17 Best Sights in Dockyard and The Western Parishes, Bermuda

Inside this former barrel-making factory, you can find the Bermuda Craft Market—arguably the island's largest and best-priced crafts outlet. It showcases the wares of more than 60 craftspeople, including quilters, candlemakers, toymakers, and wood carvers. Also in the building is the Bermuda Arts Centre, a member-run art gallery that displays innovative high-end work in changing exhibits.

A half-dozen artists at the Bermuda Arts Centre also maintain studios on the premises, so leave some time to watch them at work.

The design team had a bit of fun with these minilinks: featuring 18 holes representing the best golf courses from around the world—including Augusta National and St. Andrews—it'll challenge even the most experienced minigolfers.

Surprisingly, Bermuda Fun Golf is one of the best places to watch the sunset with uninterrupted views.

There's also a bar and grill serving cold drinks, snacks, and other nibbles.

A pair of 100-foot towers makes it impossible to miss the Clocktower Mall, where the 19th-century building that held the Royal Navy's administrative offices now is home to distinctly Bermudian boutiques—including specialty shops and branches of Front Street favorites. Observant folks will note that one tower features a standard clock, the other a tide indicator. The shops are particularly popular on Sunday because most stores outside the Dockyard area are closed.

Once a military stronghold that played a role in conflicts from the War of 1812 to World War II, the restored buildings of the sprawling Royal Naval Dockyard offer a full day of history with plenty of shopping and dining, and some adventure as well. The centerpiece is the National Museum of Bermuda, with exhibits on local maritime history and more in an imposing stone fortress; it has stunning ocean views from its highest points. The Old Cooperage holds the Bermuda Craft Market and the Bermuda Arts Centre; you can also shop in the Clocktower Mall, in another historic building. FryDays, a trampoline park for all ages, Dolphin Quest, an interactive experience, and Snorkel Park Beach are other diversions. The Dockyard has plenty of places to eat, such as British pub fare and locally brewed beer at the Frog & Onion, or a quick latte and flaky baked goods at the Dockyard Pastry Shop. Note that a cruise terminal is on King's Wharf, making this a busy spot.

Its position on Mangrove Bay once made it a popular hideout for pirates, but judging by Somerset Village's bucolic appearance, you'd never guess that now. The shady past has been erased by shady trees, quiet streets, and charming cottages. As far as actual attractions go, this quaint one-road retreat has only a few eateries and shops—most of them offshoots of Hamilton stores. Nevertheless, it provides easy access to Springfield and the Gilbert Nature Reserve (29 Somerset Rd. ), a 5-acre woodland with paths that connect to some of the most scenic portions of Bermuda's Railway Trail.

After immersing yourself in maritime history at the National Museum of Bermuda, you can immerse yourself—literally—in the wonderful world of dolphins. Dolphin Quest offers a range of in-water programs that allow adults and children ages five and older to pet, play with, and swim alongside its eight Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the historic Keep Pond. There are even specially designed sessions, conducted from a submersible bench, for younger kids. Since entry to the Dolphin Quest area is free with museum admission, anyone can watch the action. Participation in the actual programs, however, ranges in price, and advance booking is recommended.

The British chose the highest hill in Somerset for the site of this fort, built in the late 1860s and early 1870s, not for the lovely panoramas but to defend the flank of the Dockyard from possible American attacks. British troops were garrisoned here until World War I, and American forces were, ironically, stationed at the fort during World War II. Today its stone walls are surrounded by 22 acres of pretty gardens, and the view of the Great Sound and Ely's Harbour from the parapet is unsurpassed. Be sure to check out the early Bermuda Weather Stone, billed as a "perfect weather indicator." A sign posted nearby solemnly explains all. There is also access to the Bermuda Railway Trail.

The supersize fireplace in which coopers used to forge their barrel bands is the focal point of the Frog & Onion Pub. Architectural interest aside, this naval-theme pub makes a great place for a lunch break, an afternoon libation, or even a quick game of pool. The menu has traditional fare (think Cornish pasty and fish-and-chips) as well as thirst-quenching ales made on-site by the Dockyard Brewing Company.

A reminder of what the island was like in its early days, this blissfully peaceful 44-acre preserve remains an unspoiled open space, except for a few flower gardens. Pathways with well-positioned park benches wind through it, affording some wonderful water views. If you continue along the main path, you'll reach rustic Heydon Chapel. Built in the early 1600s, it's Bermuda's smallest church. Weddings can be arranged by prior appointment.

Near their starting points, trails in this park are dominated mostly by agricultural land; however, once you trek past rows of vegetables, you'll find one of the best views along the western part of south shore. Outside of the arable land, there are 32 acres to explore via trails covered with endemic spice trees, as well as the remains of cedar trees that were affected by the blight in the 1940s and ’50s that destroyed much of the island's cedar tree population. But the standout is the steep coastal path that leads to the shallow shoreline. If your timing is just right, you'll find a small beach. But regardless, there are tide pools to explore, and the shallow waters mean there are plenty of opportunities to spot hog fish and brightly colored parrot fish.

Come summer you'll be able to find Captain Kirk's Longtail Floating Fun Park, an on-the-water obstacle course with slides and a diving board from the 3rd deck. Open from 10 am to 7 pm daily, walk or boat up to your day's entertainment!

This is a popular spot for tourists as well as local families who like to treat their children to a sheltered white sand beach and pristine views of the water. Enjoy local and American cuisine while sipping a frozen cocktail at the beach's Hammerheads Bar and Grill; on-site water-sports and beach equipment rentals are available for kids and parents. A playground outside the park features a 70-foot, wooden green moray eel and a replica of St. David's Lighthouse. Snorkel Park Beach is just a short walk from the Dockyard cruise terminal, so it attracts many cruise passengers. Before you leave, stop in the Clocktower Mall and the Bermuda Craft Market to pick up a souvenir or two. Also nearby are restaurants, the Dockyard Ferry Terminal, and an ATM.

At night, Snorkel transforms into a lively nightclub area, especially on Monday and Thursday when live DJs spin top 40, soca, reggae, and dancehall hits. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; snorkeling; sunset; swimming.

Both beautiful marine life and evidence of the Dockyard's impressive naval legacy can be viewed at this protected inlet, accessed through a stone tunnel adjacent to the National Museum of Bermuda. Beneath the water's surface lie cast-iron cannons dating from 1550 to 1800, plus an antique anchor and gun-carriage wheel. The true attractions, however, are colorful fish (you might see more than 50 varieties) and other sea creatures including anemones, sea cucumbers, and assorted species of coral. Thanks to amenities like floating rest stations, snorkeling and scuba diving couldn't be easier. Everything is available to rent, including kayaks, pedalos, Jet Skis, and underwater scooters. This is a family beach by day, catering mainly to cruise ship passengers, and a nightclub by night, with beach parties and island barbecues.

The West End is connected to the rest of Bermuda by Somerset Bridge, and once you have crossed over it, you're no longer, according to local lingo, "up the country." More than marking a boundary, Somerset Bridge is something of an attraction in its own right because it's reputed to be the world's smallest drawbridge. It opens a mere 18 inches, just wide enough to accommodate the mast of a passing sailboat.

Popular with Somerset locals, this beach is on the quiet northwestern end of Bermuda, far from the bustle of Hamilton and major tourist hubs. In keeping with the area's rural atmosphere, the beach is low-key and great for bird-watching. Undeveloped parkland shields the beach from the light traffic on Cambridge Road. The main beach is long by Bermudian standards—nearly ¼ mile from end to end. Although exposed to northerly storm winds, the bay water is normally calm and shallow—ideal for children. The bottom, however, is rocky and uneven, so it's a good idea to put on water shoes before wading. Amenities: parking (free). Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

After Gibbs Hill Lighthouse was automated in 1969, the keeper's cottage at its base was converted into an eatery. Whether you're looking for a filling meal or just a refreshing drink to quench your thirst, this quaint little restaurant serves dinner Tuesday to Sunday and lunch from Friday to Sunday. Seafood and pizzas are the specialties on the menu.

The information center, adjacent to the cruise ship pier, the ferry terminal, and a bus stop, has helpful staff, plenty of information about sights and itineraries, and booking monitors so you can arrange activities and tours of all kinds.