Cluster · Jamestown
Jacob's Ladder and the upper town
Dawn cluster: the foot of Jacob's Ladder and the upper end of the valley; steep and exposed, the climb is the reason to come.
28″ bags
forbidden
Time budget
half
Rescue coverage
100% ≤7′
max p90 5′
Places
1
1 sleep area in reach
Rules in force · 8Steep kerbs and stairs into older buildings
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha ↗Entry rules are set by each island's government, not the UK: check the Saint Helena, Ascension or Tristan da Cunha government requirements for your passport (proof of onward travel, insurance and accommodation are typically required).
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha ↗Ascension has no right of abode; visitors need prior permission from the Ascension Island Government before travelling.
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha ↗Tristan da Cunha requires prior approval from the Island Council, and berths on the few ships from Cape Town are limited.
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha ↗Carry travel insurance that includes medical evacuation; hospital facilities are limited and evacuation is long and expensive.
- Saint Helena ↗Flights follow a fixed pattern that can change and can be delayed by wind; keep spare days at both ends.
- Jamestown ↗Steep kerbs and stairs into older buildings: large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Jamestown ↗Weather can delay or divert flights: keep a spare day at each end and do not book tight onward travel.
- Jamestown ↗Bring pounds sterling in notes for the stay: card acceptance and cash machines are limited; ask your accommodation before relying on a card.
Map to the centre
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Walking weather, next 5 days
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Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Bound and physics
The foot of the Ladder and the upper valley; field-verify the exact starting point.
- Slope
- steep
- Stairs
- 699 steps on the Ladder itself
- Shade
- low
- Surface
- paved lane and concrete steps
- Sleep here or visit
- visit
Rescue anchors
A — Foot of the Ladder benches (field-verify)
seated_rest · valid: always
B — Upper-town shop (field-verify)
food · valid: always
C — Shaded wall (field-verify)
shelter · seated_rest · valid: always
D — Guesthouse porch (field-verify)
seated_rest · food · valid: always
E — Water tap or fountain (field-verify)
toilet · valid: always
always: 100% covered, max p90 5′, worst cell 5′ · heat: 100%
Nodes in this cluster
- 699 steep steps up the hillside above the town: go at dawn or late afternoon, with water, and take the descent slowly.
Edges out
| To | How | p50 | Climb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Street | Walk seaward | ~6 min | flat |
Sleep within reach
- Upper Jamestown — 3–6 min
Red lines here
- Do not climb the Ladder in wet or windy weather.
Around this cluster
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.