Honored as the 2004 Winner’s Choice, St David’s Lighthouse is as much a part of the Bermuda landscape as the picturesque little islands that comprise this magnificent vacation paradise. The sparkling white limestone tower with its wide red mid-section proudly stands at the east end of St. David’s Island, at the easternmost tip of Bermuda, guiding mariners as it has for more than 120 years. The lighthouse was built in 1879 and has been in continuous service since then.

Although only 650 acres, St. David’s Island is one of Bermuda’s largest and has been home to many of the rich and famous of the world, especially those of Welsh Background. It was early settlers from Wales who named the island in honor of the Patron Saint of Wales.
Local residents were notorious for plundering ships when they were disabled. Once the new lighthouse thwarted their illegal activities, the plunderers turned to more acceptable endeavors such as fishing and piloting.

As one of only two lighthouses on Bermuda, the beacon sits atop a sturdy 55-ft. tower. The Second Order Lens casts a fixed white light of about 30,000 candlepower to a range of about 20 nautical miles, at a total height of 208 feet above sea level.

St. David’s Lighthouse is more than a sentinel to warn incoming ships. It is also the destination for the famed Newport Bermuda Race. Exquisite sailing vessels traverse the 635-mile ocean race from Newport, Rhode Island to the foot of St. David’s Lighthouse. Both professional and amateur sailing yachtsmen participate in the biennial race, which began in 1956 and is next set for 2004.

St. David’s Island is a popular tourist attraction, and the historic Lighthouse is open to the public from May to September. The lookout from the lighthouse balcony offers a magnificent view of the east, with its rugged seascape and to the west with its beautiful panorama of land and water. A visit to St. David’s Lighthouse is sure to be a memory to treasure.