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What To Do In Manchester?
6 Attractions To Visit In Manchester

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manchester_country_club.jpgWhat To Do In Manchester? | Manchester Golf Course

by Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

Manchester is such a quiet parish and is most times completely forgotten when it comes to the tourism sector. But you might be pleasantly surprised to find that there are quite a few interesting things you can do there.

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Visit the Cecil Charlton Park

Since 2012, the Manchester Parish Council has been working on the park's makeover, which it named after the late Cecil Charlton, a former mayor of Mandeville. This modest, charming park, which is right in the centre of the town square, provides a breath of fresh air and a fantastic opportunity to discover more about Mandeville's history. At the park you will find:

  • Sign telling the history of St. Mark’s Anglican Church
  • Bust of Cecil Charlton, the park’s namesake and Jamaica’s longest-serving mayor
  • Bust of The Rt. Excellent Norman Manley
  • A Cenotaph for the Jamaican soldiers who fell in the two Great Wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945
  • Water fountain

Manchester Country Club

When the game was invented in Scotland more than a century ago, it inspired the construction of the Manchester Country Club. The Manchester Country Club is Jamaica's and the Caribbean's oldest golf course.

Built in 1865, and carved from the undulating hills near Mandeville it has been the most distinct course in Jamaica for 157 years. This is, of course, all thanks to its nine greens and 18 teeing fields. Additionally, there are two squash courts and three substantial tennis courts.

Although it is a private members club, it is open to the public and is one of Mandeville's biggest tourist attractions.

Noisy River Falls

Noisy River isn't exactly discrete, being situated right next to the main road. The river is undeveloped and accessible. No bathrooms are provided, however, changing rooms are offered for JMD 50 per person. There is some minor evidence of growth, such as a shop, bar, gazebo, jerk pans, and benches.

Explore Gourie Forest Reserve and Cave

Near Colleyville, 3 kilometres northwest of Christiana, there is an unexpected bloom of pine, mahogany, and mahoe trees. This highland nature reserve features one of Jamaica's longest cave systems complete with lovely hiking trails.

The park has four primary hiking paths, with lengths ranging from 1.9 km to 4.7 km. There is, however, much room for improvement as they aren’t particularly clearly marked. You'll be wading through water that is occasionally between three and four feet deep in this ex-hideout for fugitive slaves.

It features majestic columns, and little cracks, and follows the course of an icy river. It's not a good idea to travel alone if you wish to visit the Gourie Cave, one of the area's highlights. It's better to phone in advance to set up a tour.

Maidstone Museum

The storied road toward independence for the ancestors of the proud citizens of Manchester is represented by THE MAIDSTONE Museum.

The museum, which displays artefacts used by slaves and slave masters in the 19th century, was formally inaugurated in 2015 by Mikael Phillips, a representative for Manchester North Western, and Dr. Wykeham McNeill, then minister of tourism.

Some of the unusual items at the museum include whipsaws, pots used by slaves, and branding irons held by slave masters, which are evidence of the torture meted out to slaves.

Alligator Hole / Canoe Valley Wetland

A mangrove-lined watercourse flows into the sea at Alligator Hole. A pod of three Manatees that have lived in the vicinity is Alligator Hole's main draw. Local fishermen caught them and turned them over to the wildlife authorities.

They were once held captive in the area but, even since they were released to the wild, the manatees chose to remain in Jamaica and they now call Alligator Hole their home.

Manatees are, by nature, reticent animals thus visiting Alligator Hole does not ensure that you will see any. They normally surface after 5 p.m. at the entrance of the man-made dam where they are fed. This is the best time and location to see them. A small visitor centre is present. A one-hour canoe journey with a guide is available.

After you visit these spots, check out these restaurants in Mandeville, Manchester's capital town, for some delicious local cuisine.

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References & Sources For What To Do In Manchester? 

  1. Knight, R. (2022) Cecil Charlton Park, Manchester, Adventures from Elle. Available at: https://adventuresfromelle.com/2018/03/11/cecil-charlton-park/ (Accessed: December 9, 2022).
  2. Alligator Hole (no date) Alligator Hole - Jamaica Travel and Culture .com. Available at: https://www.jamaicatravelandculture.com/destinations/manchester/alligator_hole.htm (Accessed: December 9, 2022).
  3. Gourie Forest Reserve & Cave (2019) TheStayCay. Available at: https://thestaycayjamaica.com/things-to-do/gourie-forest-reserve-cave/ (Accessed: December 9, 2022).
  4. Knight, R. (2022) Noisy River Falls, Manchester, Adventures from Elle. Available at: https://adventuresfromelle.com/2020/10/06/noisy-river/ (Accessed: December 9, 2022).
  5. Manchester Country Club Mandeville, Mandeville Attractions, Jamaica (no date) Jamaica. Available at: https://www.jamaicascene.com/attractions/mandeville/manchester_country_club.php (Accessed: December 9, 2022).
  6. Shelton, T. (2011) Canoe Valley Wetland - Jamaica, Travel Brain. Available at: https://www.travelbrain.us/jamaica/canoe-valley-wetland.html (Accessed: December 9, 2022).

What to do in Manchester | Written: December 9, 2022

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