Elbow Beach / Mount Pleasant / Bermuda

Elbow Beach is a popular tourist destination on an already popular island, so if you want somewhere to relax in your own space it might not be for you.    Kitesurfers and windsurfers can both be found here, and the conditions mean it isn’t suitable for beginners.

The beach is wide and clear, a good size overall and made up of good, soft sand.  It is busy during the tourist season between May and September, and probably best avoided then, but otherwise it has plenty of room.  Temperatures for air and water aren’t bad here, as most of the year you can just wear shorts although in winter there might be a few days when you will want to consider a wetsuit as the air temp drops to about 18C.

Winter winds are best, and you’ll get at least 3 days a week where it is useable and ranging between 15 and 25 knots, though on some days it can reach as much as 30 knots.  The wind works in most directions from the north, east, and round to the southwest, and tends to be lighter outside of the winter months.  The water depends on the wind – it is flat when the wind is from the east or southwest, while the southeast will give rolling water that is neither choppy nor a true wave. 

Facilities here are pretty good, the only thing it doesn’t have is rescue.  There are showers and toilets that visitors can use, plenty of parking close to the beach, and somewhere to buy food and drink.  Accommodation is also available if you want to stay in the area a while.

There is a reef about 40m from the shore that you should steer clear of, and if you’re here in summer there will be swimmers in the water and sunbathers on the beach.