Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of Bermuda's most attractive public beaches, with changing rooms, a snack bar, and
space for parking.
Southampton lacks the intimacy and romance of Sandys, but it has a lot of razzle-
dazzle going for it. It's the top choice for a golfing holiday. If you like to sightsee, you
can easily occupy 2 days just exploring the parish's many attractions. It also has more
nightlife than Sandys—although not as much as the City of Hamilton.
Warwick Parish
Named in honor of the second earl of Warwick, this parish lies in the heart of Great
Bermuda Island. Like Southampton, it is known for its long stretches of rosy sand.
Along the south shore is
Warwick Long Bay,
one of Bermuda's best public beaches.
Warwick also offers parklands bordering the sea, winding country roads, two golf
courses, and a number of natural attractions. This area is the best on the island for
horseback riding, which is the ideal way to see pastoral Bermuda up close.
Warwick is a great choice for visitors seeking cottage or apartment rentals (where you
can do some of your own cooking to cut down on the outrageous expense of food). The
parish is not strong on restaurants; one of its disadvantages is that you have to travel a
bit if you like to dine out. Nightlife is also spotty—just about the only action you can
find after dark is in hotel lounges. This parish is for tranquility-seekers, but because of
its more central location, it doesn't offer quite the seclusion that Sandys does.
Paget Parish
Paget Parish lies directly south of the capital City of Hamilton, separated from it by
Hamilton Harbour. Named after the fourth Lord Paget, it has many residences and
historic homes and it's also the site of the 15-hectare (37-acre)
Botanical Gardens.
But the south-shore beaches—the best in the chain of islands—are what draw visi-
tors here in droves. Paget Parish is also the site of
Chelston,
on Grape Bay Drive,
the official residence of the U.S. consul general. Situated on 5.8 hectares (14 acres)
of landscaped grounds, it's open only during the Garden Club's Home and Garden
Tours in the spring (see “Bermuda Calendar of Events,” in chapter 2, for details).
This is one of the best parishes to stay in; it has many excellent accommodations,
including Elbow Beach Hotel. It's close enough to the City of Hamilton for an easy
commute, but far enough away to escape the hordes. Because public transportation
is all-important (you can't rent a car), Paget is a good place to situate yourself; it has
some of the best and most convenient ferry connections and bus schedules. There
are docks at Salt Kettle, Hodson's, and Lower Ferry; you can even “commute” by ferry
to Warwick Parish or Sandys Parish, to the west. Paget's relatively flat terrain, rural
lanes, and streets lined with old mansions make this an ideal place for biking. And
hikers will find many small trails bordering the sea.
If you don't like big resort hotels, you can rent a cottage or one of several little
guesthouses here. Unlike Warwick, Paget has a number of dining choices, too. Elbow
Beach offers the most, but other fine options include Fourways Inn and Paraquet
Restaurant. Most of the parish's nightlife centers on Elbow Beach.
There are no major disadvantages to staying in Paget. You will find overcrowded
beaches during spring break, however, and congestion in the City of Hamilton in the
summer, when many cruise ships arrive.
Pembroke Parish
This parish (named after the third earl of Pembroke) houses one-quarter of Bermuda's
population. It is home to the
City of Hamilton,
Bermuda's capital and its only
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