The oldest evidence of humans on our island are the initials “RP” and the date “1543” carved into what we call Spanish Rock – even though historians believe a Portuguese sailor made the carving. You can find a bronze cast of the original rock in Spittal Pond Nature Reserve.

Gilbert Nature Reserve and Springfield

 

On the main road in Somerset Village, the reserve comprises five acres of unspoiled woodland with paths connecting to the Railway Trail. In the northeastern corner, visitors will find some of the few remaining examples of mature cedars. The area is also an excellent spot for bird watching. Adjacent to the reserve is Springfield, one of Bermuda’s architectural treasures.

29 Somerset Road
Sandys Parish

Gladys Morrell Nature Reserve

Located on the crest of the hill rising from Mangrove Bay village, this small nature reserve is a hidden gem. Many varieties of endemic trees, including olivewood bark and cedar, flourish here. The reserve is also a natural nesting area of our bluebirds.

East Shore Road
Sandys Parish

Hog Bay Park

Stroll along shaded paths past agricultural fields, woodlands, an ancient lime kiln and abandoned cottages. This 32-acre park comprises mostly beautiful rural countryside, but a highlight is the steep coastal hillside that slopes down to Brown’s Bay, the westernmost shoreline of our island. Birdwatchers frequently patrol the footpaths and farm tracks here. View map

Middle Road
Sandys Parish

Somerset Long Bay Park and Nature Reserve

The Bermuda Audubon Society manages this nature reserve and its freshwater pond, which attracts migrating birds spring and fall. A nature trail guides visitors through the reserve, which borders a stretch of pretty white beach.

Cambridge Road
Sandys Parish

Warwick Pond

This nine-acre nature reserve holds our second largest freshwater pond and acts as an important sanctuary for both resident and migratory waterfowl. Some of the island’s largest allspice trees flourish here, along with a number of our last surviving endemic cedars. The park’s eastern hillside, part of an extensive woodland belt, borders the entire length of the Bermuda Railway Trail.

A nature trail with interpretive signs about different aspects of the flora and fauna on display winds around the pond.

Middle Road
Warwick Parish