Horseshoe Bay

Backed by South Shore Park, Bermuda’s Horseshoe Bay Beach is the best of a string of beaches which line the island’s Atlantic coast. Gently curving from one end to the other for about 300 metres, entry into the waters from the pinky-white sands is gentle, making it ideal for families.

In the summer, when Horseshoe Bay Beach is at its busiest, there is also a manned lifeguard station, café and toilets with public showers. While some distance from the closest road, the island government lays on a special bus service, which departs every 15 minutes in either direction. It is particularly welcome on leaving the beach as it saves an uphill walk.

Sun loungers and umbrellas are available to rent, as is all the gear you’ll need to enjoy the clean, warm waters whether that’s by snorkelling, body boarding or stand-up paddleboarding. The snorkelling is generally best closest to the rocks offshore, which provide plenty of nooks for species as diverse as angel fish and snapper. To avoid the crowds, you should aim to get to Horseshoe Bay Beach in the morning, before the arrival of the large cruise ships.

On the righthand side of Horseshoe Bay Beach as you face the water is Port Royal Cove. The large rocks that surround it ensure the waters of the cove are always calm. Taking the form of a children’s pool, the cove is popular with parents with toddlers as a result.

Often the location for island festivities, Good Friday sees Horseshoe Bay Beach transformed into the showground for the annual Bermuda Kite Festival. Thousands of residents and visitors descend onto the beach in the hope their kite flying abilities might win them one of the prizes on offer.