Jacko was one of the most prominent chiefs of the Maroon slaves in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He fled from captivity into the interior from the estate at Beaubois near Castle Comfort and eventually ended up establishing a camp on a high plateau near the present day village of Bells. The plateau, now known as Jacko Flats, has steep cliffs on three sides and is also protected by the Layou River, making it a very effective natural fortress. It is from this elevated camp that Jacko directed operations during the Maroon Wars of the 1780s and 1810s. The Maroons of Jacko’s camp cut a series of high steps out of the cliff face. These steps made ascending and descending the plateau a little less arduous and, because of their steepness, made defending the camp easier too.
The trail to Penrice (Spanny) Falls is privately maintained and is in excellent condition. There are bamboo handrails on the section to the first waterfall and the ropes you must use to scramble to the second one are strong and relatively new. Both waterfalls are situated in beautiful rainforest surroundings and are quite idyllic. For those who prefer or can only manage a walk similar to that to the Emerald Pool, then the first waterfall at Spanny is well within reach and definitely worth visiting. It also has a lovely bathing pool. The 10-minute rope-assisted climb and descent to the second is great fun.
Before walking the trail, please pop into Spanny’s Bar and make a contribution towards trail maintenance – it is just a couple of dollars and, as you will see, it is worth it.
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