Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SUGGESTED
ITINERARIES
For visitors on the run, who are forced by their schedules
to see Bermuda in anywhere from 1 to 3 days, we've
devised a trio of self-guided tours, written as three
1-day itineraries. With these ready-made itineraries, you can
have a complete, unforgettable trip, even though time is short.
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You can cover much of Bermuda, especially the harbor City of Hamilton
and the historic town of St. George, on foot. A week's visit will let you break
up your sightseeing trips
with time on the beach,
boating, or engaging in
some of the island's other
outdoor activities, such as
golf or scuba diving. Hit-
ting the beach is the first
priority for most visitors—
but you don't need us to tell
you how to schedule your
time in the sun.
Planning Pointer
It's enlightening to take a ferry ride
around the inner harbor before or after
your City of Hamilton walking tour. You
can get an overview of the City of Ham-
ilton before concentrating on specific
landmarks or monuments, or gain a new
perspective on what you've just seen.
THE PARISHES OF BERMUDA
For administrative purposes, the islands of Bermuda are divided into
par-
ishes,
all named for shareholders of the Bermuda Company, which was
formed by English investors in the early 1600s to develop Bermuda as a
profit-making enterprise. From west to east, the parishes are listed below.
Sandys Parish
In the far western part of the archipelago, Sandys (pronounced “sands”)
Parish encompasses the islands of
Ireland, Boaz,
and
Somerset.
This
parish (named for Sir Edwin Sandys) is centered in Somerset Village, on
Somerset Island. Sandys Parish is often called Somerset.
Some visitors to Bermuda head directly for Sandys Parish and spend
their entire time here; they feel that the far western tip, with its rolling
hills, lush countryside, and tranquil bays, is something special and
unique. (This area has always stood apart from the rest of Bermuda: Dur-
ing the U.S. Civil War, when most Bermudians sympathized with the
Confederates, Sandys Parish supported the Union.) Sandys Parish has
areas of great natural beauty, including
Somerset Long Bay,
the biggest
and best public beach in the West End (which the Bermuda Audubon
