Where western Bermuda curves around the Little Sound is where you will find the parish of Southampton. The Southampton Bermuda parish is named after the English aristocrat, Henry Wriothesley, who was the third Earl of Southampton. Friend to William Shakespeare, Wriothesley lived from 1573 - 1624, and an adventurous soul he most certainly was. Adventurous as he was, however, Wriothesley never actually set foot in Southampton Parish. This is the case with other Bermuda parishes as well, such as Pembroke, for example. Plenty of Bermuda tourists set foot in Southampton Parish every year, however.

When staying at one of the Bermuda resorts is part of your Bermuda vacation plans, Southampton is a good place to start. The Sonesta Beach Resort, the Pompano Beach Club, and the Fairmont Southampton are found in Southampton Bermuda, and they are all enviable choices for Bermuda resorts, providing great facilities and proximity to some of Southampton's famed, pink-sand beaches. Southampton travel is full of delights, and since it borders the parish of Sandys to the west, finding tranquility nearby is always an option. More pink-sand beaches can be found just east of Southampton Bermuda in Warwick Parish, which like Southampton, just happens to have one of the best public beaches in the small island chain. Besides boasting big resorts, Southampton Bermuda also offers great waterfront restaurants where dining is an utter pleasure.

Some great Bermuda golf courses are located in Southampton Parish, making it one of the preferred destinations for Bermuda golf getaways. When you're not basking in the sun at a Southampton beach, teeing off for an exciting round is an excellent way to not only enjoy some golf, but also some breathtaking ocean views. The Port Royal Golf Course is just one of the Bermuda golf courses of high repute found in Southampton Parish, and it's generally regarded as being one of the best public courses in all the world. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., this course is a favorite of golf legend, Jack Nicklaus. The sixteenth hole at the Port Royal Golf Course has appeared in numerous golf publications, and it's oceanside, clifftop setting rewards golfers with a view to savor long after the round is over.

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As mentioned, the pink-sand beaches of Southampton are among the top Southampton travel attractions. Horseshoe Bay Beach on the South Shore is not only the best-known Southampton beach, but it's also generally regarded as being the most famous beach in all of Bermuda. It offers more facilities than any other Bermuda public beach, and if you only have time to visit one Southampton beach, Horseshoe Bay Beach should be your first choice. Other nice public beaches that can be enjoyed during Southampton travel include Sinky Bay and Turtle Bay, both of which are also found on the South Shore. Buses are available to shuttle passengers from Southampton Town to the various public beaches.

To complement the great views at the Southampton beaches and golf courses, those enjoying Southampton travel can climb the 185 steps of the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. When it comes to cast-iron lighthouses, there are none in the world that are older than Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. The lighthouse is perched on a 245-foot high hill, from which it then rises 117 feet into the sky, affording those who climb it a most appreciable view of Bermuda below. Since Southampton Parish offers some of the best Bermuda nightlife, you can head out on the town come nightfall, and reminisce about your fun-filled Southampton days. This parish is simply a great place to be.