South Shore Park Bermuda
The Beach Trail Walk
About South Shore Park
The South Shore Park comprises of several lovely pink beaches and coves that are located between Southampton and Warwick parishes along the south shore of Bermuda. It has been designated as a national park since 1990.
There is a sandy walking trail going below the limestone cliffs that connects to all the beaches and coves on the park. There are large spans of grassy areas as well on the way that are great for family picnics. You will also find bushes and sandy dunes along the way.
Horseshoe Bay Beach, Bermuda
Photo: Captain-tucker, Wikimedia Commons, CC by SA 4.0
During low tides, it is also possible to walk along the beaches (i.e. along the waterline). However, there are several rocky formations along the way that you will need to wade around. Some of these rocks jut a long way out into the sea... so unless it's a low tide, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to wade around these rocks. I would recommend some kind of beach or water shoes if you are walking along the beach. It's easier to walk the trail though.
The trail along the cliff offers wonderful view of the ocean at several places. You will come across tiny secluded coves that will simply blow your mind off. Each one is a photographer's paradise. Spend some time at a cove looking at the turquoise waters.
South Shore Trail Walk
This half-day itinerary is ideal if you are willing to walk, looking for some swims and snorkeling while leisurely strolling along a lovely south shore trail. The trail, as I mentioned, starts from the famous Horseshoe Bay Beach at Southampton and goes eastwards to Warwick Long Bay Beach in Warwick. You can also do the reverse route. Pack a towel and sunscreen.
South Shore Park Trail, Bermuda
Start from
Horseshoe Bay Beach in Southampton. This is a picture perfect beach with pink sands. This also happens to be one of the most photographed beaches in Bermuda. There is a
beach bar here and facilities like bathrooms, beach rentals like chairs, umbrella and snorkel etc.
There is a mid priced restaurant
Gulfstream opposite to the entrance of Horseshoe Bay Beach on South Road. It prepares nice Italian food including thin crust pizzas and also seafood and International dishes. If you like, pick up some quick snacks and bottled water.
As you walk along the Horseshoe Bay Beach towards east (i.e. left as you face the water), explore the small coves and several lovely beaches.
As you stroll along the trail, you will find numerous coves and beaches like Peel Rock Cove, Butts Beach, Middle Beach, Wafer Rocks Beach, Angle Beach and more. Then you’ll reach the twin coves of
Chaplin Bay and the
Stonehole Bay in about 0.7 miles. Both are very picturesque spots and great for swimming or even just for relaxing.
Chaplin Bay Beach Imagery
Rotate the image for 360° view
Continue east on the trails and you will shortly find a tiny swimming hole with crystal clear water at
Jobson’s Cove. This place can quickly get crowded. So try to make it early. This wonderful little cove is surrounded by lime stone cliffs. This is also a great place for snorkeling.
Jobson's Cove, Bermuda
Continue east along the South Shore Park Trails and you will reach
Warwick Long Bay, a stunning half-mile long beach. This beach also offers excellent snorkeling opportunity.
Warwick Long Bay Beach, Bermuda
There is a seasonal concession stand at the beach which rents chairs, umbrellas and snorkel gears. Since there is no café here, this beach tends to be less crowded. There is a public toilet at the western end of the beach.
Below is an imagery of the South Shore Park and Trail taken where the trail passes Jobson's Cove. You can rotate the image and click/tap on the arrows to traverse the entire trail.
South Shore Park and Trail Imagery
South Shore Park ends at the eastern boundary of Warwick Long Bay beach. The terrain of the entire trail is fairly flat and not difficult. If you want to walk the reverse route, ask the bus driver to drop you at the Warwick Long Bay. Hike down the hill side to the shore line and take the reverse trail towards west (i.e. right while facing the water) through the lovely beaches and coves that I mentioned above.
For food and drinks, get on to South Road from Warwick Long Bay and walk eastward for 1.5 mile (about 30 minutes). At the corner of South Road and Dunscombe Road you will find a nice seafood restaurant - Lost In The Triangle (LITT) that specializes in fresh local seafood dishes. (Note that this place was earlier occupied by
Swizzle Inn South Shore which closed down in May 2020).
How to reach South Shore Park
Take bus #7 and get off at Horseshoe Bay stop on South Road at Southampton. From the bus stop, take the downhill road and walk down to Horseshoe Bay Beach. You can also easily reach Horseshoe bay beach by beach shuttle minibuses (that operate from Royal Naval Dockyard) or by a rental scooter / electric minicar or even by a taxi. It takes about 35 minutes by bus from dockyard to reach Horseshoe Bay Beach, and 30 minutes from Hamilton City.
Road Map To South Shore Park
Guided Tour
Viator offers a nice 3-hour Horseshoe Bay Beach Nature Trail Tour that lets you explore this beautiful beach, relax and swim if you want, explore the South Shore Trail that leads out of this beach to several other lovely coves and beaches, know about how the locals hand-line fish, catch crabs and lizards, see wonderful rock formations and get to know about Bermuda's fruits, flowers and wildlife.
Rates by Viator
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Visitors' Reviews and Comments
Patrick LaSalle (October 2017)
Hi Raj, Last year and this year we visited Bermuda for nine days as guests as the Southampton Fairmont. We loved our beach, but I remembered Jobson's Cove as our favorite from past visits. We will be returning next year and would like to walk to Jobson's along the park trail. What is the distance and is it an easy walk from Horseshoe bay? Thanks,
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) October 2017
Pat, it's about a mile between horseshoe bay beach and jobson's cove. It's a fairly easy walk along the trail (avoid walking along the beaches... rock formations can be difficult to negotiate in high tide). Not much shades, so take a hat or an umbrella.
Debbie Hoenstine (September 2017)
Hello could you please give us sort of an itinerary for walking the beach shoreline, we will take thebus from the naval dockyard to a drop off point and then proceed walking back to the dockyard. Where should we start if we want to go to horseshoe bay, chaplan bay, stonehole bay, jobsons bay, church bay, heading back toward the dockyard, where should we have the bus drop us off t that will include these beaches on our walk back.. thanks,
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) September 2017
Hi, start from Warwick Long Bay beach ... get off at the bus stop near the entry at the eastern end of the beach (i.e. left end as you face the water). This will ensure you walk the stretch of Warwick long bay once as you head west and walk towards Jobsons Cove and then all the way to Horseshoe Bay Beach.
Debbie Hoenstine (September 2017)
Thank you Raj, one more thing do you know about how long the walk would be from Warwick heading Bay heading back to the naval dockyard? This walk would be from east at Warwick heading west toward the dockyard right?
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) September 2017
Yes you will walk west from Warwick Long Bay towards Horseshoe. The trail is about 1.25 miles... time it takes to walk will depend on how much time you spend on the beaches along the way. Royal Naval Dockyard is further west of Horseshoe. It's not really a walking distance... almost 10 miles to the cruise pier plus there are hardly any sidewalks. Suggest you come to the main road at Horseshoe and take a bus to dockyard (or a minibus shuttle from the horseshoe parking lot).
Nikki (July 2017)
Hello Raj, I really appreciate your site and all that you have put into it! We are coming late October by cruise and I am hoping to walk on the beach from Horseshoe Bay to Warwick Long Bay Beach. On your page of South Shore Beaches, you say this can be done with some wading around the rock formations and that it isn't that difficult.
My sister insists that it cannot be done. She said the rock formation are too large and too far out... and that they cannot be "waded" around.
I imagine this has a lot to with high tide. We are hoping to get there as early as possible in the morning. The only thing I would want to carry would be my phone and my camera. I could easily get a waterproof bag, so that is not a concern. But if it's a difficult trek to get past the rock formations and over my head (not wading lol) That would be a deal breaker for me.
Can you give me anymore information on this? I can find all kinds of information about the South Shore Park trail above the beaches, but I really want to see and experiences all the little coves along the waterline. Thank you.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) July 2017
Hi Nikki, you are right ... in high tide it can be difficult if not impossible to wade around few rocks that go far into the water. In low tide when the water recedes it can be easier. However when you get to such rocks, instead of trying along the waterline, you can always take the sandy trail that runs between the beaches (behind the rocks) and get to the other side of the rocks or to the next beach.
Debbie
Approx how far is it from Warwick Beach to the Swizzle Inn - would like to do your recommended walk from Horseshoe Bay to Warwick Long Beach. Thanks.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com)
The Swizzle Inn (South Shore branch) is near Surf Side Beach Club and between Astwood Cove Park and Elbow Beach. From Warwick Long Bay Beach, keep walking east along South Shore Road (i.e. South Road). Astwood Park is about 0.5 miles from the end of Warwick Long Bay, and Swizzle Inn is further 1-mile or so. You can also take a bus from Warwick Long Bay to the pub (bus #7).
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