As we went to press a restaurant and bar were almost complete and there were plans for kayaking on the river. He bulldozed a hill to build their home pitch - an international sized football field with hills on either side providing the grandstands. Weekly matches are attended by crowds of fans. Another site is sometimes used for open-air reggae festivals. The Tullochs operate the Mountain River Rafting tour which starts just upstream of the slavery-built stone bridge spanning the Great River and ends in a banana plantation.
Overnight accommodation is also available.
R was the rural headquarters of the Rev. Thomas Burchell, an English missionary who worked vigorously for the abolition of slavery. In 1957 the church was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in character with an obelisk commemorating Burchell. Natural attractions here in danger of development include a fine view over the valley, a riverhead, stream and mini-waterfalls. Montpelier estate is now the site for a large citrus project, a joint venture between the largest local bank NCB and a foreign company. In the days of King Sugar the estate was owned by John Ellis, son of George Ellis, a Chief Justice of Jamaica who has the distinction of accidentally introducing Guinea Grass when he imported some rare birds and their favourite birdseed.