Spittal Pond Nature Reserve

Located on South Road in Smith's Parish, Spittal Pond is Bermuda's largest wildlife sanctuary and a wonderful place to explore.

Bird lovers will enjoy the watching the families of herons, ducks, longtails and the odd flamingo that make this 60-acre park their home during the winter months. If your taste runs more to flora than fauna, you'll enjoy the variety of vegetation -- everything from a profusion of wildflowers, to casuarina (an Australian tree planted to replace the groves of native cedar, which were lost to cedar-scale disease in the 1950s), to prickly pear cactus. And if you are a history buff, stop off at Jeffrey's Hole, a cave named for an escaped slave who supposedly hid out here, and Spanish Rock, where stranded Spanish or Portuguese sailor carved initials and the date 1543. Note that the original rock has now been moved elsewhere to protect the carvings from erosion; a bronze plaque marks the spot where it once stood.

A mile-long nature trail run through the Nature Reserve. Guided tours are given on Fridays at 1 PM from November through March. Call (441) 236-4201.

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