Bermuda - Touring Hamilton Parish2
Continued from Page 1: Leamington Caves, Stop 25, are just a little farther south
along Harrington Sound Road. Again, it’s just a short walk
from Stop 24, so you can stroll in the sunshine and enjoy the
view along the way.
Leamington Caves are smaller and less impressive than Cahow Lake. A grotto with lots of stalactites, stalagmites and other rock formations, it’s still worth time out for a visit. One of the more interesting rock formations is an amber pillar the staff has named the Statue of Liberty. It’s a little difficult to make the connection, but you can decide that for yourself. If you’d like a bite to eat before you visit the cave, try the Plantation. Lunch will cost you $15 or so per erson, but that entitles you to visit the caves for free. Otherwise the entrance fee is $4 for adults and $2 for children aged 4 to 12. The caves are open from 10 am until 4 pm, Monday through Saturday from mid-February through late November. They are closed December and January.
Continue south along Harrington Sound Road for about a
mile to Tucker’s Town, Stop 26. You can take a bus if you
like, but the walk is quite pleasant if time allows.
Daniel Tucker was one of the first governors of Bermuda. In
1616 he decided to move his home from St. George’s to a new
settlement on Castle Harbour. Work was begun on the new
town. Some streets and small houses made it off the drawing
board into reality, but eventually the project was abandoned.
Tucker’s Town became a tiny fishing community and existed
as such for 300 years until after the end of the First World
War in 1918. Around that time a large tract of Tucker’s Town
was purchased for use as a country club and steamship
dock. The result of that purchase is the Mid-Ocean Club and
the Marriott Castle
Harbour Hotel.
Soon after the
club was founded,
its members
started building
homes in the surrounding
area.
Today, the community
is the
most affluent on
the islands. Only
club members are
allowed to purchase
property here and homes sell for upwards of $2 million.
Stop 27 is below the Mid-Ocean Golf Club clubhouse on the South Shore. Natural Arches is one of the most beautiful and, consequently, most photographed spots on the island. Its major attractions are the two natural stone arches carved by the action of the wind and surf over many thousands of years. Walk on down to the South Shore Road, where you’ll find signs pointing the way to Castle Harbour and Natural Arches.
When you’ve finished at Natural Arches, continue eastward
to Castle Island, Stop 28; you either have to walk or take a
taxi. The walk is one of the most beautiful on the islands.
You won’t see many people along the way, but you will enjoy
wonderful views and the fresh
salt breeze. Castle Island is
one of a group of islands located
at the tip of the southern
peninsula that bounds Castle
Harbour. The islands were fortified
by the first settlers soon
after they landed on Bermuda
in the early 17th century;
hence the name Castle Harbour. Today, the islands are a
part of Bermuda’s nature reserves, and you can go
birdwatching, hiking and picnicking along the way.
Know Before You Go!