Bermuda is a tiny island but we have lots of hidden gems that are worth exploring, or worth exploring again! Every week we pick out our favourite spots in Bermuda for you to visit.
Fort St. Catherine
With the recent development of the St. Regis hotel, many residents are wondering if a classic attraction of St. George’s will still be open to the public – Fort St. Catherine and its beach below. The Desarrollos Hotelco Group has made it a priority to preserve public access to these historic areas, and the artillery fort is a wonderful place to explore before cooling off in the ocean. Fort St. Catherine’s beach is quieter than St. George’s Tobacco Bay, and gives beachgoers plenty of opportunity to enjoy the sun undisturbed. The historic fort it surrounds was an essential look out point for vessels coming into Bermuda from the Atlantic Ocean and now houses a museum.
Paget Marsh
Bermuda’s habitats host an incredibly diverse range of species despite its small size. Unfortunately, many habitats not seen as attractive or beneficial to humans have been neglected, and none more so than the freshwater pond, many of which were filled in during the 1920s-70s. These ponds have a layer of peat on the bottom (that gives them their characteristic funk!), which prevents water from draining away and provides the opportunity for various birds, fish, and plants to survive. Paget Marsh is the best-preserved freshwater marsh on island due to the efforts of the National Trust, The Audubon Society, and David Wingate. It is definitely worth a visit to the shaded reserve, populated with boardwalks that let visitors walk among the mangroves and over marshy soils with ease.
Verdmont House
This elegant old Bermuda house turned museum is an important site for the African Diaspora Heritage Trail. The large house has been beautifully restored, and boasts grounds full of native plants like cedar and palmetto, and a shaded citrus garden. The Trust maintains the 300 year old property, including three floors, a drawing room and parlour, and various artifacts from the 1700s, including ornate wooden furniture, silver ornaments and children’s toys. Slaves built and maintained the property for 125 years until slavery was abolished on island, and the slaves’ quarters and outhouses can still be explored today. Individuals interested in Bermudian heritage and Diaspora will be excited to tour the ancient house, which many believe is haunted.
