bay near Black Rock?
Yes, but carefully. The tourism agency warns of strong surf and dangerous currents at Stonehaven Bay and advises staying close to the shore and at the calmer northern end.
When do leatherback turtles nest near Black Rock?
At Stonehaven Bay near Black Rock leatherbacks nest from March to June according to the tourism agency, and from March to August according to Rough Guides. For Turtle Beach both give March to August.