Windward Point

Windward Point is the absolute eastern edge of Anguilla - the point where the island runs out of land and the full force of the open Atlantic takes over. It is one of the most remote, wild, and geologically dramatic spots on the island, and one of its most rewarding destinations for anyone who values raw coastal scenery, panoramic views, and a genuine sense of the island's unspoiled character.

Getting here is part of the experience. From Island Harbour, follow the road east, turning left at the Palm Grove sign onto a reasonable gravel road and navigating carefully past several tempting forks - the Anguilla News guide is specific: avoid right turns at 0.5 km, 0.8 km, and 1.9 km, and the left fork to Captain's Bay at 2.2 km. The final section of the road is rough. Most visitors park at the end of the accessible road and walk the remaining distance to the hill at the eastern tip. An SUV or high-clearance vehicle is recommended for the full approach.

The hike itself is short and rewarding. From the beach at Windward Point Bay, the trail climbs through a rocky landscape of Melocactus (popehead cacti), windswept frangipani, and knee-high buttonwood trees, with the Atlantic crashing loudly in the background and pelicans gliding overhead. At the summit - marked by a navigation beacon - the view opens in every direction: back west across the full length of Anguilla, east to Scrub Island just 500 metres across the channel, and on a clear day, St. Martin and St. Barths on the southern horizon. A full 360-degree panorama from Anguilla's highest eastern point.

The channel between Anguilla and Scrub Island is a seasonal humpback whale corridor. Visitors in the right months (typically January through March) have followed humpbacks as far as visibility allowed from this vantage point - one of Anguilla's most extraordinary wildlife encounters. Pelicans are active year-round. The beach below is a wild, undeveloped stretch with powerful waves crashing onto the sand and piles of driftwood along the shoreline - and, honestly, also some ocean plastic washed ashore, a reminder of the challenge of open-ocean debris even in remote places.

Windward Point has no facilities of any kind. The entire point is undeveloped - no homes, no power, no shade structures. The Anguilla National Trust offers a guided hike to Windward Point for $50 per person ($20 for children under 12), which includes walking through limestone rocks and fields of cacti with highlights of the flora, fauna, and dramatic coastal landscape. Quest Experiences also offers a guided coastal hike to Windward Point rated as difficult.