Walsingham Nature Reserve, known locally as Tom Moore's Jungle, is a twelve-acre patch of wild Bermuda in Hamilton Parish, off Harrington Sound Road. It is looked after by the Bermuda National Trust and is named for the Irish poet Thomas Moore, who is said to have favoured the area for writing during his stay on the island in the early nineteenth century. The reserve packs a great deal into a small space: lush forest trails, mangroves, subterranean caves and several bird species, with natural swimming grottoes of translucent blue water that are reached on foot. The best known of them is the Blue Hole, part of Blue Hole Park, a deep pool in the limestone that is popular for swimming and, for the brave, cliff jumping by locals. Tom Moore's Tavern, described by the tourism board as Bermuda's oldest restaurant, occupies a seventeenth-century estate at the edge of the reserve. The tourism profile lists no fees, so the reserve is free to explore, and it makes a shady, atmospheric contrast to the beaches, particularly on a hot day when the canopy keeps the trails cool.
On the trails
The paths wind beneath a canopy of trees and past mangrove pools and rocky hollows, and in places they pass cave mouths and swimming holes where the water is clear and cool. The ground is uneven and can be muddy after rain, so wear closed shoes with grip. Take a towel if you plan to swim, and be sensible about depth and rocks.
The grottoes are natural, with no lifeguards or railings, and a jump or dive that looks easy can be dangerous, so enter the water carefully and never swim alone. Allow an hour to ninety minutes to walk the trails and look at the main pools.
What to know
The tourism profile lists an email contact and a link to the Bermuda National Trust's reserve page but gives no hours, fees or facilities beyond the nearby tavern, so check the Trust for current information and do not rely on restrooms or a shop on site. Insects can be active in the shade in warm months, so repellent is useful.
Stay on the paths, respect the signs, and do not disturb the plants, bats or birds. Because the reserve is small and natural, it can feel crowded when a tour group arrives, so go early or late in the day if you prefer quiet.
Fitting it in
Hamilton Parish is on the east side of the island, close to the airport, the Crystal and Fantasy Caves and the aquarium at Flatts, so the reserve suits a half-day east end loop. Buses along Harrington Sound Road stop near the entrance, and taxis are easy to arrange. Many visitors stop for a drink or a meal at Tom Moore's Tavern after their walk, and the nearby Blue Hole Park adds a second swimming spot.
On a hot, humid afternoon this is one of the most refreshing and least expensive things to do on the island. Pack a small bag with water, a towel and a snack, keep your phone in a waterproof pouch if you plan to swim, and give yourself time to simply sit by a pool and listen to the birds in the canopy.
What to expect
The experience
A free, self-guided walk through forest, mangroves and cave-pocked limestone to natural swimming grottoes, including the Blue Hole.
Best time
Morning or late afternoon, when the trails are shaded and cool and the pools are quiet.
How long
An hour to ninety minutes on the trails; add time for a swim and a meal at the tavern.
Tips
Wear closed shoes with grip, bring a towel and repellent, and enter the water carefully. There are no lifeguards and the trails can be muddy.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Nature lovers and swimmers who want something wilder and shadier than a beach.
- Families
- Older children enjoy the caves and pools, but the ground is uneven and the water is unsupervised, so stay close.
- Couples
- A cool woodland walk, a dip in a grotto and dinner at Tom Moore's Tavern.
- Pair with
- The Crystal and Fantasy Caves, the aquarium at Flatts and St. George's.
- Time needed
- Two hours, or half a day on an east end loop.
Good questions
Is Tom Moore's Jungle free?+
The tourism profile lists no fees, so the reserve is free to walk. It is looked after by the Bermuda National Trust.
Can I swim there?+
The natural grottoes, including the Blue Hole, are popular for swimming, but there are no lifeguards. Enter carefully and never swim alone.
What is the Blue Hole?+
A deep, clear natural pool in the limestone, part of Blue Hole Park within the reserve.
Who was Tom Moore?+
An Irish poet who is said to have favoured the area for writing, which gave the reserve its popular name.
How do I get there?+
Buses along Harrington Sound Road in Hamilton Parish stop near the entrance, and a taxi from Hamilton or the airport is straightforward.
