A GLIMPSE of Bermuda's "undiscovered country" is waiting for participants in the Bermuda National Trust's annual Palm Sunday walk this weekend.

According to organisers, Trust environmental officer Peter Drew and Trust volunteer Bill Holmes, the event offers a trip through the northeastern parts of Somerset Village and Sandys - hidden areas which have managed to retain the charm, and outward appearance, of old Bermuda.

"The thing that struck us about this neighbourhood, is that it's some place you always drive through to go to Dockyard, and that's it," said Mr. Holmes. "For many people on the island, unfortunately, it's that once-a-year trip made to bring their overseas guests to the Dockyard, and then they drive through it.

"That's how we came up with the phrase 'undiscovered country' because, really, there are just so many people who aren't familiar with it.

Added Mr. Drew: "It's a fantastic area once you get out of your car and look around you. You suddenly see the beauty of the open spaces, the islands, the neighbourhoods, the communities and this vast open space. People drive through it, but they probably don't absorb it."

Beginning at 2 p.m. from Dockyard Terrace, the walk will, as usual, feature several historic properties along the way. A detailed map - available on Sunday from the Trust membership table next to the ferry stop - points them out as they appear on the route.

Included in the 15 listed points of interest are Convict Cemetery, Mangrove Bay Park, Cavello Hob, the Gladys Morrell Nature Reserve Lagoon Park and Lefroy House.

"Peter and I had a general idea of where we wanted to plan the route and then it was simply a matter of finding a route that was educational, aesthetically pleasing, relatively flat, where nobody objected to us promenading through the general area," Mr. Holmes said.

"It's a little over eight miles but it's not arduous. It's easy on the spirit. It should be fun. I'm not a big walker and I did it.

"There's four cemeteries that we go through on the course of the walk. Three of them are military cemeteries, the biggest one being, of course, the Naval Cemetery.

"Watford Cemetery is certainly the smallest, but in a way it's the most charming because it brings you back to a certain time; you get a sense of 150, 200 years ago when there were no great big cemeteries. There were little spots where people were laid to rest on the island and this is one of them.

"And it's a nice contrast for historical purposes to (compare the) monuments of the Naval Cemetery to the Convict Cemetery. And you realise both people - the convicts who built it and the naval officers that ran it were both incredibly important to the existence of Dockyard but they ended up in different spots at the end.

"So we show both. The Naval Cemetery is still a working part of Bermuda. Someone was interred there just a month ago. So it's not just part of Bermuda's past, it's part of Bermuda's present."

The Palm Sunday walk started around 25 years ago under the auspices of (former Government Conservation Officer) David Wingate, Mr. Holmes added. The reason behind its origin is the reason why the walk is continued today.

"It began in an effort to show people undeveloped Bermuda; Bermuda as it used to be," he explained. "The challenge has been, in the ensuing decades, as more and more of Bermuda gets developed, there's less and less areas that we can bring people to, to show them unspoiled Bermuda.

"No one would be so arrogant as to say Bermuda should be this way or that way but (Sunday's walk is) certainly a lovely slice of what Bermuda used to be. And I think that in itself is a learning experience; something people should come and see, just a fun day for the family.

"We want to show people the best of Bermuda that we can find in each location every year. There's truly something in every corner of Bermuda. All we're trying to do is bring people to a part of it that they might not look at on their own and give them a little helpful nudge to some of the things we think are most interesting to look at.

"We want to encourage a sense of value. We want people to value the natural heritage, which is also the national heritage."

Added Mr. Drew: "It's really a highlight of the year. As, I believe, (Trust director) Amanda Outerbridge said, 'Yes, you have the longtails, but this is the first real signal of spring. On a good day, we literally have 3,000 or 4,000 people.

"Much of this area is owned by the West End Development Coorporation (Wedco); the majority of them are Wedco properties and (the walk) is to give people an appreciation - and I mean all people - that this is their island; this is part of Bermuda and Bermuda's heritage.

"A lot of it's natural heritage - the views, the vistas, some of the buildings along the route have a history behind them. We would encourage people from St. David's and St. George's - and even Sandys - to come out to the event and experience it in a way that's not available at all times.

"It's one day and it's a route that we've gone to great lengths to really showcase the area. This is a charity event. It's free to all people; you don't have to be a Trust member. There's no charge, a lot of organisation goes into it but it's a total community event."

q This year's 8.7-mile walk begins at Dockyard Terrace at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Cold drinks will be served at the start and finish and also midway, at Springfield. Limited parking is available at Dockyard, but free ferry service, courtesy of the Ministry of Transport, will be available from Hamilton to Dockyard at 1 p.m. and 1.30 p.m., and to Hamilton from Dockyard at 4.15 p.m., 5.30 p.m. and 6.15 p.m. For more information on the walk, contact the Trust at 236-6483.