Situated in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, the tiny island of Nevis is just 35sq miles and home to the dormant volcano Mount Nevis. Known since the 18th century as the Queen of the Caribbean, this island is a place to drink in the contrasting scenery of lush vegetation over the slopes and foothills and the miles of blissful, secluded white-sand beaches.
Rich in history, Nevis was home to Lord Nelson, who married Fanny Nisbet in the gardens of the Montpelier estate in 1787. This 30-acre estate is home to the Montpelier Plantation Inn - a working sugar plantation until the early 1930s and now a secluded hideaway located 750ft above the sea on the slopes of Nevis Peak.
Arriving at Montpelier in the evening, guests are greeted with a warm welcome and then escorted along pathways lined with candles to the pool bar for a rum punch before settling in to their rooms. It is at this moment you realise that the service is going to be outstanding and very friendly. Many of the staff have been working at Montpelier for years, so there's a real sense of homeliness at this stylish inn.
The accommodation consists of 17 villas in the grounds, each with a private veranda and breathtaking views of the sea, mountains and the nearby island of St Kitts. The decor is white and beautifully simple with a great feeling of spaciousness. Ceiling fans combined with the cool hillside breezes are absolutely adequate in place of air-conditioning.
Lazy days can be spent beside the freshwater pool where, in typical English fashion, afternoon tea is served - somehow it tastes far better than it ever could at home. Energetic guests can enjoy a game of tennis and those wishing to venture further afield can trek to the top of Mount Nevis or enjoy many other romantic strolls nearby.
Alternatively, pay a visit to the local town of Charlestown for a real taste of local culture, or visit the Botanical Garden with its rose garden and rainforest conservatory - just a five-minute stroll from Montpelier Plantation Inn.
A bus provides daily complimentary transport to the Inn's private two-acre beach, 20 minutes away. At the prettiest part of Pinneys beach, the area is landscaped with sun shelters, loungers and changing facilities. The staff at the Inn are happy to provide mouthwatering picnic hampers if you plan on spending the day at the beach and can also organise beach barbecues during high season.
Evenings at Montpelier are elegant and romantic while remaining relaxed and informal. Cocktails are served in the Great Room, along with a mouthwatering selection of canapés, before sitting down to dinner at 8pm on the terrace. Although all guests eat at the same time, dinner is still an intimate and wonderfully romantic experience.
As a contrast to the elegant dining of Montpelier, no visit to Nevis would be complete without eating at Sunshines, an enormously popular colourful wooden shack on Pinneys beach. This is casual dining at its best - wooden tables on the beach with a menu of fresh fish and seafood served with a simple salad, the best lobster you'll ever taste along with the mysterious Killer Bee, a rum punch with a real sting.
This is a place where nothing is too much trouble. If you want to do something, just ask and chances are it can be organised for you, from horse-riding or a romantic hike for two to an intimate dinner in the original sugar mill. There's so much to see, do, eat, drink and experience that you really need to find out for yourselves.
Getting there: Caribtours (020 7751 0660, www.caribtours.co.uk) offers seven nights at the Montpelier Plantation Inn from £1535 per person, including breakfast and flights. Flying time: 7 hours. Climate: Hot and tropical throughout most of the year. Temperatures range from 17ºC to 32ºC. The driest period is from January to April and there is increased rainfall in summer. For more information visit www.nevisisland.com
