If you arrive in Bermuda by cruise ship at St George this may be one of the first sights you will see. Hopefully your voyage will be less perilous than that of Sir George Somers whose shipwrecked crew came ashore near here in 1609.
In 1612 Bermuda’s first governor, Richard Moore, arrived here from England with sixty settlers aboard the Plough. Moore, a carpenter by trade, built a wooden fort here to defend Bermuda from the Spaniards. Since then Fort St Catherine has been rebuilt several times, with most of the current structure dating from the late 19th century.
Nowadays, the fort houses a museum and is one of Bermuda’s most impressive structures. The powder magazine is home to a collection of antique weapons and in the old artillery store there is a gallery of dioramas depicting Bermuda’s history. The fort was defended by 5 Woolwich Rifled Muzzle Loader canons, each weighing 18 tons. The shells they fired weighed 400 pounds and were capable of penetrating thick iron plate. Also on display are replicas of the British Crown Jewels and an audiovisual presentation on the forts of St George’s. The fort is surrounded by a dry moat and accessed by a drawbridge.
Fort St Catherine is located north of the town of St George and is not on a major bus route. If you don’t have a scooter, you can catch a bus to St George and then catch one of the St George’s Minibus Service’s vehicles. They depart from King’s Square in St George. The lady in the Visitor Information Centre will point out the minibus if you are unsure.
We just returned from our second cruise to Bermuda this year and Fort St Catherine is one of our stops every time we go. It is awesome, a must see. It is easier to get to with a scooter. That way you don’t need to find a ride back to town.
I totally agree with Katherine. My husband and I (both in our mid-60′s) have been to Bermuda several times and are returning this year again. One of the highlights for us is walking in St. George from the town square to the Fort and back. Just make certain to bring drinking water to hydrate, as it is quite warm depending on when you are there. A stop at Tobacco Bay Beach on the way back will break the walk and cool you off.
Don’t let Chris’s comment scare you off. Walking to and from the Fort can be done quite easily. I’m 63 and and although I was challenged climbing the hill to the Fort the rest of the walk back to town is all downhill. There is no need for a taxi or minibus for a great day in St. George.
If you call the MiniBus service in a timely manner, you shouldn’t have any problems getting there. They run from St. George Square (benches located beside the George and the Dragon Restaurant Pub) all times of the day. Avg. $4 pp. Tel: 297-8199. Just a token of appreciation to all the tourists that visit our beautiful island. Any questions glad to help. Have a Bermudaful day!
My wife and I just returned from a cruise to Bermuda. I wanted to see Fort St. Catherine, but getting there wasn’t easy. We hired a taxi to take us there, but getting back to the downtown area was difficult. All the minibuses were doing sightseeing tours. We couldn’t get a taxi to come out to the fort to pick us up after calling several times. If not for a local driver offering us a ride back we would’ve had quite a walk to town. Aside from that, the fort is a great historic site and at the time we went it was free admission because they were doing repair work. If you get thirsty or hungry or just want to go for a swim, Blackbeard’s Hideout ( a pub/resturant is right next to the fort.) There’s a public beach just a short distance down the road from the fort also.
I have just returned from a trip to Bermuda. My daughter and I made Fort St. Catherine one of our ‘must-do’ stops. Any way you look at it, this structure and it’s history is AMAZING. If you’re in St. George, Bermuda it is well worth the trip.