Nevis Golf

Those of you who are keen on a bit of Golf will be pleasantly stunned to know that Nevis has an absolute cracker of a course. The 18 hole championship golf course at The Four Seasons Resort, Nevis, is the only Robert Trent Jones II design in the Caribbean and received a 1998-99 Gold Medal from Golf Magazine. Condé Nast in 1997 rated the resort one of the world's Top 50 Best Golfing Resorts. Not surprising with the majestic Mount Nevis towering into the mist above the course and the white sand beach lying at its base. Intelligent design of this 6,766 yard course caters to all skill levels - one notable Championship Tee Option involves a 240 yard carry across a deep ravine. Enough to even make a pro stop, squint and assess.

Also, wonderful tennis is available at the Hermitage and at the Four Seasons.

Other wonderful activities include equestrian adventures, history and wildlife hikes and other Caribbean experiences.

The following information will help you to plan your Nevis Activities while staying at Bacchus Field:

Biking

Windsurfing Nevis (Oualie Beach, Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis. PHONE: 869/469-9682, www.mountainbikenevis.com) offers mountain-bike rentals as well as specially tailored tours on its state-of-the-art Gary Fisher, Trek, and Specialised bikes. The tours ($50-$55), led by Winston Crooke, a master windsurfer and competitive bike racer, encompass lush rain forest, majestic ruins, and spectacular views. Rates vary according to itinerary and ability level but are aimed generally at experienced riders. Winston and his team delight in sharing local knowledge, from history to culture. For those just renting, Winston and Reggie determine your performance level and suggest appropriate routes.

Daysails

Sea Nevis Charters (Tamarind Bay, Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis. PHONE: 869/469-9239) offers its 44-foot Sea Dreamer for snorkeling and island sunset cruises. Capt. Les Windley takes you to less trammeled sites and is a font of information on marine life.

Diving & Snorkeling

The Devil's Caves are a series of grottos where divers can navigate tunnels, canyons, and underwater hot springs while viewing lobsters, sea fans, sponges, squirrel fish, and more. The village of Jamestown, which washed into the sea around Fort Ashby, just south of Cades Bay, makes for superior snorkeling and diving. Reef-protected Pinney's Beach offers especially good snorkeling. Single-tank dives are usually $65, two-tank dives $95.

Scuba Safaris (Oualie Beach, Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis. PHONE: 869/469-9518, www.scubanevis.com) is a PADI five-star facility, NAUI Dream Resort, and NASDS Examining Station, whose experienced dive masters offer everything from a resort course to full certification. They also provide a snorkeling learning experience that enables you not only to see but to listen to sealife, including whales and dolphins.

Under the Sea (Oualie Beach, Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis. PHONE: 869/469-1291, www.undertheseanevis.com) is the brainchild of Barbara Whitman, a marine biologist from Connecticut. Barbara's mission is to orient snorkelers and divers of all ages about sea life and various ecosystems so they'll appreciate -- and respect -- what they see. Using hands-on "touch tanks," videos, and self-painted marine murals as familiarization tools, she then offers snorkeling lessons and tours to see the creatures in the wild. Her programs range from $25, and profits go toward educating local school children about their precious natural environment and increasing ecological awareness.

Fishing

Fishing here focuses on kingfish, wahoo, grouper, tuna, and yellowtail snapper, with marlin occasionally spotted. The best areas are Monkey Shoals and around Redonda. Charters cost approximately $350 per half-day, $675 per full day, and include open bar.

Deep Venture (Oualie Beach, Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis. PHONE: 869/469-5110), run by fisherman-chef Matt Lloyd of Le Bistro, does day-fishing charters, providing a real insight into both commercial fishing and the Caribbean kitchen.

Nevis Water Sports (Oualie Beach, Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis. PHONE: 869/469-9060, www.fishnevis.com) offers sportfishing aboard the 31-foot Sea Brat under the supervision of tournament-winning captains Julian Rigby and Ian Gonzaley. Julian, originally from England, and wife Tracy organize the annual Nevis Yacht Club Sports Fishing Tournament, which reels in competitors from all over the Caribbean.

Golf

Duffers doff their hats to the beautiful, impeccably maintained Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed 18-hole, par-72, 6,766-yard championship Four Seasons Golf Course (Four Seasons Resort Nevis, Pinney's Beach, Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis. PHONE: 869/469-1111) : the virtual botanical gardens surrounding the fairways almost qualify as a hazard in themselves. The front 9 holes are fairly flat until the 8th hole, which climbs uphill after your tee shot. Most of the truly stunning views are along the back 9. The signature hole is the 15th, a 660-yard monster that encompasses a deep ravine; other holes include bridges, steep drops, rolling pitches, extremely tight and unforgiving fairways, sugarmill ruins, and fierce doglegs. Attentive attendants canvas the course with beverage buggies, handing out chilled, peppemint-scented towels. Greens fees are $110 per person for 9 holes, $175 for 18.

Hiking

The center of the island is Nevis Peak -- also known as Mount Nevis -- which soars 3,232 feet and is flanked by Hurricane Hill on the north and Saddle Hill on the south. If you plan to scale Nevis Peak, a daylong affair, it's highly recommended that you go with a guide. Your hotel can arrange it (and a picnic lunch) for you. The Upper Round Road Trail is a 9-mi (14½-km) road constructed in the late 1600s and cleared and restored by the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society. It connects the Golden Rock Hotel, on the east side of the island, with Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, on the northern tip. The trail encompasses numerous vegetation zones, including pristine rain forest, and impressive plantation ruins. The original cobblestones, walls, and ruins are still evident in many places.

Herbert Heights Village Experience (PHONE: 869/469-2856, www.herbertheights.com) is run by the Herbert family, who have fashioned their own unique activities. They lead four-hour nature hikes up to panoramic Herbert Heights, where you drink in fresh local juices and the views of Montserrat; the powerful telescope makes you feel as if you're staring right into that island's simmering volcano. The trail formed part of an escape route for runaway slaves. Numerous hummingbirds, doves, and butterflies flit and flutter through the rain forest. The Herberts painstakingly reconstructed thatched cottages that offer a glimpse of village life a century ago at Nelson's Lookout. The price is $15; for $35 you can ride one of their donkeys. The festive activities include crab races, refreshments, rock climbing, and whale-watching in season through a telescope donated by Greenpeace.

Sunrise Tours (PHONE: 869/469-2758, www.nevisnaturetours.com), run by Lynell and Earla Liburd, offers a range of hiking tours, but their most popular is Devil's Copper, a rock configuration full of ghostly legends. Local people gave it its name because at one time the water was hot -- a volcanic thermal stream. The area features pristine waterfalls and splendid bird-watching. They also do a Nevis village walk, a Hamilton Estate Walk, an Amerindian walk along the wild southeast Atlantic coast, and trips to the rain forest and Nevis Peak. They love highlighting Nevisian heritage, explaining time-honored cooking techniques, the many uses of dried grasses, and medicinal plants. Hikes range from $20 to $40 per person, and you receive a certificate of achievement.

Top to Bottom (PHONE: 869/469-9080, www.walknevis.com), run by Jim and Nikki Johnston, offers eco-rambles (slow tours) and hikes that emphasize Nevis's volcanic and horticultural heritage (including pointing out folkloric herbal medicines). The Johnstons are also keen star- and bird-watchers (their Nevis Nights magically explain nocturnal biology, astronomy, even astrology). Three-hour rambles or hikes are $20 per person (snacks and juice included); it's $30 to $35 for more strenuous climbs (two offered) up Mount Nevis.

Kayaking

Turtle Tours Nevis (Oualie Beach, Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis. PHONE: 869/465-8503) offers sea kayaking along the Nevis coast, stopping at an otherwise inaccessible beach underneath a towering cliff for snorkeling and at Pinney's for refreshments and a refreshing view of St. Kitts.

Windsurfing

Waters are generally calm and northeasterly winds steady yet gentle, making Nevis an excellent spot for beginners and intermediates.

Windsurfing Nevis (Oualie Beach, Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis. PHONE: 869/469-9682, www.windsurfingnevis.com) offers top-notch instructors (Winston Crooke is one of the best in the islands) and equipment for $25 per half hour. Groups are kept small (eight maximum), and the equipment is state-of-the-art from Mistral North and Tushingham.