Admiralty House Park

Admiralty House Park in Hamilton Intersection Photos/Alamy

Located just two miles from Hamilton City is a remote cliff-jumping point with a unique history. Admiralty House was gifted to the British Royal Navy by the Bermuda Government back in the 1800s. Today, what’s left of the historic home is now surrounded by a park, hiking trails, and a hidden beach called Clarence Cove.

Originally built for admirals who were stationed at the nearby dockyards, Admiralty House has had many lives, once serving as a Navy Hospital and as a signal center for the British Royal Navy during World War II. It was here that British officers would intercept coded messages from ships en route between the US and UK.

When Admiralty House was built back in the 1800s, a nearby manmade cave—now known as Admiral’s Cave—once housed British convicts. In fact, there are several underground tunnels connecting underground caves, that were constructed in the 1800s by the British military.

In 1951, Admiralty House was given back to the Bermuda government, abandoned and then eventually demolished. What is left are the remains of the once grand ballroom of this former naval outpost. By far, the biggest draw of Admiralty House today is its surrounding hiking trails, manmade caves, and cliff-jumping.

A rocky path to Admiral’s Cave reveals a stairway leading to the open ocean. Visitors will opt to either jump into the inviting cerulean water from the stairs or jump off of the overhanging cliffs.

Know Before You Go

Admiralty House Park is open from sunrise to sunset daily and is free to enter. The park is visitor friendly, offering on-site portable toilets, picnic areas, hiking trails, a basketball court, and more. The park is located on Spanish Point Road, near the intersection of North Shore Road. It is advised visitors do not go to the park alone, after dark, as the evening hours can attract unsavory characters.