St Paul's, Morne Jaloux and the Hills Above Town: Living Up the Slope

Climb inland from the south coast or out of St George's and the land rises quickly into a band of hillside neighbourhoods: St Paul's, Morne Jaloux, Belmont, Woodlands and the ridges between them. These are where many Grenadian professionals, civil servants and families live, and where a growing number of foreigners settle once they decide they want neighbours who are home all year.

The appeal is concrete: evenings a few degrees cooler than the coast, breezes that reduce the need for air-conditioning, long views over the harbour or the south coast, and prices per square foot that are usually below the beach strip. The trade-offs are just as real: steep roads, lower water pressure, landslip risk on some slopes and fewer walkable services. This guide weighs both.

Getting your bearings

St Paul's lies east of St George's on the road heading inland towards the interior and St David's, and it functions as a village in its own right, with a church, school, shops and minibus stops. Morne Jaloux rises above it towards the south, with residential roads along a ridge looking down on the south coast and across to the capital. Belmont and Woodlands sit closer to the Grand Anse valley and St George's, blending into the suburbs of the town.

Distances are short on paper. From many of these hills, Grand Anse and the town are ten to twenty minutes by car. In practice the roads are narrow, winding and steep, minibuses run on the main routes rather than up side lanes, and a trip that takes twelve minutes at 10 am can take thirty at the end of the working day.

Because the terrain folds, two houses a few hundred metres apart can have completely different outlooks, breezes and access. Judging the area as a whole is less useful than judging the individual street.

Why people choose the hills

Cooler air and breeze. Elevation and exposure to the trade winds make evenings noticeably more comfortable than on the flat coast. Many hillside houses are designed with cross-ventilation and verandas and run air-conditioning only in bedrooms, if at all.

Views. Lots facing west look over St George's harbour and the Carenage; those facing south look across Grand Anse and the airport towards the sea. A good view is part of the value and is protected only if the land below cannot be built up, so ask.

Community. These are lived-in neighbourhoods. Children walk to school, neighbours talk over fences, and church and village events structure the year. Newcomers who greet people and join in tend to be welcomed.

Value. Homes built for Grenadian family life, often with a yard and fruit trees, generally cost less than comparable space near the beach. Rentals aimed at locals are usually cheaper than those marketed to expatriates.

The practical drawbacks

Hillside living suits many people, but these issues come up again and again:

• Steep, narrow roads. Some lanes have gradients that challenge small cars, especially when wet. Delivery trucks and construction vehicles may not reach every house.
• Water pressure. Mains water from NAWASA loses pressure as it climbs, and higher houses may receive water only at certain times. A cistern, storage tanks and a pressure pump are close to essential.
• Landslips and drainage. Heavy rain can bring down banks and undermine roads. Look at retaining walls, drains and cracks in the ground near the house.
• Fewer services on foot. Village shops cover basics, but supermarkets, banks and pharmacies mean a drive or a minibus ride down the hill.
• Internet coverage. Fixed broadband reaches most built-up roads, but mobile signal can drop in valleys. Test at the house before relying on it.
• Night driving. Unlit bends, open drains at the roadside and pedestrians walking in the road make night driving demanding for newcomers.

Houses and rentals: what to expect

Most homes on the hills are concrete block houses built by Grenadian families over time, often in stages: a ground floor first, an upper floor or apartment added later when money allowed. That pattern means you will see houses with unfinished upper levels and protruding steel reinforcing bars, which is normal rather than a sign of abandonment.

For renters, the market includes self-contained apartments below or beside the owner's home, which can be good value and come with a landlord nearby to fix problems. The trade-off is less privacy. Whole houses for rent exist but turn over less often than on the south coast, so word of mouth and local contacts help.

For buyers, older houses may have been built before current standards were applied consistently. Have an engineer look at the roof structure and fixings, the foundations on sloping ground, and the condition of retaining walls. Also check that any extension had approval, because unapproved additions can complicate a sale or an insurance claim.

Schools, shopping and the commute

One of the strengths of the hills is their position between the two hubs of the island's south, the capital and Grand Anse. Parents can reach the government and church schools in and around St George's, as well as the private schools on the south side, without crossing the whole island. The catch is that everybody else is making the same journey at the same time, and the roads down the hill funnel into a few junctions.

For shopping, most hillside residents do a weekly run to the supermarkets in Grand Anse or the town, and top up at village shops and roadside vendors selling fruit, vegetables and fish. The Saturday market in St George's is within easy reach for fresh produce and spices.

Anyone commuting to an office in the capital, the Ministerial Complex area or the university at True Blue should test the drive at rush hour before signing anything. Some residents shift their working hours slightly to avoid the worst of it, and others choose a house on the near side of a ridge simply to cut ten minutes from the daily trip.

Hurricanes and heavy rain on the slopes

Wind exposure. Ridge-top houses catch the strongest gusts. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 stripped roofs across these hills; houses rebuilt since then often have better roof fixings, but check rather than assume.

Water above and below. Runoff from the slope above can flow through a yard; a house below a road may receive its drainage. Look at where water goes in a downpour.

Access after storms. Fallen trees and landslips can cut lanes for days. Households here keep water, food and fuel on hand for longer than coastal neighbours might.

Insurance. Insurers ask about construction, roof type and site. A professionally built house with documented roof work will be easier to insure than one built in stages without records. Keep receipts and photographs of any roof upgrade, shutters or strapping you add, because they help both with premiums and with claims after a storm.

Viewing a hillside home: a quick routine

Use this sequence on any viewing in the hills to avoid the common surprises:

1. Drive the access road yourself, ideally after rain, and note any section your car struggles with.
2. Turn on the taps upstairs and down, and ask whether the house has storage and a pump and how often supply is cut.
3. Walk the boundary, looking at retaining walls, drains and signs of soil movement such as leaning posts or cracked paths.
4. Check your phone signal and ask the owner or landlord which internet providers serve the street.
5. Look at the roof from inside and out: fixings, ties, rust and evidence of past leaks on ceilings.
6. Ask neighbours how the street fared in the last major storm and how long it took to reopen.
7. Return at night to see how dark the lane is, how loud the neighbourhood gets and how the drive feels without daylight.

Frequently asked questions