Lighthouses of Bermuda

Bermuda is a small group of islands isolated in the western Atlantic about 935 km (580 miles) east of the coast of North Carolina. Settled in 1612, Bermuda has always been a British colony, although it is now self-governing in most matters. The country has a population of about 70,000. It is a very popular resort, especially for North Americans. Regular air service is available from many locations in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Bermuda's two 19th century lighthouses are among the islands' best-known tourist attractions.

Aids to navigation in Bermuda are operated by the Department of Marine and Ports Services.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from Volume J of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA numbers are from Publication 110.

General Sources
Online List of Lights - Bermuda Islands
Photos by various photographers posted by Alex Trabas.
Bermuda Lighthouses
Photos and accounts of a 2000 visit to the two major lighthouses by Gary Richardson and Anna Klein.
Beacons
Photos of smaller lights of Bermuda, posted by BermudaBoater.com.
Lighthouses in Bermuda
Photos available from Wikimedia.
Leuchttürme Mittelamerikas und der Karibik auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.

St. David's Light
St.David's Light, St. George, July 2010
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Brian Gratwicke
Lighthouses
North Rock (3)
Date unknown (station established 1912). Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 15 m (49 ft) round 2-stage fiberglass tower mounted on a concrete base. Lower half of tower painted yellow, upper half black. Clifton Vachon has a 2009 photo, another photo is available (near the bottom of the page), a postage stamp also shows the structure (stamp on the right), and Google has a satellite view. The base originally supported a concrete light tower; later it supported a skeletal tower. Located on an isolated limestone reef at the northernmost point of the Bermuda archipelago, about 16 km (10 mi) northwest of St. David's Light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS BER-015; Admiralty J4471; NGA 11684.
Northeast Beacon (North East Breaker)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 2.5 s. 14 m (46 ft) round hourglass-shaped red fiberglass tower, raised high on a concrete tripod. A photo is available. Located at the extreme northeastern tip of the Bermuda reef system, 13 km (8 mi) north northeast of St. David's Light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS BER-018; Admiralty J4471.3; NGA 11620.
*** St. David's
1879. Active; focal plane 65 m (213 ft); two white flashes every 20 s; tower also carries flashing red and green lights that cover nearby shoals. 22 m (72 ft) octagonal limestone tower with lantern and double gallery; 2nd order Fresnel lens. Brian Gratwicke's photo is at the top of this page, Trabas has a fine postcard photo, Edwin Hoogerbeets has a good 2007 photo, Tim Conway has a 2008 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. Formerly all white, the lighthouse is now painted white with a broad red band in the center. The keeper's house is occupied by resident caretakers. Recently renovated. Located on a hilltop on St. David's Island, in St. George Parish, near the northeastern tip of the islands. Site open; tower open daily May through September. Operator/site manager: Bermuda Department of Marine and Ports Services. ARLHS BER-009; Admiralty J4472; NGA 11616.
**** Gibbs Hill
1846. Active; focal plane 108 m (354 ft); white flash every 10 s; tower also carries a flashing red aviation hazard light atop the lantern. 40.5 m (133 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery; revolving 1st order Fresnel lens (1904). Entire building painted white. D.B. King's photo is at right, Kate Webster has a photo, a 2009 photo and a view of the station are available, Wikimedia has photos, Tim Conway has a 2008 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This is not the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the world, as is claimed in Bermuda, but it is the second oldest cast iron lighthouse in the Americas (Jamaica's Morant Point Light was built in 1841). The 1-story keeper's house is occupied by a resident caretaker. There is a tea room and gift shop in the neighboring building, a former British Army signal station. The light station is a very well known tourist attraction. Lighthouse Digest has a September 1999 feature article on the light station and second article in July 2006. In September 2003 the lighthouse was damaged by Hurricane Fabian. The Fresnel lens was taken out of service, removed in February 2004, and returned in May after restoration and replacement of the mercury flotation with ball bearings. In 2005, the tower was reported to be in need of renovations; currently visitors are not allowed on the gallery due to safety concerns. In September 2012, the government announced it would soon begin a $500,000 restoration of the lighthouse. Located on the highest point of the island in Southampton Parish, southwest of Hamilton. Site and tower open daily year round. Operator: Bermuda Department of Marine and Ports Services. Site manager: Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. ARLHS BER-010; Admiralty J4550; NGA 11668.
[Hogfish Beacon]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 5 m (16 ft); two yellow flashes every 10 s. Beacon mounted on a short masonry tower, painted white with a black band at the top. The tower also carries a decorative weather vane. A photo is available, a postage stamp shows the structure (stamp on the left), and Google has a satellite view. This beacon marks the northwest end of a dangerous reef a short distance east of Bermuda's main entrance channel. Located in Great Sound about 5 km (3 mi) north of Gibb's Hill Light. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS BER-013; Admiralty J4494; NGA 11704.
Eastern Blue Cut
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); three white flashes, two short and one long (Morse code "W") every 10 s. 18 m (59 ft) round fiberglass (?) beacon mounted on a triangular pier supported by three piles. Beacon painted with black and white horizontal bands. A photo is available, Mike Fitzpatrick has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef on the northwestern side of the Bermuda archipelago. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS BER-011; Admiralty J4547; NGA 11686.
Gibbs Hill Light
Gibbs Hill Light, Warwick, July 2009
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by D.B. King
Chub Heads
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); nine quick white flashes every 15 s. 18 m (59 ft) round fiberglass (?) beacon mounted on a triangular pier supported by three piles. Beacon painted yellow with a black horizontal band. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef at the extreme western end of the Bermuda archipelago. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS BER-017; Admiralty J4546; NGA 11742.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Return to the Lighthouse Directory index

Posted March 22, 2007. Checked and revised August 23, 2012. Lighthouses: 6. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.