More than 2,000 people turned out yesterday to participate in the Palm Sunday Walk through Paget and Warwick.

Walkers were able to explore areas of the parishes that are usually closed to the public as part of the annual five-mile walk organised by the National Trust.

This year’s event, which was sponsored by Sompo International, began and ended at the Bermuda College — with participants guided along a course that passed Elbow Beach, Coral Beach and Tennis Club, Alfred Blackburn Nature Reserve, Billy Goat Hill, the Poorhouse on Spring Road, Warwick Academy, Ship’s Inn, Salt Kettle, and the historic buildings of Bamboo Gate, Beverley and Horizons.

“I really liked it,” said 51-year-old Hamilton Parish resident Catherine Hollingsworth, who takes part in the event every year. “It was somewhere very different.”

Kathryn Davis, also from Hamilton Parish, added: “You got everything from the views to the houses you don’t normally get to visit.”

Ms Davis, 55, said her favourite part of the walk was the Alfred Blackburn Nature Reserve, which she had not seen before.

Rochelle Smith, 52, and Lachelle Swann Foggo, 55, have been taking part in the event for several years.

“It was hard but it was nice — we enjoyed it,” Ms Smith, from St George’s, told The Royal Gazette.

“You would be amazed at what was back there.”

“It gives us the exercise that we need,” Ms Swann Foggo, of Devonshire, added, although she said there were a few too many hills on this year’s route.

The event has also become a tradition for 69-year-old Veronica Hollis, who said: “I didn’t realise Bermuda had so many hills. But I’ve enjoyed it.”

Ms Hollis, of Hamilton Parish, was accompanied by 36-year-old Bianca Marshall, who is originally from Trinidad.

Noting that it is that time of year where the weather is starting to warm up, she said the walk was a great opportunity to get out and about and see more of the island.

Ms Hollis, who also remarked that the event is a great way to meet people, added that some of the views were the best part.

“The views were really amazing,” Ms Marshall agreed.

The views also stood out as a favourite part for Michael Fox, of Warwick. Mr Fox, 65, said that although he doesn’t take part every year, he does “when I can get out here because I get to see Bermuda and what it’s like now.

“Some of the places I’ve seen now that I haven’t seen since I was five years old.”

He particularly enjoyed the walk along Elbow Beach, through Coral Beach onto Cobbs Hill Road and up Billy Goat Hill, although the latter “was a challenge”.

Lawrence Doughty, conservation officer with the National Trust, said they were very pleased with the turnout, with a total of 2,060 people taking part.

“That’s a great number,” he said.

“It went really well. It has gone smoothly.”