Portsmouth: Fort Shirley and Indian River

For travel planning around Portsmouth, two distinct themes stand out: the nearby historical heritage of Fort Shirley and boat trips on the Indian River. These highlights can help guide you when looking for hotels in Portsmouth and choosing the area based on your interests in excursions. The wider Saint John destination adds further connections to nature, culture, and activities to these local themes.

History nearby

In the nearby Cabrits National Park are the ruins of an 18th-century military fort: Fort Shirley. The historic area also includes other structures. This means that, alongside river trips, the history of a fortification is another specific point of interest. When planning your trip to Portsmouth, you can consider this cultural side when choosing excursions, alongside activities on the water.

Boat trips on the Indian River

Experienced boatmen take visitors along the Indian River in hand-rowed boats. Along the way, the boats pass wildlife and plants on the swampy riverbank. The focus here is on traveling along the river, with views of the riverside landscape and its flora and fauna. This is a different focus from visiting historic buildings.

JC Ocean Adventures is located in Cabrits National Park in Portsmouth and offers boat excursions for locals, tourists, and cruise passengers. Cobra Tours specializes in tours on the Indian River and has an address in Prince Rupert Bay, Portsmouth. Check the current availability of these operators’ offerings before your trip.

Upstream on the Indian River, visitors can also visit the Bush Bar. It serves a house rum drink, smoked fish, other drinks, juices, and local cuisine. A visit combines the river setting with specific food and drinks, including local cuisine and smoked fish. Check in advance whether the offering is available during your travel period.

In the wider Saint John destination

Cabrits National Park is in the wider Saint John destination, on a peninsula at Dominica’s northern tip, just beyond the town of Portsmouth. Fort Shirley is part of the park and is situated on a scenic peninsula north of Portsmouth. The British built it in the 18th century as a defensive stronghold. The park was established in 1986 and covers 1,313 acres of protected tropical forests, coral reefs, and wetlands. The area figure may change if the park’s boundaries are amended by law in the future.

The Waitukubuli National Trail is also part of this broader geographical context. It runs for 115 miles from Scotts Head in the south to Cabrits National Park in the north and comprises 14 sections. The 14th and final section ends in the park. Its length and endpoints make the trail a long island route, not a short walk around Portsmouth.

At Coconut Beach in Portsmouth, Wave Dancer Watersports offers kiteboarding, windsurfing, and sailing lessons, as well as kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals. This is a different kind of activity from the hand-rowed trips on the Indian River: here, the focus is on watersports lessons and rentals. At Cabrits Dive Center, most dive sites are in Cabrits National Park and historic Prince Rupert Bay; they can be reached by a short, scenic boat ride. If diving is your main interest, ask in advance about the sites currently visited.

Culture and events in Saint John

Fort Shirley’s Officer’s Quarters have been extensively renovated and serve as a venue for weddings, receptions, concerts, and other events. The restored quarters have also hosted receptions, conferences, and lectures. Dominica’s Jazz n'Creole Festival is held at Fort Shirley annually in May or June. If you would like to plan your trip around an event, check the specific dates and current availability in advance.

Planning your stay

In Prince Rupert Bay in Portsmouth, PAYS offers cruise guests a new 100-foot-long pier with a 20-foot-long side access. Through certified member tour guides, PAYS can arrange water and land tours, as well as taxis. These services are part of the wider Saint John destination and offer cruise guests a specific point of arrival and assistance with arrangements.

An admission pass is required to visit Cabrits National Park; you can get one on site or at any gas station. Check the pass requirements before your trip. Taken together, Portsmouth and the wider Saint John destination offer a range of points to consider when planning your trip: Fort Shirley and other historic buildings, excursions on the Indian River, and nature, diving, and watersports activities.

See the wider travel overview: Saint John.