Gibbet Island
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The beauty of Gibbet Island and its idyllic facing coves belies an ugly past. Its name refers to the gallows post that once stood on the island, a site where slaves and criminals were hanged, their bodies on public display as a warning to passing maritime traffic. Such history remains a sore spot for the island’s black—and white—communities in the ongoing effort to foster harmonious race relations over 170 years after Emancipation in Bermuda.
Today, Gibbet Island is owned by a private family trust, so the beach is officially off-limits, though the public Railway Trail runs through the land to Flatts Inlet. Here, a bridge once carried the train on to Shelly Bay and points further east. To recoup the trail, you need to retrace your steps, walk through Flatts Village and around the inlet, following North Shore Road into Hamilton Parish.
© 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.