Bermuda- Touring Southampton Parish, Page 2
From Whale Bay Fort, walk back up Whale Bay Road, catch a number 7 bus, and continue eastward to Lighthouse Road. You’ll travel about a mile to a point where the road forks and turns southward to the coast road and the beaches. Lighthouse Road is 2½ miles from Whale Bay Road.
As you travel along South Road you’ll pass by many of the
best beaches on the islands. Stop the bus any time you feel
like exploring. Leave the bus at Church Road and spend
some time on the beach in the public park at Church Bay,
and then stroll along the road going eastward to Lighthouse
Road. It’s a walk of a little more than a mile. Along the way,
on the right, you’ll pass by the Reefs Hotel at Christian Bay
and the Sonesta Beach Hotel a little farther on. Look down
from the clifftops to the sea and the beaches; the views are
wonderful. Be sure to take your camera!
When you get off the bus you’ll turn left onto Lighthouse Road and walk for a couple of hundred yards or so up the hill to Gibbs Hill Lighthouse (Stop 2), 441-238-8069 or 238- 5703. This magnificent lighthouse is one of the oldest of its kind in the world. Built of cast iron, its construction started in England in 1844. The plates were shipped to Bermuda and assembled on the site. At 117 feet tall, it stands on a hill 245 feet above sea level for a combined 362 feet; it’s one of the highest spots on the islands.
Note: The original lamp at Gibbs Hill was a great wickand oil affair. Today, its 1,000-wattbulb casts abeam of light that can, on a clear day, be seen byships more than 40 miles out to sea. Aircraft cansee it from more than 120 miles away. In timespast it relied upon its rotating reflectors to attractthe attentionof ships thatstrayed too close to therocks. These days the beam is locked onto waywardvesselsby radar.
There’s a small souvenir shop in the building at the foot of the tower where you can purchase gifts, T-shirts and such. The grounds are well kept and a pleasant place to stroll or sit for a while.
Now, how about a trip to the top? If you decide to take it on,
you’ll negotiate a spiral staircase of 185 steps. Its not a climb
for the faint-hearted, but the view is worth the exertion
(there are stops along the way where you can rest and catch
your breath). The balcony offers a spectacular all-around
view of Bermuda. If you have a problem with heights, however,
stay on the ground. The tower sways slightly in the
wind and the balcony is narrow, with only a guard rail between
you and the ground 127 feet below. After your climb to
the top and back down again, a little light refreshment will
definitely be welcome. If so, there’s no better place to get it
than in the Lighthouse Tearoom. Here, for less than $15,
you can enjoy an old-fashioned English cream tea for two:
scones, butter and clotted cream, along with a generous pot
of tea.
If you’re an early bird, you can take breakfast in the
Tearoom, and that’s another culinary experience you won’t
want to miss. The Tearoom is open Monday through Saturday
from 9 am until 5 – yes, they serve lunch as well – and on
Sundays from 2 pm until 4:30. If you collect miniature lighthouses
and related paraphernalia, you must drop in at the
gift shop where you’ll find all sorts of interesting bits and
pieces, as well T-shirts and other assorted souvenirs. The
lighthouse is open daily from 9 am until 4:30 pm. Admission
is $2.50. If you have a bus pass, admission is free.
Know Before You Go!