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Gibbs Hill Lighthouse

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Cat19
Cat19
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4 out of 5
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1
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Vantage Point

  • July 3, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Cat19 from Stocking Pelham, United Kingdom
Vantage Point

In the middle of the Atlantic ocean and some 600 miles from the US coastline, there is a 20 mile by 2 mile stretch of islands making up Bermuda. The islands are surrounded by coral reef and it is no real surprise that in days gone by shipwrecks were very common in the area. Indeed, if one looks a map of dive spots in the vicinity there is a clear ring of them all around the island. To date there have been 300 shipwrecks in the waters around Bermuda.

In 1844 the construction of Gibbs Hill Lighthouse began and it opened for business two years later. The lighthouse is made of cast iron and the oldest of this type in the world. It is still fully operational but is open to visitors (seven days a week 9am – 5pm) and in my opinion offers the best views of Bermuda and photo opportunities.

The lighthouse is situated in Southampton to the west of the island. Visitors can easily travel here by bus, the number 7 from Hamilton travels the length of the south shore road and is probably most convenient. You should alight at the Henry VIII the pub from where it is about a ten minute walk. As the lighthouse is on one of the narrowest parts of the island, it is also accessible from the number 8 bus, which travels along the middle shore road.

The lighthouse is on a hill that stands 250 feet above sea level and the structure itself measures another 117 feet high. Tickets to climb the lighthouse are purchased in the gift shop and it is a nominal fee of a couple of dollars. With ticket bought, you may start the 185 step climb to the top. It is not a particularly difficult climb, probably sounds worse than it really is and anybody in reasonable health would manage it. There are platforms along the way if you do need to take a breather though and little windows all the way up to take a peek out. At the top, you can step out onto the platform around the edge and walk the circumference, there is an iron railing for protection. It was windy one of the days I went up and I could feel the lighthouse swaying, but I still felt very safe.

From the top it is possible to see most of Bermuda and of course out to the Atlantic Ocean. I have heard that at certain time of the year, one might see whales migrating but I did not have that good fortune. The beam of light emitted can be seen by ships from 40 miles away and from aeroplanes from 120 miles away for a plane at 10,000 feet.

Back at the bottom, there is a reasonably well stocked gift shop and I have bought some items here. There is also a very nice tea shop offering a good selection of meals and beverages, for reasonable prices.

Just across the road from the lighthouse there is a viewing point known as Queens View. It was where Queen Elizabeth II stopped to admire the scenery herself during a visit some fifty years ago. There is a memorial plaque here and the look out points across the northern shore.

It is well worth taking a morning to travel over to Southampton to see the lighthouse.

From journal Two years in Bermuda

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