Bononecort and Lowes Beaches, Clarencetown, Bahamas - The Beaches of Long Island

DIRECTIONS:  This one is a bit tough, but not too tough, as the sign to the ‘Compass Rose’ guest house blew down in Hurricane Joaquin.  If it’s been replaced, look for it.  If not...  Well, the easiest way to find it is if heading south on the QH, in 2 1/4 miles it will be the first left after Turtle Cove/Deans Blue Hole and if heading north, in almost a mile it will be the first right after you leave Clarence Town.  The road is mostly hard pan and very rough.  Fortunately there is no real hill to climb.  Just take it easy.  Drive straight to the beach and park wherever you want.

First a comment on the names.  I’m not quite certain which name really applies.   I’m under the impression that Lowes refers to the beach from the guest house south to Clarence Town and Bonnecort to the little cove just to the north and possibly the beach just beyond it.  And as to the spellings, well, their based upon how I heard them.   I’ve never seen them written.  And my wife will attest that my hearing ain’t what it used to be.  So if you get a quizzical look when talking to a Long Islander about being at either, just say, “Oh, you know, Compass Rose.”

From where you park, the small cove that I call Bonnecort is a short 700' walk to the north on a well trod path.   Note that you could choose to go onto the beach and take it instead.  What French Cove is to the near north, Bonnecort is to the near south, only much smaller, better protected, with a much narrower unnavigable entrance.  Having only 350' of beach and being so well protected with no sharp drop off, it is a very family friendly beach.  The only thing missing is shade.  But after all, this is the Atlantic side.

A very short walk of just over 120' to the north will put you at another beach.  We’ve not gotten to this one, so we can’t give you a first hand report.  But we did happen to meet an Australian gentleman with his dog who said (the man not the dog) that the snorkeling there was excellent.

As for Lowes, the parking area puts you at the north end.  Directly in front of you there is about 750' of beach from the promontory on the left (north) that demarcates Bonnecort to a small outcropping on the right (south).  From that outcropping there is about 3700' of uninterrupted beach.   The southern end of the beach can be accessed from Clarence Town.