Fort Hamilton

Fort Hamilton is a Victorian-era military fortification on a hill above Hamilton, offering the best panoramic views of the harbour and the city below. Built between 1868 and 1889 as part of Bermuda's coastal defences, the fort has a substantial dry moat, powder magazines, gun emplacements, and a network of underground tunnels that can be explored.

The grounds are free to enter and well maintained, with tropical plants filling the moat and the ramparts giving clear views in all directions. A resident kilted bagpiper sometimes performs in the grounds on weekday lunchtimes in high season — a quintessentially Bermudian blend of Scottish heritage and subtropical surroundings. The walk up from the city centre takes about 15 minutes.

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Fort Hamilton was built in the 1860s and 1870s at a time when Britain feared an American attack following tensions during the Civil War. The fortress was designed to be impregnable from the land side — facing inland rather than the sea — because the Royal Navy was considered capable of defending the harbour. It was never attacked, and today the dry moat is planted with tropical gardens.

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