Day 9 - Part 3: Fort Hamilton

Fort Hamilton was built in the 1870s, on the orders of the Duke of Wellington. Hewn out of solid rock by the Royal Engineers and designed to repel any attack on the city of Hamilton the fort was fully manned for the next twenty years, with long range guns operated by the British Army's Royal Artillery. The guns were never fired at an enemy, however, and the grounds have been transformed into a lovely park area including moat gardens lined with ferns, bamboos and many other plants. 

  

































































In 1962 British horticulturalist George Ogden arrived in Bermuda to take up the role of Parks Superintendent. He set about clearing the moat which had been used as a dumping ground. As a result of Ogden’s hard work, the moat area has been transformed into a shady sanctuary that provides visitors with a peaceful and serene retreat.

 

Built on a prominent hill on the outskirts of Hamilton, the fort offers visitors spectacular views of both the city and the harbour area.

 

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Day 3 - Part 4: Ferry from Hamilton to Dockyard

The public ferry service offers a scenic alternative to the bus in Bermuda. The ferries are modern high speed catamarans, making a ferry journey in many cases the faster travelling option. The fastest ferry from the City of Hamilton to the Royal Naval Dockyard takes just 20 minutes, while the bus ride takes about an hour. 

Leaving Hamilton behind

Sailboats in the Great Sound

Hamilton Princess

 A precarious occupation

Ferry arriving at Royal Naval Dockyard

The West End of Bermuda is home to the historic buildings of the former Royal Naval Dockyard.

King's Wharf and Heritage Wharf are two adjacent cruise ship terminals; they are the only docks in Bermuda which are capable of accommodating today's larger vessels.

Outdoor concerts are held regularly at Dockyard. Summer 2013 saw weekly John Lennon tribute concerts, with local singers performing both Lennon's and Beatles music. Lennon visited the island in 1980 and shortly thereafter wrote the album Double Fantasy, released just before his untimely death.

In the summer months, thousands of cruise ship passengers descend on the small shops located in the Clocktower Mall. Built in the 19^thcentury as administration offices for the British Royal Navy, the building now houses an array of boutiques and souvenir shops. The former Cooperage building is home to a craft market. Local artists can be seen demonstrating their skills, including cedar carving and jewellery making.

Clocktower Mall

Options for dining out include the Bone Fish Bar & Grill and the Frog & Onion Pub.

Bermuda Moongate

North Rock is an isolated limestone outcrop on the edge of the reefs surrounding the island..In 1912, a beacon was placed on North Rock, as a shipping aid.
It was rebuilt in 1960 and again in 1990. This fountain in Dockyard is mounted on a concrete base which was the foundation of the 1960 beacon. The  area surrounding North Rock is a strictly no fishing zone. The resulting abundance of fish making it a popular diving and snorkelling area.

 Catching the last bus from Dockyard enables you to enjoy the stunning sunset.

 The evening's entertainment begins for the lucky children on their cruise.

Meanwhile, on the last bus of the day from Dockyard, we spotted some rare vandalism. A reminder that social problems exist, even in a seemingly blissful island paradise.


More information about Dockyard here...

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