Green Mountain is the oldest and highest part of Ascension Island, rising to 859 metres. A steep, winding road, called the Mountain Ramps, with some very sharp hairpin bends goes as far as the Garden cottage, which you can rent, and the Red Lion, which used to house farm workers. The top of the mountain is often in the clouds and it is much damper up there.
A garrison of about 60 Royal Navy men was established on Ascension Island in 1815 and they collected water from a ravine on Green Mountain known as Dampiers Drip. They made a path up the mountain, built the stone garden cottage and established gardens to supply fresh food.
In 1821 they were replaced by Royal Marines who cut a network of paths around the mountain, extended the gardens into a farm, built barrack blocks and water catchment areas like this one.
In 1831 Captain Brandreth found water at a depth of 30 feet in Breakneck Valley. A tunnel was made through the mountain to carry pipes through which water was pumped to the main tanks near the Red Lion. We had taken torches with us and walked right through the tunnel although the exit was partially blocked by an earth fall. When we visited this year a firmly padlocked gate had been fitted over the entrance!
There are some fantstic views out over the island.
Lots of different plants were introduced by the marines and also sent from Kew gardens and there is a wide variety of lush vegetation and flowers.
From the end of the road you can follow a path up to the summit peak through dense areas of ginger plants.
You then enter a bamboo forest which has spread from plants introduced in 1877. It is extremely damp and slippery but there is a board walk through the bamboo.
Near the summit is the Dew Pond, constructed in 1875. There are waterlillies and some tiny goldfish in the pond.
You might be surprised to find an old letterbox next to the pond. There is a series of walks around the island which you can buy a guide to and at the end of each walk is a letterbox of some sort containing a visitors book and a rubber stamp and ink pad so you can stamp your guide to prove that you have been there. During our 2 visits we have done a lot of the walks (more details in future blogs!)
The summit of the peak is marked by an old piece of anchor chain . Legend has it that sailors used to swing the chain above their heads to try to make it rain but I think it is unlikely.
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