Southampton Parish

Introducing Southampton Parish

If you had to sum up the crowning characteristic of Southampton Parish in one word, it's a cinch - beaches. Fantastic beaches - whether your preference is sunbathing, swimming or snorkeling, there's a beach in the parish to suit everyone's seaside requirements. Little wonder there are more hotel rooms in Southampton than in any other parish on the whole island. What's more, the recreational choices don't stop at the water's edge. Southampton boasts golfing opportunities for players of every level from miniature golf to championship greens. The range of accommodations will suit any taste as well, with quiet cottages and pampering small hotels contrasted against big oceanfront resorts. Some accommodations are located so close to the water that you can just mosey on out of your room and step right on to the beach, while others are built around the edges of golfing greens.

Southampton Parish, sometimes referred to as the western elbow of Bermuda, is bordered by Little Sound to the north and the Atlantic to the south. Because the land is so long and thin, with a width that tapers to a mere one-third of a mile at its narrowest point, wherever you are in the parish you're just minutes from the water. The north side of the parish is residential with a rocky shoreline; all those gorgeous pink-sand beaches and picture-postcard bays and coves run along the south coast. If you're up for a hike, a gem of a trail connects the south shore beaches, offering dramatic scenery to the hiker en route.

To take in a panoramic vista of both the north and south shores in one fell swoop, climb to the top of the historic Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. While you're there, enjoy some tea in one of Bermuda's most atmospheric settings, the lighthouse tea room. Seaside dining while you breathe the scent of the salt air is another treat to be savored in Southampton Parish.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009