Flat-Out Fun!

The Friendly Village with the Funny Name

The best souvenir you bring home from Bermuda may well be the memory of this little village with the unusual name. Why is it called Flatts when it's not particularly flat? No one knows for sure. But fishing has always been important to the area and tobacco was once grown here, so one theory is that the name comes from the Dutch word fleigh, meaning "a frame for drying fish or tobacco leaves."

An Intriguing History

Today, Flatts Village in Hamilton Parish is a lovely residential town whose calm serenity is a far cry from the tumultuous affairs that once took place nearby. From the bridge across Flatts Inlet, one can look out onto nearby Gibbets Island — a dot in the sea that got its name from gallows erected there when the tiny island was used to hang criminals and those suspected of witchcraft.

Flatts Village itself seems to have been populated since about 1600. A 1610 chart documents a home there, thought to belong to a survivor of the wreck of the Sea Venture. By the late 1600s, the village had grown, witchcraft hysteria had come to an end and residents turned their attention to shipping, quickly developing their village into a busy port second in importance only to St. George's. Their seagoing prosperity would last until the 1850s, when sand filling the harbour made it impossible for large ships to enter, thus ending the village's usefulness as a major port. For a while, only an occasional smuggler visited, taking advantage of the village's quiet remoteness to bypass unsuspecting customs officials in Hamilton and St. George's.

A Look at Life in a Bermuda Village

Modern-day Flatts Village, lying almost halfway between Hamilton and St. George's, has much to offer visitors who like to stray a bit from the beaten track. This area provides an opportunity for an up-close-and-personal look at Bermudians' life. Locals go about their business here as they would in any small town, and the bustle of city life seems far away. Little shops and friendly neighbourhood restaurants make for a relaxing change of pace. Visitors to Flatts on a Sunday should watch for local restaurants serving Bermuda's traditional Sunday brunch of salted cod and mashed potatoes with tangy tomato sauce, and a banana.

With the town's pastel cottages, well-tended yards and a scattering of palm trees forming a backdrop for pleasure craft, the scenery couldn't be better. Powerboats, sailboats and kayaks bob gently on Flatts Inlet. The village itself is located on the south bank of Harrington Sound, an unusual inland sea thought to be some 20 metres deep at its deepest point. The sound opens into the Atlantic Ocean through the Flatts Inlet channel. The bridge crossing the inlet provides an excellent viewpoint for observing the quickly rushing tides as water surges into and out of the sound. What looks like a lot of water pours through on each tide, but geologists say that what we can see also happens below the surface, where water simultaneously rushes through a series of subterranean caves. The sound is home to a wide variety of sea creatures and at least 100 varieties of sponges.

Awesome Aquarium

One of Bermuda's most popular spots for travellers is the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo (293-2727, www.BAMZ.org) on North Shore Road. The aquarium has more than 200 species of fish and invertebrates, many of them colourful and exotic. Tanks are clearly marked so that visitors can identify their favourites as they swim by. Watch for parrot fish, barracudas, sergeant majors, sharks and other species indigenous to Bermuda. The 140,000-gallon North Rock tank contains a spectacular living coral exhibit, complete with the flora and fauna found around Bermuda's reefs, plus some rarer examples. The aquarium also has a large reptile exhibit housing, among other creatures, a 400-pound Galapagos turtle named Crooked Nose. At 87 years old, Crooked Nose is the aquarium's oldest inhabitant, awing visitors with his enormous appetite and size.

The museum section is dedicated to Bermuda geology, whilst the zoo boasts more than 300 reptiles, mammals and vividly coloured tropical birds. Don't miss the flamingos, scarlet ibises and roseate spoonbills. BAMZ enjoys a well-earned international reputation for its dedication to environmental issues and habitat and species preservation. Animals in the species survival programme include golden lion tamarins, Matschie's tree kangaroos, oriental small-clawed otters and ring-tailed lemurs.

Ongoing activities make BAMZ a fascinating stop for all ages. Check the schedule for special activities as well as daily events like seal feedings and animal storytelling for children ages 2-7. The facility is open daily except Christmas Day from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (last admission at 4 p.m.). Adults, $10; seniors and children 5-12, $5; under 5, free.

Getting There

Flatts Village is easily reached by the #10 or #11 bus. Once a stop on the Bermuda Railway, the village also makes a convenient resting point for anyone hiking today's Bermuda Railway Trail, which follows the former tracks.

Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo
40 North Shore Road, Flatts
Hamilton Parish
Tel: 441-293-2727
E-mail: marketing.bzs@gov.bm
Website: www.bamz.org

The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo (BAMZ) is one of Bermuda's premier visitor attractions, dedicated to inspiring appreciation and care of island environments. A treasure trove of native fishes, exotic reptiles and birds, including pink flamingos, the facility offers education and entertainment in a beautiful setting. The North Rock Exhibit is a 140,000-gallon replica of a living local coral reef. A path guides visitors through the Caribbean Exhibit, a vast flight cage where animals roam at arm's length. The Australasia Exhibit includes lemurs, wallabies and tree kangaroos. Children love the touch pool in the Local Tails Exhibit, and the Discovery Cove is an interactive haven for children of all ages. Enjoy the spectacular view of Harrington Sound from the Coastal Walkway. Learn about Bermuda's geology and habitats in the Natural History Museum. Open daily except on Christmas Day, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (last admission: 4 p.m.). Adults: $10; children ages 5-12: $5.

Rustico
North Shore Road, Flatts
Tel: 441-295-5212

Rustico is a charming Italian restaurant in Flatts Village offering innovative dishes with a twist: lobster tail wrapped in locally grown Bermuda spinach, drizzled in a warm mango dressing and topped with prosciutto. Chef Tony Gonsalves takes spinach gnocchi to a new level with garnished artichokes and roasted red pepper.

DID YOU KNOW? Among the best places from which to view Flatts is the T-dock or grassy area across the street from the aquarium. Another great viewing point is from Flatts Bridge. You can even walk under the bridge by using access points on either side.

DID YOU KNOW? Flatts Village is where helmet diving got its start in Bermuda. Even novices can explore the ocean by wearing an air-filled helmet, or bell.

DID YOU KNOW? Harrington Sound was named for Lucy Harrington, the 17th-century Countess of Bedford.

DID YOU KNOW? Rustico in Flatts Village is a charming Italian restaurant serving innovative dishes with a twist: lobster tail wrapped in locally grown Bermuda spinach drizzled in a warm mango dressing and topped with prosciutto.

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