Bermuda: Somerset to the Dockyard

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Bermuda via Wikimedia
Bermuda via Wikimedia
Bermuda is a tiny speck in the Atlantic Ocean whose first inhabitants were shipwrecked English colonists in the early 17th Century. As a result, its place-names all have a distinctly familiar feel, as you can see on the map above. On our first full day, we took the bus to what is (probably) the world’s smallest drawbridge joining Somerset Island (where the 1 is on the map) to the main island. Built in the 17th century, its central plank opens just enough (about 30 inches) to allow a yacht’s mast to be eased through.

Somerset Bridge
Drawbridge

From the bridge, we walked the Railway Trail to the Royal Naval Dockyard at Bermuda’s western tip. Our first stop was Fort Scaur. This was constructed following the American Civil War when the British were worried about a US invasion. There are many underground rooms and passages to explore, a very large gun and beautiful views. The moat has been turned into a flower garden.

Sally Port
64 pound gun
Garden
Garden
Underground
Fort Scaur
Fort Scaur
View from Fort Scaur

Back on the trail, we quickly came to another detour, to the Heydon Trust Estate with its lovely little chapel, converted in the 1970s from a 17th century cottage.

Heydon Estate Chapel
Heydon Estate Chapel
Heydon Chapel view

The trail from here to Mangrove Bay and Somerset Village had plenty of interest – hibiscus hedgerows were something we became very used to seeing all over the island. There wasn’t much to the village itself – excitedly, we spotted a pub for lunch then found it only opened Wednesday-Sunday. This was Monday, so we turned to the Village Café (pink building in the gallery below) which, in UK terms, was basically a chippy.

Hibiscus
Hibiscus
Mangrove Bay
Mangrove Bay
Somerset Village Cafe

After a not-very-healthy lunch of grilled cheese sandwich and chips / fries, we set off again. With hindsight, we’d have been better off catching a bus from here and having more time at the Dockyards as the trail petered out and we ended up walking on roads. The Dockyards have been converted into shops and craft outlets and are home to the National Museum which came highly recommended if you had 2-3 hours to spare. We only had an hour so decided to leave it and come back another day – which of course, we never did. We had a beer instead.

Victualling Yard
Victualling Yard
Crown and Anchor
Clocktower Mall

Our one-week travel pass worked on both buses and ferries, so we travelled part-way back by boat. The Dockyards receded and the City of Hamilton came into view, from there we took the bus back to our hotel.

Dockyards, Bermuda
Hamilton

Linked to Jo’s Monday Walks. There are many other interesting cyber-walks on her site so please take a look.

 

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27 Comments »

  1. Pingback: Jo’s Monday walk : Saltburn in Winter | restlessjo

  2. Love the galleries.
    This prove that, even places that are famouse for their amusement attractions, acually have something intersting to offer.
    I don’t like roasting in the sun of a beach eaither, btu I’d gladely do the same track you did 🙂

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