3 December Touring Bermuda by local bus

We couldn't leave Bermy without checking each corner of the island and the local bus service is an excellent and inexpensive way to get around. An all day ticket cost $19 each for buses and ferries. In a normal year there are several ferries, even one that links St Georges to the Navy Dockyard across from Hamilton. Today we caught a bus Hamilton (social distancing with every other seat blocked off) which linked with the ferry to the old Naval dockyard.

Royal Naval Dockyard

The Royal Navy Dockyard was built by the British in the early 19^th century as a defensive outpost after the American War of Independence left Britain without a secure base between Halifax, Nova Scotia and the West Indies. It remained a working Naval post until it was closed in 1955. Then in the 1980s it was restored as a tourist attraction, a cruise ship destination and a marina. Without cruise ships it is quiet; we were two of six tourists.

Where are the reindeer?

From the dockyard we hopped the bus to quaint Somerset village to pick up the old railway trail to Scaur Hill Fort for views of the inner harbour and across to Hamilton.

local bird

Scaur Hill Fort

Continuing walking on the old railway trail which linked the Dockyard to St Georges for a short period in the 1930s we reached Somerset Bridge; the smallest drawbridge in the world. Only wide enough to allow the mast of a sailboat to pass.

Smallest drawbridge

The next bus took us to Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, made of cast iron and constructed in 1846 reportedly with excellent views from the top except it is closed at moment.

Gibbs Hill lighthouse

I would have liked to step on one of the fabled pink sand beaches on the south side of the island. Normally packed with visitors they were empty, and the walk down a long way in the hot afternoon sun so I had to be satisfied with a view from the road.

Horseshoe bay

We arrived back in Hamilton before the sun went down. There was time to visit the best supermarket on the island for provisions before Ruby Murry's curry house opened for evening service. A tasty treat to end our day of exploration before one more bus ride completed the circle taking us back to St Georges and our waiting dinghy.