Bermuda is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering an array of scenic trails that showcase the island’s breathtaking landscapes. From lush greenery to dramatic coastal views, these East End walks provide a perfect escape into nature. Among the captivating trails are Spittal Pond, where birdwatchers and nature lovers can revel in a rich ecological reserve; the Flatts to Bailey’s Bay trail, a tranquil journey through Bermuda’s charm; the mystical Blue Hole in Walsingham Reserve, brimming with hidden caves and crystal-clear grottos; and Abbot’s Cliff, offering panoramic vistas that make every step worthwhile.
Each walk promises a unique adventure and a closer connection to Bermuda’s natural beauty.
See a map key at the bottom of the page.
Flatts to Baileys Bay Railway Trail
Overview:
This hike follows the Railway Trail along North Shore and affords striking vistas of the coastline. You make a loop to Green Bay, which harbours one of Harrington Sound’s grottos. The Trail continues to Shelley Bay, as long arch of beach, and passed through the quiet anchorages of Burchall Cove, the Crawl, and Bailey’s Bay.
On the Trail
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Begin the hike at Flatt’s, a lively harbour at the mouth of Harrington Sound narrows. Walk carefully along North Shore Road for approximately a quarter of a mile. A grassy path spurs at the edge of the last house on the left side of the road. This path gets you back to the Railway Trail, with sweeping views over North Shore across to Dockyard. Walk up the hill and pass the plinths of the old Flatt’s Trestle. You may see herons stalking along this shore in summertime. Up the cliff is the old Aquarium Station, now a small Railway Museum.
Continue on the Trail along the coastline.
Mile 2.9, Kilometre 4.6
For a loop to Green Bay, walk through the breach in the hedge and across North Shore Road into Green Bay Lane. About 300 yards down to the left is the Green Bay grotto, opening to the deeper caves of Harrington Sound. Retrace your steps to the Trail. A hundred yards ahead, below the ruins of a chimney, you may see the remains of a boat slip from a shipyard that operated here in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Continue on the boardwalk to Shelly Bay Park.
Mile 3.7, Kilometre 5.9
Shelly Bay is a long arc of beach where you may find refreshments or stop for a swim. Remains of the Shelly Bay Trestle lie under the tamarisks. Follow the grassy path behind the beach into the nature reserve where herons and kingfishers live – hidden in the mangrove thicket that surrounds Eve’s Pond. At the eastern edge of the park, walk across the cricket pitch until you reach large cement steps on your left. Walk up the steps, left along the tennis court and through the parking lot.
Turn right onto Old Road and immediately left onto North Shore Road. A few yards down veer left into Burchall Cove, a quiet anchorage. Remains of a Railway bridge border the narrow cove entrance.
Mile 4.4, Kilometre 7.0
In Burchall Cove Park, walk uphill toward the shore to rejoin the Trail. After passing an old neighbourhood, walk safely across North Shore Road, pass the gas station, and return to the seashore. You rejoin the Trail in Crawl Station Park. Small fishing boats are anchored in the crawl – a natural enclosure where live fish were kept in old days. After passing through a limestone cutting, look down the cliff side where a flat area invites you to sit and watch the boats in the channel.
Mile 5.4, Kilometre 8.6
This portion of the coastline Trail is isolated, but offers spectacular views reaching across Dockyard to Ferry Point – See Hike 18. Walk through the dip that was straddled by Sisson’s Bay Trestle. Half a mile further, before the cemented dip of Clay’s Bay Trestle, take the narrow cement steps on your right to Winton Hill Lane. Remember to respect the privacy and quiet of the houses around you. Walk up the roadway and take a left on North Shore Road. Walk safely on the side of the road until you reach Bailey’s Bay. Walk around the bay and veer left on Bailey’s Bay Wharf Road at the far end for a sweeping view across the inlet, Bay Island in its centre, and the entire West End.
Mile 6.5, Kilometre 10.4
The Short Circuit ends at Bailey’s Bay, where you may take a St. George/Hamilton bus. To complete the Long Circuit, retrace your steps to Flatt’s.
Mile, 12.6, Kilometre 20.1
Arrive back at Flatt’s Village.
Abbot’s Cliff
Overview:
This hike takes you to the top of one of Bermuda’s highest cliffs overlooking Harrington Sound. The panoramic view over the island is well worth the short climb. So is the precipitous perspective over the entire ring of Harrington Sound, the largest inland lagoon in Bermuda.
On the Trail
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Begin the hike at the bottom of Abbot’s Cliff Drive, and walk up the paved road through a quiet neighbourhood. Remember to respect the privacy and quiet of the houses around you. At the intersection with Abbot’s Cliff Close, follow the trailhead on your left. This grassy path skirts farmland. At the far end of the farm field, take the path up the hill and begin the short ascent.
Mile, 0.4, Kilometre 0.6
At the top of the hill, follow the narrow grass path on your right leading to the cliff edge. Stand behind the railing at all times. You are facing South Shore with the view to St. David’s Lighthouse to the east. You can see Flatt’s and Dockyard on the west side of the Sound. Harrington Sound is a lagoon linked to the sea through the Flatt’s isthmus and a vast underwater cave system.
You may see one of Harrington Sound’s cave openings at Green Bay. A collapse of the limestone cap created the lagoon and cave system. The lagoon is only 45 to 60 feet deep, with a sandy bottom covering the peat from a prehistoric forest. The seafloor is home to one of the most varied sponge communities in the world, with more than 50 distinct species, as well as local conchs and clams.
Mile 0.5, Kilometre 0.6
Back on the hillcrest, take a right on the wide grassy path sloping down in the direction opposite the trailhead. Follow the path that curves left and enter a shaded dirt trail bordered by low limestone walls. This road ends in a farm field 200 yards further down. Veer left on the grassy path for another 200 yards to the park’s eastern entrance on Abbot’s Cliff Road.
Walk down the paved road through a quiet neighbourhood past Valley View Crescent, Link Lane, and Farm Lane.
Rejoin North Shore Road and veer left. About 0.2 mile further, you are back at your starting point.
Mile 1.1, Kilometre 1.7
Back where you began, Abbot’s Cliff Drive.
Spittal Pond Nature Reserve
Overview:
This hike takes you through a variety of coastal rock formations, including Spittal Pond and the Chequerboard, as well as to the earliest sign of human presence on Bermuda.
On the Trail
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Begin the hike at the park eastern entrance, walk down the path toward the pond, and veer right before the enclosure. Spittal Pond is an Audubon sanctuary and hosts flocks of migrating birds. The path contours the northern side of the pond, through a thicket of pepper, spice, palmetto, and fiddlewood trees. The saltwater lake fills a limestone depression, its waters replenished by rain and waves. The path turns uphill alongside farmland before ending on South Road, where you veer left toward the park’s western entrance.
Mile 0.4, Kilometre 0.6
From the western entrance follow the path down the valley and up a tunnel of fragrant spice and pepper. You may come across herons hunting land crabs among the casuarinas. Stay on the main trail or follow the path spurring to a tidal cove on your right.
Mile 0.8, Kilometre 1.4
Follow the sign on the right to the Chequerboard, a natural assemblage of square limestone slabs that resemble a game board polished by the roll of boulders. In April and May you may sight humpback whales migrating to the feeding grounds of Nova Scotia from the Caribbean as they pass just off the reef. Continue along the coastline and up some stone stairs to Jeffrey’s Cave – a blowhole gaping at your feet. Jeffrey was reputedly an escaped enslaved person who was found hiding in this cavern and sent back to servitude. Continue on the cliff and up some more stone stairs to Spanish Rock.
Mile 1.2, Kilometre 1.9
Spanish Rock looks over the southern horizon. The small stone engravings at your feet are the earliest sign of human presence in Bermuda.
Historians believe that the Portuguese landed on the island in 1543 and carved here the letters RP – for Rex Portugaliae – and the cross of the Portuguese Order of Christ. Follow the path sloping down away from the coast and turn right at the base of the hill. By the side of the pond a spur trail leads to a bird watching area, where you may spot moorhens, ducks, and herons. The main trail continues alongside the pond.
Stay on the trail or follow one of the sandy paths on your right to the shoreline. Do not attempt to swim along this rough shoreline.
Mile 1.6, Kilometre 2.6
As you exit the enclosed area, you may retrace your steps directly to the parking lot, or scramble up the right side of the rock overhang in a short loop up to a rocky lookout. Do not climb down the cliff face. Follow the left path down back to the parking lot.
Mile 1.8, Kilometre 2.9
Spittal Pond eastern parking lot.
Blue Hole Park & Walsingham
Overview:
This hike takes you to several grottoes and sea pools that are part of the cave system linking Castle Harbour to Harrington Sound. The Long Circuit continues through scrambling areas and the Walsingham jungle.
On the Trail
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From the parking lot follow the trailhead sign and turn right up the paved road. The bird blind on your right fronts a small pond that is home to kingfishers and moorhens. Continue up the hill for about 100 yards and enter the breach in the hedge to your right under the lamp post. This path leads to the opening of the Causeway Grotto. This area is slippery so do not lean over the railing. This grotto is part of the underwater cave system that links Harrington Sound to Castle Harbour. The cave system and its endemic species are protected under the Cave Protection Act and the Walsingham Trust rules.
Permission is required to access the caves. If you wish to see the inside of a cave complex, visit the nearby Crystal Caves on Wilkinson Avenue.
Mile 0.1, Kilometre 0.2
Continue up the main driveway and follow the sign to Castle Grottoes on the left shoreline. The shores of Castle Harbour are dotted with such cave open-ings. Beware this area is slippery and you may need a flashlight. Walk across the field to the deck overlooking Blue Grotto, a sea pool of deep blue waters fringed by mangroves.
Mile 0.3, Kilometre 0.5
Blue Grotto is the turning point for the Short Circuit. You may retrace your steps to the parking lot.
To complete the Long Circuit, walk back on the driveway for a few yards and take the steps up on your left between the palm trees. The Walsingham Nature Reserve trailhead is a few yards to your left. The trail follows the coastline under an archway of cherry trees. About 150 yards from the trailhead a breach in the hedge to your left opens up on Castle Harbour. This bay was a busy anchorage in the 17th and 18ch centuries before silting caused it to be abandoned.
Mile 0.4, Kilometre 0.6
About 25 yards away take the well-defined trail on your right, away from the seashore. Stay on this main trail – passing two paths spurring left within a few yards – until you reach a scenic sea pool. The Irish poet Thomas Moore is reputed to have written his Bermuda poems in this area. Walk back a few steps and take the first spur path to your right. The trail leads to a clearing surrounded by grottoes and the throat of the deep Walsingham cave. Many footpaths branch off this area.
Continue straight up the main path in the direction of the rock overhang ahead of you. Be aware that you have to scramble over this rock to continue. You may shorten your hike at this point and backtrack to Blue Hole.
Mile 0.6, Kilometre 1.0
The trail continues through an area riddled with cave openings. Beware not to slip if you approach their entrance. The path ends at a T-junction where you make a left. This trail crosses Tom Moore’s jungle, a forest of Surinam cherry trees, fiddlewood, spice and pepper trees, palmettos, giant ferns, cedars, and rare olivewood trees. Many footpaths crisscross this area. Stay on the established trail to avoid getting lost. About 100 yards ahead the trail meets a Y-junction where you veer left. About 300 yards later the trail ends on a paved road-way.
Mile 0.9, Kilometre 1.4
Make a left on the roadway that ends at Tom Moore’s Tavern. This house dates back to the 1650s, and has been a restaurant for many years. Notice the old walled fish crawl where live captured fish were kept.
Walsingham Bay on your right offers a quiet anchorage to neighborhood boats. Walsingham Lake on the opposite side is a sea pond rich in fish life. You may spot colorful angelfish through a breach in the mangrove thicket. The trailhead is behind the house to the left. The trail first follows the pond, then Castle Harbour’s shoreline. Bear right along the shoreline as you pass a spur trail on your left. About 150 yards further you are back at the trailhead. Retrace your steps to the parking lot.
Mile 1.6, Kilometre 2.5
Blue Hole Park parking lot.
Hiking Bermuda: 20 Nature Walks and Day Hikes (revised edition) by Cecile Davidson published in Bermuda in 2010 available in bookstores island wide.
