The road to Speyside follows Tobago’s north-east coast, with sea views appearing between villages and green hills. From Scarborough, the drive covers about 36 kilometres along the Windward Road.
Pick up your rental car before leaving town, then take your time along the coast. When you arrive, you will find quiet bays, coral reefs, forest paths, seabirds, and daily village life. Our guide covers the drive, beaches, wildlife, local food, and a one-day trip from Scarborough.
The drive from Scarborough to Speyside follows the Windward Road through hills, forest, and coastal villages. Reaching Speyside in Tobago takes about 1 hour across 36 kilometres without stops.
Car hire companies operate in Scarborough and near the airport. Book early and compare car types and daily rates. Bring a valid licence, passport, and main driver’s credit card.
Drivers must be aged 25 to 75 and hold a licence for 2 years. Visitors can use national licences for 6 months. Bring a copy of your visa or your passport entry stamp. Inspect the car and record scratches or dents. Confirm the full-to-full fuel policy and the cover included. Collision Damage Waiver and Third Party Liability are included.
Book online in advance with Final Rentals for premium SUVs, low rates, included insurance, and unlimited mileage.
Leave Scarborough on Windward Road, Route B, and drive on the left. Bring your licence, the car’s registration, and insurance papers. Stop near the Hillsborough River for caimans. Tobago’s tallest waterfall, Argyle Falls, has a paid walk to three cascades and a pool. The final descent gives you wide views over Tyrrel’s Bay, Goat Island, and Little Tobago.
Wear seat belts and drive slowly on sharp bends and steep hills. Watch for potholes, parked cars, livestock, cyclists, and pedestrians. Use your horn before blind corners. Heavy rain can make low sections slippery or flooded. Slow down, use headlights, and avoid rural driving after dark. Roundabout traffic moves clockwise. Watch hand signals and give way to drivers from your right.
Before leaving Scarborough, fill the tank because fuel options become limited near Speyside. Many stations operate between 8 AM and 8 PM. An attendant will usually fill the car, so keep some cash ready.
Once in Speyside, you can usually park for free near Batteaux Bay, the jetty, and nearby restaurants. Check for signs and avoid blocking driveways. On your return, refill the tank when required and arrive before your agreed return time. Walk around the car and check for any new damage before handing back the keys.
Offshore islands protect much of the coast. Reefs sit near shore, giving travellers several ways to explore.
Batteaux Bay is located on the west of Speyside, framed by forested hills and rocky headlands. Goat Island and Little Tobago shelter the bay from larger waves. The soft sand and shallow water suit swimming, picnics, and shore snorkelling. Farther out, reefs and a sunken supply ship draw tropical fish.
Tyrrel’s Bay curves around Speyside’s harbour, where fishing boats gather near the jetty. Storms often reshape the narrow beach, leaving sand in some areas and rocks in others. From the shore, you can look across to Goat Island and Little Tobago.
Near the secondary school, a sandy section offers calmer water for paddling. Fishermen also gather here throughout the day. By late afternoon, warm sunlight often spreads across the bay and the slopes of Main Ridge.
A glass-bottom boat tour is one of the most popular things to do in Speyside. Trips leave from the jetty or Batteaux Bay. Marine trips from Speyside in Tobago visit Angel Reef, also called Japanese Gardens, before continuing towards Little Tobago. Glass panels reveal coral and fish without requiring guests to swim. Many trips include snorkelling stops.
Look for yellow tube sponges, sea fans, brain coral, and reef fish. Boats may pause near cliffs for tropicbirds and boobies. Families and non-swimmers can enjoy the marine scenery.
Japanese Gardens offers shallow diving near Goat Island. Divers pass hard coral, soft coral, sponges, sea fans, and tropical fish. Kelleston Drain is a deeper wall dive south of Little Tobago. It contains the world’s largest brain coral, over 10 feet high and 16 feet wide. Depths exceed 100 feet, and currents can be strong. Experienced divers may see sharks, eagle rays, tarpon, nurse sharks, moray eels, and wrecks. Use a qualified diving centre.
Confident swimmers can snorkel from shore with a mask and fins. Batteaux Bay and parts of the reef offer easy access to the waters. Scuba diving costs more and requires training, but it lets you reach walls, deep coral, and wrecks. Boat tours offer transport, reef views, and optional snorkelling. Check conditions before leaving. A guide can identify the safest site.
The village is beside one of Earth’s oldest protected forests, Main Ridge, and faces Little Tobago. Both add rainforest, history, food, and birdlife.
Reach Little Tobago by boat within 20 to 30 minutes. The uninhabited island supports a large seabird colony. See Red-billed Tropicbirds, Brown Boobies, Red-footed Boobies, Sooty Terns, and Magnificent Frigatebirds. Tours include a short uphill walk to a gazebo viewpoint. Wear firm shoes, carry water, use binoculars, and avoid disturbing nests.
The shaded Gilpin Trace loop covers 4 kilometres, which you can explore for 2 to 3 hours. Watch for White-tailed Sabrewings, Black-throated Mangos, blue-backed manakins, ferns, wildflowers, and cannonball fruit.
Pigeon Peak reaches about 1,800 feet, with views towards Speyside, Charlotteville, and the Atlantic coast. Guided walks help with routes and bird spotting. Early mornings and late afternoons often bring more activity. Argyle Falls is about 30 minutes away by car. The rainforest includes tall trees, hidden pools, waterfalls, hummingbirds, and manakins.
A roadside lookout before the village gives clear views across the bay. You can see Speyside, Goat Island, Little Tobago, anchored boats, and sometimes Charlotteville. Vendors may sell fruit or snacks. A rusting 19th-century waterwheel stands farther downhill. It once powered a plantation sugar mill and now sits beside old stone walls.
A nearby hummingbird garden attracts about six species. Ruby-topaz Hummingbirds, White-tailed Sabrewings, and Black-throated Mangos visit flowers and feeders. Gardens also attract tanagers, orioles, butterflies, lizards, and beach crabs. Do not feed or touch wildlife.
Speyside has family-run waterfront restaurants serving grilled snapper, lobster, shrimp curry, pepper pot, and breadfruit pie. Menus may also include doubles, bake and shark, festival bread, saltfish salad, and lionfish ceviche. Restaurants serve Trinbagonian dishes above the water. Tip well and respect the quiet setting.
Leave Scarborough at 8:00 AM and allow 90 minutes, plus stops at Argyle Falls or Delaford Beach. At 10:00 AM, join a two-to-three-hour boat trip. Have a seafood lunch around 1:00 PM. At 2:30 PM, swim at Batteaux Bay or Tyrrel’s Bay. You could instead hike or visit the lookout.
Start your return drive at 4:30 PM. Refuel near Roxborough when needed and reach Scarborough before dusk. Extra time for parking and weather changes will keep the day relaxed.
Speyside in Tobago is an exciting full-day road trip from Scarborough. Driving makes the journey easier and lets you explore beyond the main village. By the end of the day, you will have seen a quieter side of Tobago shaped by its coast, surrounding forest, and nearby islands.
Rent a car in Tobago with Final Rentals to explore Speyside and the Windward Road with unlimited mileage. Collision Damage Waiver, Third Party Liability, and a first additional driver are included in your booking. Book and manage your car rental at any time. Download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
The main draws are its pristine reefs and bays. Snorkeling at Angel Reef and diving at Kelleston Drain (home to Tobago’s largest brain coral) are highlights. Wildlife spots include Little Tobago Island and the Main Ridge rainforest trails. Other sights are Batteaux Bay and the Speyside Lookout viewpoint.
You’ll take the Windward Road north-east out of Scarborough. The distance is about 35 km and takes roughly 1.5 hours. Drive on the left side and watch for steep, winding sections. Fill up on petrol in Scarborough or Roxborough since stations close by evening. Allow extra time for scenic stops like Argyle Falls, and drive carefully after rain.
Yes, public transport to Speyside is limited. Renting a car gives you the freedom to explore. There are many desks at Crown Point Airport and Scarborough. Requirements include a valid licence and a credit card. With a car, you can easily follow this guide’s route and stop at beaches, reefs, and forest trails.
