fort st. catherine

Fort St. Catherine is chock-full of history spanning centuries, and is a great way to learn about the strategic military significance of Bermuda to the British, as well as lesser-known periods including the American Civil War and the two World Wars. You get to see the inner working of the fort as well as the view from up top where the ocean spreads out before you. The displays and exhibits are well done, and the descriptions and explanations of what you are looking at are very helpful in terms of understanding how things worked (for example, the munitions lifts that were used to get explosive ordinance from the storage areas deep inside the fort up to where the guns were). We were there in off-season (late February) and had the whole fort to ourselves, which was really cool!

Although it wasn't open, we could walk around the outside and see the views. We got dropped off by taxi and then walked back into St George - it's a hike but worth it.

This fort is in nice shape. Looks hardly used. LOLKidding aside. Go here for a nice stroll and some beautiful views.If you cannot find the place there are lots of locals that will help you.

This museum truly tells the history of Bermuda. We were amazed to see that we were the only people in the museum at our time of visit, as we expected cruiseship crowds and other tourists. The museum charge is $7 - very decent price. There is no guide in the museum (which we really liked as I can't stand boring tour guides), however all exhibits are well labeled and easy to understand. You can take pictures with all of the exhibits.Be sure to go to the top of the fort and check our amazing views of the blue ocean water. Overall this was an excellent historical opportunity and well worth the hour scooter ride!

Of the very large number of forts in Bermuda this must be the one which most clearly explains the development of these forts and how they functioned. Amongst the fascinating and informative exhibits, the underground walk through the magazines, explaining the precautions taken against any sparks, is very interesting. The guns at the fort include some with no relationship to its history as a coast artillery fortification. There is a wealth of information about how the Army functioned in stations such as Bermuda, including the number of soldiers and families lost to disease.Surprisingly the fort is only open on weekdays. One can gain access on a Saturday (as we did) by taking the 'Defenders of Bermuda' tour. With only four people on the tour we virtually had the place to ourselves. Sean, our guide, was not only well informed, but cheerfully opened a couple of the display cabinets to turn helmets round so that the badge on them was visible.The small beach on which Sir George Somers landed is right by the fort.It would be about a 20 minute walk from St Geoege's.

Nice views down the coast but with its not a lot to see when it is closed, which it was for our time in Bermuda. Having an attraction closed on a Saturday between Xmas and New Years would be unthinkable in most warm weather destinations. (It was also closed Xmas, Boxing Day, Saturday and Sunday.). Otherwise, and easy scooter drive up from St. George.This review can be copied and pasted for a lot of Bermuda. No wonder they are down to 3000 hotel rooms, from 23,000 in their heyday.

Unfortunately, we were unable to enter the fort as it was closed because of hurricane damage. From what we could see and read it would be a great sight to visit.

I have a thing about visiting forts and have done so around the world so I took the opportunity to visit most of the forts in Bermuda on a recent trip. Fort St. Catherine not only has the best location, it is by far the best preserved of all the forts in Bermuda. The entrance fee of $7.00 might seem a bit high, but you will get your monies worth if only for the great views from highest point. There is a great collection of armaments from the 1600's to WWII and this is one fort where the displays are set out in such a way that you can understand how this type of fortification actually worked. You start out underground and gradually make you way up to the where the cannons are located and finally reach the top of the keep. From here you can see all the way to the Royal Naval Dockyard at the other end of Bermuda. Theses ramparts are great places from which to get pictures of the incredible colours of the Bermuda sea.On our visit we couldn't help but notice how well maintained everything was and how friendly the staff were. There was definitely a sense of pride and knowledge that this place is one of Bermuda's treasures. There are a really nice little beaches on either side of the fort at Achilles Bay and St. Catherine Bay.The one thing that was a bit strange was a replica of the British Crown jewels, but my wife enjoyed pretending that she was queen for a day.If you are in St. George it's a great walk to Tobacco Bay and then to Fort St. Catherine and back to town on Barry Road. You'll get to see a part of Bermuda most tourists miss.

This one one of a series of old forts around the St. George's area and the best of the lot. You have the opportunity to see the inner workings and various storage areas, etc during your tour. Also, there are a number of interesting displays to see. It's just adjacent yo Tobacco Bay which is an excellent swimming and snorkeling area.

You are missing out on beautiful panoramic views of Bermuda if you do not pay to go into this fort. Fort St Catherine overlooks the beach on which Sir George Somers and his crew landed after the hurricane wrecked the Sea Venture. Inside the fort are displays of military weapons and uniforms, and replicas of the British Crown Jewels. It was a key defensive position, it guarded "The Narrows" through which all ships had to pass.

We have visited a lot of forts around the world and this is one of the best in terms of the exhibits, position and ambience

This is a very well-restored/well-maintained site and is well-developed as a tourist attraction (very informative). Below are my comments by functional area.Expectations. I am a retired U.S. Marine Corps Infantry Officer and prefer to visit sites that are militarily/historically significant and have been restored to some extent. I am very interested in military history, fortifications, architecture and engineering. I researched this site prior to visiting so it was a worthwhile visit; I was able to understand how the fort was designed, constructed and operated to aid in the defense of the island. This site is well worth the visit if you are interested in military/general history but you do not need to do any prior research in order to enjoy the fort. If you are visiting this site for the aesthetics, you will not be disappointed; the walk from St Georges is very scenic (passing by Tobacco Bay beach); and there are very nice views in every direction (Achilles Bay Beach and Gates Bay Beach are to the immediate west and east of the fort).Accessibility. Take the #1, #3, #10 or #11 bus to St Georges. By foot (from St Georges Square), walk approximately 150 yards/140 meters east on York Street; turn left (north) onto Government Hill Road and follow it for 200 yards/180 meters to the Unfinished Church; bear right and continue on Government Hill Road for 600 yards/560 meters to a T intersection; turn right (east) on Barry Road and continue 500 yards/460 meters to the entrance to the fort. The walk took me approximately 20 minutes/.8 miles/1.27 km. There is sufficient room for scooter parking. I am certain that one can easily take a taxi from St Georges.Admission/hours/staff. There is a $7.00 (adults) admission fee to the fort. I believe the operating hours are Mon-Fri 10:00 am to 4:00 pm but I would recommend checking a reputable travel guide book or simply inquire at the Tourist Information Office located at the Hamilton Ferry Port (Winter hours may differ from Summer hours). On the day I visited, there were three employees present. They were very courteous and helpful and had plenty of knowledge of Bermuda, St Georges and the fort but they were not guides - it is a self-guided tour.Grounds, exhibits, etc. The grounds are well-maintained - even in light of the recent hurricane. Visitors may access all gun decks and galleries, the Keep (last line of defense for the fort) and the underground passageways and magazines where the shells and powder were stored. Most of the forts original artillery pieces are in place (four or five 9 and 10 inch Rifled Muzzle Loaders); there are a couple of smaller ancillary cannons and three modern breech-loading artillery and anti-aircraft artillery pieces. Most are mounted on the main gallery deck but two are mounted in casemates and have a display of all of the associated equipment required to fire the cannons. Overlooking the sally port (entrance to the fort), there are a couple of well-preserved carronades (small cannons used for direct fire). There are some informative displays in the underground powder and shell magazines depicting exactly how the munitions were stored and transported to the gun deck. Also underground were some very nice displays of historic small arms used by the British Army/Navy. In the Keep, there are also some very nice displays that explain/depict: how the fort tied in with the island's defenses; construction of the fort; life of the soldiers who manned the fort; evolution of the fort as advances in armament were made; wheeled field artillery pieces (as opposed to the larger coastal artillery pieces mounted in the fort; etc). On a theatrical note, in 1953 Charlton Heston played the lead role in "MacBeth" in a performance at Fort St Catherine (on the gun deck outside the Keep).Time required to see this site. Anyone wanting to see the entire fort and read the informative placards should dedicate 2-3 hours.Amenities. I believe that there are restrooms available. There is no gift shop but there are a small number of items (t-shirts, postcards) available for purchase at the front desk. There is a restaurant near the entrance to the fort (overlooking Achilles Bay) but it was not open during my visit because it was Winter (November).Handicap access. I am not handicapped but I realize that handicap access is a determining factor for some people whether or not they will visit a site. I think it is safe to say that anyone who has difficulty walking or climbing stairs would have a hard time negotiating all of the steps to access the multiple levels of the fort.Additional sites nearby. A visit to the fort is easily combined with a visit to multiple other sites in/near St Georges (St Peters Church, National Trust Museum). The monument to honor the survivors of the Sea Venture is approximately 600 yards/500 meters east on Barry Road. Alexandra Battery and Building Bay (where the Deliverance was constructed/launched is .8 mile/1.3 km to the east on Barry Road. Lastly, anyone going this far north should stop by the Swizzle Inn (immediately south of the bridge leading to the airport). It is a nice "smart casual" pub with good food and drinks (and is at the bust stop for the #1, #3, #10 and #11 bus.

Just like it was when it was built. See the powder keg room, the barracks/living conditions and see what they ate and how much - you'll see why they went into town to hit the White Horse Tavern. Ocean Beach Restaurant across street - best sunsets.

My experience on the island taught me two things: 1) Bermuda has lots of forts, 2) If you have seen one, you've more or less seen them all. With that said, my choice here came down to location, location, location. St. Catherine is a mild walk from St. George Terminal where the ferry lands, that walk brings you up past the unfinished cathedral, through an overlook to tobacco bay, and finally to the doors of the fort. St. Catherine is efficient- It knocks 3 items off your must do Bermuda List in a very short time,(A fort, Tobacco Bay, and the Unfinished Cathedral) the fortress is well documented, and has a variety of exhibits to look at, plus a fair collection of guns and weaponry that would have been used to protect the island from those pesky Americans had the instance ever arise.

A leisurely 20 min walk up the hill from St. Georges Town Hall, a small entrance fee allows you access for a self guided tour of the fort. Scenic views from the top of the keep. The beach near the entrance is much less crowded then the one at nearby Tobacco Bay.