Shelly Bay Beach Bermuda

 
 

About Shelly Bay Beach

 
The beach is located in Hamilton Parish. It has been named after Henry Shelly, one of the crew members of the wrecked ship Sea Venture
 
It was in this ship that Sir George Somers and his men landed in Bermuda in 1609 which led to the first human settlement in Bermuda. The ship got wrecked at a reef near St. George's.  
 
Shelly Bay Beach Bermuda 
 
There are plenty of trees fringing the beach that provide shades. The beach has lovely soft white sand. Shelly Bay Beach is often rated as the Number #1 beach for kids and families in Bermuda because of its extensive stretch of shallow waters. 
 
The beach is ideal for novice swimmers and children. This beach is also great for snorkeling. There is a shallow reef nearby which is a good snorkel site.  
 
 
 
Shelly bay is also popular for the island's wind surfing community and ideally suited for the sport during northern wind conditions. 
 
Along the beach there is a mangrove tidal pool. You can find many colorful and different species of birds here. 
 
Shelly Bay Beach, Bermuda 
 
The adjacent Shelly Bay Beach Park has picnic facilities and extensive parking area. The park is about 100 yards walk from the entrance. 
 
This free public park has a children's playground with climbing frames, swings etc. Many local families come here with their kids. Some times even the local soccer and cricket teams play matches at this park during weekends. 
 
Shelly Bay Children’s Playground 
 
There is an wooden boardwalk along the western edge of the beach that takes you through a scenic reserve. As you walk over the footbridge, you can see the rock formations along the coast line and the crystal clear water. 
 
You can clearly see through the water and right up to the bottom. After you have walked for a while, turn back and you can get a full end-to-end view of the tree lined Shelly bay beach afar. 
 
The long boardwalk finally links up with a section of the scenic Railway Trail. The entry to the railway trail is about half a mile away and near the erstwhile Railway Museum.  
 
If there is one negative point about the beach... it is its proximity to the street. Depending on where you are on the beach, you are likely to hear the noise of cars passing by. 
 
Apart from the adjacent Children's Playground and the beach park, there are not much facilities at Shelly bay. There are toilets but no rentals like snorkel gears, beach chairs or umbrellas. 
 

Nearby Attractions & Facilities

 
  • You can visit the nearby Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) which is at a walking distance (0.9 mile) from Shelly bay beach. 
  •  
  • If you like to walk through a scenic village, walk across to nearby Flatts Village. It's only 1.4 miles away from Shelly Bay Beach and 0.5 mile once you cross BAMZ. 
  •  
  • The large grocery / departmental store Shelly Bay Market Place is located 1.3 miles east of the beach. This is a branch of the island-wide chain of MarketPlace grocery stores. 
  •  
    This is the main grocery store on North Shore Road and gives you an opportunity to pickup essentials and food while getting to the beach or on your way back. 
     

    How to reach Shelly bay beach

     
    Visit the Beach Map to view the location of Shelly Bay beach and several other great beaches. 
     
    The beach is located off North Shore road at Crawl Hill in Hamilton parish and between Hamilton City and St. George's. You can take bus #10 or 11 that operate between Hamilton City and St. George's to reach Shelly Bay. 
     
    If you are coming from the Royal Naval Dockyard, then first take a ferry to Hamilton city (20 minutes) and then a bus (#10 or 11) for the beach (another 25 minutes or so). 
     
    Approach way to the beach from North Shore road (i.e. the bus route) is easy and quite scenic. Once you get through the beach entrance, you need to walk up a few steps to see the sandy beach and the sea. 
     
    Road Map 
     
     
     
    Raj BhattacharyaBy Raj Bhattacharya 
    Raj, a seasoned travel writer and Bermuda destination expert, has extensive global travel experience. This website reflects his profound insights, garnered over nearly two decades of dedicated findings and research on the island. Raj has assisted countless Bermuda-bound visitors by providing direct, personalized responses to their queries and imparting his wealth of knowledge through this platform. This site serves as an indispensable guide for those seeking informed and reliable insights into Bermuda's treasures. 
     
    Know more about Raj Bhattacharya 
     
     
     

    Related Articles

     
     
     
    2) Hamilton Parish: All about the parish, its attractions, hotels, restaurants etc 
     
    3) Bermuda Snorkeling: Know about the great beachside and offshore snorkeling areas 
     

    Visitors' Reviews/Comments

     
     
    Stephen (July 2012) 
    Unfortunately the cafe at Shelly bay beach is now closed and you can no longer use the restrooms. With a hungry little one, we were not able to stay very long. Too bad because would have a perfect spot to spend the whole day!