The back story
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Island guide
Cat Island: the height of escapism
The Hermitage on Mount Alvernia, rake and scrape, Sidney Poitier’s boyhood island and an eight-mile pink-sand beach.
Island guide · the height of escapism
Cat Island: Our Favourites
Cat Island in one page: The Hermitage on Mount Alvernia, Fernandez Bay Village, Hawk’s Nest, rake and scrape and quiet beaches.
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What to see and do
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White sand on Cat Island
Old Bight Beach
A long white-sand beach on Cat Island, one of the island’s secluded favourites.
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The highest point in the Bahamas
The Hermitage, Mount Alvernia
Father Jerome’s small stone monastery of 1939 on top of Mount Alvernia, at 206 ft the highest point in the country.
New Bight, Cat Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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The birthplace of rake and scrape
Rake ’n’ Scrape on Cat Island
Cat Island is the home of rake and scrape, the Bahamian music played on a saw, goatskin drums and found objects.
Where to stay
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A mile of beach on Cat Island
Fernandez Bay Village
Cottages and villas on a mile of white-sand beach on Cat Island, with garden showers and an honour-system tiki bar.
Fernandez Bay, New Bight, Cat Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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A pilot’s and angler’s outpost
Hawk’s Nest Resort & Marina
A small resort at the southern tip of Cat Island with a marina, a private airstrip, a pool and PADI diving.
French Bay, New Bight, Cat Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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Five cottages on the bay
Shannas Cove Resort
Five adults-only cottages facing the Bay of Shanna’s in the north of Cat Island, with a restaurant veranda.
Shanna’s Cove, Orange Creek, Cat Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
Bars and nightlife
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Solar-powered and simple
da Pink Chicken
A simple, solar-powered beach bar in the south of Cat Island, where you can watch turtles pass by.
Flamingo Hills, Cat Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
Health
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The local clinic
The Bight Community Clinic
The government community clinic in The Bight, run by the Ministry of Health’s Department of Public Health.
The Bight, Cat Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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The local clinic
Orange Creek Community Clinic
The government community clinic in Orange Creek, run by the Ministry of Health’s Department of Public Health.
Orange Creek, Cat Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
Questions and answers
What is the highest point in the Bahamas?
Mount Alvernia on Cat Island, at 206 ft (63 m), crowned by Father Jerome’s Hermitage of 1939.
When is the Rake & Scrape Festival?
Every June, according to the official tourism site.
Share your Cat Island tips
Been there? Share your experience and tips with other visitors.
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