Bermuda’s summers are glorious, but autumn is equally captivating. And when summer is fizzling to an end where you live, balmy temperatures in Bermuda keep the vacation vibe going strong. Here’s our guide for extending the fun of summer during a fall visit to Bermuda.
Bermuda’s warm fall temperatures make September and onward the perfect time for setting out on adventures that await on both land and sea. Come October and November, the weather is particularly inviting for a bike ride along the Bermuda Railway Trail National Park, with its 18 miles of trail spanning the island, from St. George’s in the east to Somerset in the west. The trail follows the route of Bermuda’s defunct “Rattle and Shake” railway, taking in dramatic rocky coastlines and even an old drawbridge as it travels through picturesque landscapes. And the feeling of accomplishment that comes from a self-powered tour across nearly all of Bermuda is a priceless reward.
Both serious runners and casual joggers love the Railway Trail, too, and it’s the best place on the island to get in some training or just enjoy a fun run. Fall is prime training time for local runners, as they prepare for the Bermuda Marathon and Half-Marathon weekend that takes place every January and is one of the island’s most anticipated sporting events. Come April, it’s all about the ITU World Triathlon, a major global circuit of triathlons that draws the world’s top triathletes to run and bike Bermuda’s hilly terrain and swim in its crystal waters.
Whether you’re a competitor or not, there’s no better way to finish a bike ride or run than with a refreshing dip in the Atlantic Ocean on one of Bermuda’s famous pink-sand beaches. Horseshoe Bay Beach is the most famous, but check out Warwick Long Bay, Jobson’s Cove and many others, too. Water temperatures are still in the 70s in the fall, and it doesn’t get much better than that for cooling off without feeling chilled.
For casual excursions onto Bermuda’s beautiful waters, consider a paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling or jet ski outing. Also called SUP, stand-up paddleboarding has emerged as a popular Bermudian pastime, and the island’s pretty coves and miles of sandy beaches make it easy to launch your paddleboard into the ocean and head out. Beginners like the exceptionally calm waters of Spanish Point for SUP and sea kayaking with a backdrop of pastel-hued island homes. Guided jet ski adventures leave from several points around Bermuda, among them Dockyard and Hamilton. And scenic Tobacco Bay Beach is a popular place to snorkel, with huge, colorful parrot fish patrolling the waters below you.
If you want to dive even deeper, some of Bermuda’s most intriguing attractions await just offshore in waters dubbed the Shipwreck Capital of the Atlantic Ocean. More than 300 wrecks have been identified here, many sitting in crystal clear waters surrounded by coral reefs. For certified scuba divers, many of Bermuda’s wrecks are so well preserved they’ve become bucket-list destinations. The nearly 500-foot-long wreck of the Spanish luxury liner Cristobal Colon rests in just 52 feet of water and is especially thrilling when enormous groupers stop by. And the Confederate wrecks of the Maria Celestia and Montana will get your adrenaline moving with their underwater archways and tunnels to explore.
Fall also beckons golfers to Bermuda’s shores, with an impressive six world-class golf courses for teeing off across the 21-square-mile island (that’s more golf courses per capita than anywhere else on the planet). Classic links courses, multi-tiered greens and holes with Atlantic Ocean views make for a golfer’s dream terrain.
In autumn as in summer, your Bermuda adventure is calling. The season is now, and you’re just a quick hop away.
