Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Sounds of Silence (& Gregorian Chant)
In crowded Bermuda, finding solitude
and tranquility grows increasingly more
difficult. But we stumbled upon the
18-hectare (43-acre)
Heydon Trust,
Hey-
don Drive (
&
441/234-1831
), in Sandys
Parish, open daily dawn to dusk. This
setting, which is also a sanctuary for
migratory birds, is Bermuda the way it
used to be. The grounds are filled with
flower gardens, citrus orchards, walk-
ways, and even a tiny chapel dating
from 1620. Chapel services are held
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
at 7:30am. There is also a chant service
Monday through Saturday at 3pm. Park
benches are found throughout the pre-
serve where you can sit and contem-
plate nature (or your navel).
7
1716. An explosion virtually destroyed the church on Easter in 1970, but it was
reconstructed. Today, the tiny structure looks more like a vicarage than a church.
Some of the church's contents survived the blast, including silver dating from 1590,
which may be the oldest on the island. The Old Devonshire Parish Church is about
a 15-minute walk northwest of the “new” Devonshire Parish Church, which dates
from 1846.
Middle Rd.
&
441/236-3671.
Free admission. Daily 9am-5:30pm. Bus: 2.
Palm Grove
This private estate, 4km (2
1
⁄
2
miles) east of the City of Hamilton, is
one of the delights of Devonshire Parish. It's famous for its pond, which features a
relief map of Bermuda in the middle. On the map, each parish is an immaculately
manicured grassy division. The site, which has well-landscaped flower gardens, opens
onto a view of the sea.
38 South Rd. No phone. Free admission. Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm. Bus: 1.
SMITH'S PARISH
Even if you're staying in remote Sandys Parish, the 18th-century mansion of Verd-
mont is worth checking out. If you're in the area, Spittal Pond Nature Reserve also
merits some attention.
Spittal Pond Nature Reserve
Follow steep Knapton Hill Road west to South
Road, turning at the sign for Spittal Pond, Bermuda's largest wildlife sanctuary. The
most important of the National Trust's open spaces, it occupies 24 hectares (59 acres)
and attracts about 25 species of waterfowl from November to May. Visitors are asked
to stay on the scenic trails and footpaths provided. Bird-watchers especially like to
visit in January, when as many as 500 species can be observed wintering on or near
the pond.
South Rd.
&
441/236-6483.
Free admission. Daily sunrise to sunset. Bus: 1 or 3.
Verdmont
This 18th-century mansion is especially significant to Americans
who are interested in colonial and Revolutionary War history. It stands on property
that was owned in the 17th century by William Sayle, who left Bermuda to found
South Carolina and become its first governor. The house was built before 1710 by
John Dickinson, a prosperous shipowner who was also speaker of the House of
Assembly in Bermuda from 1707 to 1710. Verdmont passed to Mr. Dickinson's grand-
daughter, Elizabeth, who married the Hon. Thomas Smith, collector of customs.
