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Sandys · Bermuda
The far west of Bermuda: the former British naval base with the National Museum, the cruise port, Somerset Village, the Somerset Bridge and the bays of Sandys parish.
In the photo: The Somerset Bridge and the waters between Sandys and the main island.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Sandys parish forms the far west of Bermuda, a chain of islands linked by bridges: Somerset, Watford, Boaz and Ireland. This is where most visitors arriving by ship disembark.
At the northern tip, on Ireland Island, is the Royal Naval Dockyard, built beginning in 1809 as the Royal Navy’s main base in the Western Atlantic and used until 1995. The walls of the fortress called the Keep now house the National Museum of Bermuda, and the stone warehouses have become shops, restaurants and the departure point for boat trips. Cruise ships dock at the neighboring piers.
To the south, the scenery is calmer. Somerset Village overlooks Mangrove Bay, and the Somerset Bridge, a small wooden drawbridge, has connected Somerset Island to the main island since the 17th century. Nearby are Fort Scaur, which looks over the Great Sound, and beaches and parks such as Somerset Long Bay and Hog Bay Park.
In summer, the Cup Match, a cricket game between the Somerset club and the St. George’s club, alternates its venue between the two ends of the island and is one of Bermuda’s biggest holidays.
This destination brings together 2 cities: Royal Naval Dockyard, Somerset Village.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Dados cartográficos: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
✈ L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA), in St. George's · 38 km to Royal Naval Dockyard
Cruise ships dock at the Dockyard. From Hamilton, the blue-line ferry goes straight to the Dockyard, and the green-line ferry stops at Watford Bridge and Cavello Bay; buses follow the main road. The airport is at the opposite end.
Suggested arrival point: Royal Naval Dockyard
The former Royal Navy base on Ireland Island, at Bermuda’s far west, now the main cruise port. The Keep fortress houses the National Museum of Bermuda; the stone warehouses contain shops, restaurants and the departure point for boat tours.
Small village on the shore of Mangrove Bay, on Somerset Island in western Bermuda. Quiet streets, houses by the water and, nearby, the Somerset drawbridge, Fort Scaur, Somerset Long Bay beach and the trails of Hog Bay Park.
The local experience
Museum in the Keep fortress of the Royal Naval Dockyard, featuring the Commissioner’s House, the ramparts and galleries about maritime history, shipwrecks and life in Bermuda.
Small drawbridge that links Somerset Island to the main island, mentioned in 1620, with a wooden opening just wide enough for a sailing mast to pass.
A military cemetery on Ireland Island, also called The Glade, with graves of sailors, soldiers and families connected to the naval base.
19th-century British fort atop Scaur Hill on Somerset Island, with a dry moat, tunnels and views over the Great Sound and Ely’s Harbour.
The largest beach in western Bermuda, on the north coast of Somerset Island, with shallow calm water and a nature reserve alongside.
Park in southwest Sandys with trails through former farmland, ruins of a lime kiln and a descent to Hog Bay inlet.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
April to October is cruise season and the time for Somerset’s beaches, with the sea warmest from June to October; hurricane season runs from June to November. From November to March there are fewer ferries and less activity at the Dockyard, and the cooler air makes the museum and the forts pleasant to visit.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
One day for the National Museum and the Dockyard; another for Somerset Village, the bridge, Fort Scaur and the western beaches. Visitors arriving by ship often use the Dockyard as a base for island excursions.
Cruise passengers already arrive at the Dockyard. On land, Somerset Village and the surrounding bays, like Mangrove Bay and Ely’s Harbour, offer peaceful waterside lodging. To get around the whole island, the town of Hamilton, connected to the Dockyard by ferry, is more central.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
Visit the National Museum of Bermuda inside the old fortress, walk among the stone warehouses and take boat trips that depart from there. Buses and taxis from the Dockyard can quickly take you to Somerset and the South Shore beaches.
The blue-line ferry is the fastest route, crossing the Great Sound. The bus travels the road with stops and takes longer.
One day for the Dockyard and the museum and another for Somerset Village, the bridge and the beaches. Cruise visitors often visit the Dockyard on their arrival day.
It’s a two-day cricket match between the Somerset club and the St. George’s club, held in late July or early August over two national holidays. The celebration surrounding the game is one of Bermuda’s largest traditions.
Generally from April to October, when ships mainly call at the Royal Naval Dockyard.
