The hill is part of an old set of lookout points and fortifications built when Antigua was an important spot for sailing ships. Soldiers were posted up here because they could see far out to sea and signal to the ships below if they spotted anything important. The ruins of the old signal station are still there today.
The views at sunset are especially famous. As the sun goes down over the Caribbean Sea, the sky turns shades of orange, pink, and purple, and the harbour below glitters. Every Sunday evening there is a big gathering at Shirley Heights with local music, barbecued food, and dancing - it has become one of the most popular events on the island.
The hillside is covered in dry woodland full of birds, lizards, and cacti. The national park trails that wind up from the dockyard pass through this scrubby landscape, and you might spot a bananaquit (a tiny yellow-and-black bird) or a pearly-eyed thrasher along the way.
On the clearest days you can see four or five different islands from the top - a reminder that the Caribbean is made up of hundreds of islands spread across a warm, shallow sea, each one home to its own unique mix of nature and culture.