Black Watch Well
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Ignored by passing Bermudian motorists, Black Watch Well sits at a sometimes chaotic three-way intersection between North Shore Road, Langton Hill, and Blackwatch Pass. It is marked by a sign, which explains the little structure’s history.
Black Watch Well takes its name from the heroic Scottish soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the 42nd Regiment of Loyal Highlanders, who are forever remembered here as having come to the aid of the area’s “poor and their cattle in the long drought of 1849.” The limestone well they dug down to an underwater lens still bears its wooden roof, though its interior has been capped for safety reasons.
Park at nearby C-Mart’s parking lot, or across the road at the Ducking Stool Park, whose name refers to its history as a site like St. George’s, where 17th-century public punishments, using a seat on a log to dunk sinners, were frequently staged. These days, it is a popular Cup Match campsite, with deep swimming holes off its scenic cliffs.
The dramatic Blackwatch Pass is also worth driving or walking through; its towering limestone walls, which were carved by hand in the 1930s, demonstrate a magnificent feat of engineering, and also show the crumbling geological strata of local limestone. The Pass links North Shore Road with Marsh Folly and Palmetto Road.
© Rosemary Jones from Moon Bermuda, 2nd Edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.