Bermuda- Touring Southampton Parish, Page 3
Stop 3 is just a little farther along the road to the east. From
the lighthouse, walk back down the hill to South Road,
where you can either grab a bus or turn left and walk for
about a mile to South Shore Park on your right. You’ll see
the bays and beaches from your vantage point on the road
high above. Photographers should take advantage of the far-reaching
views here.
From South Road, walk down the winding road to the park
and Horseshoe Bay, the first of a long line of bays and
beaches that stretches eastward for more than four miles
through Warwick Parish to Elbow Beach in Paget.
Before you leave the road, however, you might like to try Tio Pepe’s, 441-238-1897, a neat roadside eatery close to the
entrance of Horseshoe Bay. You can have lunch there and
they also offer food to go. They serve good Italian cuisine and
their pizza might be just what you need for a picnic on the
beach.
It’s very easy for a writer to get carried
away when describing the
South Shore. The area must be one
of the most beautiful vacation
spots in the world. From Horseshoe
Bay, the pinkish sand and the
vast turquoise ocean seems to
stretch to infinity. The waves, always
heavier on this side of the island,
surge over the beaches and
in and out of the rocky inlets and
secluded coves. In one spot it
might be easy to believe you are on
the rocky coastline of Scotland, in
another you could be on the beach
in Florida. Each tiny section of the
South Shore is unique.
Horseshoe Bay is perhaps the best known of the South Shore beaches. The great crescent of sand and sea stretches for several hundred yards and can, at peak periods, become extremely crowded. It’s the place as far as Bermudians are concerned, the center of the islands’ weekend social scene. Locals flock to Horseshoe for the sun, sand and sea. It’s also the place where the local teenagers hang out. And it’s one of two beaches on the islands where there are lifeguards on duty during the summer – the other is John Smith’s Bay in Smith’s Parish, way off to the east. Even though there are lifeguards, you’ll need to be careful of the undertow, which can be severe on windy days; keep a sharp eye on your youngsters.
There are public toilets and a snack bar. At either end of the bay, rocky outcrops offer a tempting opportunity to go climbing. If you do, be sure to stay on the well-worn paths. A fall from the top could put an end to your vacation.
At this point you can either go back to the road and head east (although a bus is not really necessary) or you can walk along the beach. Back on the road you’ll turn right and walk for about a quarter-mile before turning left onto Camp Hill Road. Here you’ll find Warwick Camp. You are now in Warwick Parish.
Know Before You Go!