Spittal Pond Nature Reserve Bermuda

Spittal Pond Nature Reserve

Spittal Pond, located in Smiths Parish Bermuda, is the largest and the most premium nature reserve and national park of the island. It spreads over some 64-acres of land area.

This Nature Reserve is co-owned by Bermuda National Trust and Bermuda Government. The reserve stretches along the south shore coastal line and at its center is the 8-acre Spittal Pond. It’s a sprawling sanctuary with a valley having the large brackish pond, several other freshwater ponds with surrounding marsh and woodland areas.

There is a winding trail through all these climbing to a spectacular views over the south shore. This area originally was comprised of 10 strips of privately held land. However due to large parts being salt marshes, it was unsuitable for development. In 1946, historian and conservationist Dr. Henry Wilkinson purchased a segment of the land at the eastern end and donated the 4.2 acres land area to the Bermuda National Trust in 1973.

Spittal Pond Bermuda

Bermuda Government bought the remaining parts as and when they became available. Some areas in the western side has been leased out to dairy farmers. In 1966 the first nature trail was created around the park. It was only in 1986 when Spittal Pond actually became a protected nature reserve under the National Park act.

The Reserve has two entrances along South Road. Both have parking lots and lead to the winding trail.

We entered through the western entrance. From the parking lot we followed the trail through the woods.

Here we saw Bermuda cedar and prickly pear cactus. As you go through the woodland area, you can see trees like Bermuda olivewoods, casuarinas as well as palmettos and pittosporum. There are also many spice trees and Mexican pepper trees along the trail.

You will see lots of wildflowers as well like the Jamaican wireweed with its tiny beautiful pale apricot flowers. As we came out of the wooded area, Spittal Pond was on the left. The pond itself is a wildlife sanctuary and protected by a fence.

Just before the gate to the sanctuary and to the right is the strange Checkerboard, an unusual geological formation on the coastline. It is a large flat floor of limestone with grooves that divide it into squares.

We heard that even experts are unable to say whether human hands or the sea had crafted such work. While the area is of great interest to the geologists, we heard that in 18th century, whalers used this place to strip the whales after they were hauled to the shore.

As we watched the continuously pounding waves on the coastline along this area, I wondered how the whalers managed to do such jobs. If you look over the coastline, with some luck you can even get a sight of the migrating whales from here during the migration season. Some parts of the coastline is a favorite fishing area for many locals.

The Spittal Pond is also a large bird sanctuary and one of the best bird watching locations in Bermuda. Most of the bird-life can be seen from the trail itself.

Bermuda Longtail Bird

From October to May, the Spittal Pond Nature Reserve becomes home to a wide variety of migratory shorebirds and waterfowl.

Resident birds in the forest area include Kiskadee, Grey Catbird, White-eyed Vireo, Northern Cardinal and European Goldfinch. During the winter time, you can spot black and white Warblers, American Redstart, Ovenbird and Northern Waterthrush. We have spotted birds like woodland cardinals, finches, mallards, turnstones, sandpipers, white long tails, blue herons, white egrets, occasionally visiting hawks, and the yellow crowned night herons.

Next was the Jeffrey’s Hole, a cave with an overhead hole. This was used as a temporary shelter by a slave who escaped his master.

Further up the trail is the Spanish Rock, a historic carving on an exposed rocky cliff face. It’s believed to be the work of Portuguese sailors of a wrecked ship. The inscription, now cast in bronze, includes letters that look like "RP" possibly for Rex Portugaliae, referring to Portugal’s king and dated 1543. The original rock no longer exists and a bronze cast of the original stands in its place today.

Admission to the reserve is Free. There is a guided 90-minute tour offered for Spittal Pond Nature Reserve on Tuesday afternoons, starting at 1:30pm from Waterville. Tours cost $50 per person with transportation included.

If you like to enjoy a lovely beach after the tour of the Spittal Pond and can walk a little, take the South Road for John Smith's Beach. While there is barely any sidewalk and the traffic might be heavy at times, if you are watchful it's worth this one mile walk. You will be rewarded with a wonderful tranquil beach.

Spittal Pond Open Hours

The Reserve is open Daily from dawn to dusk.

Location & Contacts

South Road, Smith's Parish.

Call 441/236-6483 for further information.

Buses #1 and #3 go to Spittal pond.

Check out Bermuda Tourist Map to view the location of the place.

Check out Bermuda Nature Reserves to know about all the wonderful parks, gardens and nature reserves in Bermuda.

Check out Bermuda Nature Trails for the best trails to explore Bermuda's nature on foot.

Check out Bermuda Must See Places to know about the top places to visit in Bermuda.

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