Mount Alvernia rises 206 feet above sea level as the highest natural point in The Bahamas — a modest hill that carries an outsized sense of place.
The Hermitage crowns Cat Island’s Mount Alvernia, a miniature medieval monastery hand-carved from native stone by Father Jerome in 1939.
Old Bight sits in the shadow of that hill, on the calm western shore of Cat Island. If you’re looking for the Bahamas at its most raw and quiet — where a hand-built monastery draws pilgrims, where beaches run for miles without footprints, and where a scrappy musical tradition still holds the village together — this is the corner of the archipelago to aim for.
Old Bight rewards the traveler who makes the extra effort to get here. The climb up Mount Alvernia takes twenty minutes and gives you a 360-degree view that hasn’t changed much since Father Jerome died here in 1956. The beaches are empty because the island is remote — and that remoteness is the whole point. The one genuine caveat: flights to Cat Island are limited and schedules shift, so build in a buffer day if you can.
Solitude seekers
Hikers
Culture travelers
What follows is a tour of the Old Bight area — the monastery above it, the beaches beside it, the festival that brings it to life, and the small resort that makes a comfortable base for all of it. Each stop is within a short drive of the others, which means you can cover the essentials in a long weekend or stretch them into a slow, quiet week.
| Spot | Best for | Time needed | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Alvernia & The Hermitage | Hikers, history buffs | 1–1.5 hours | 360-degree summit panorama |
| Fernandez Bay | Swimmers, snorkelers | 2–3 hours | Protected turquoise water |
| Old Bight Beach | Solitude, long walks | Half day | Nearly 5 miles of empty sand |
| Rake & Scrape Festival | Music lovers, families | Full day or weekend | Live rake-and-scrape competition |
| Rollezz Villas Beach Resort | Overnight stays | 2+ nights | Beachfront villas on Old Bight |
Mount Alvernia & The Hermitage
The climb starts about a mile north of New Bight settlement. Drive north on the main road until you spot the Mount Alvernia signpost on the left, then follow the short unpaved road to a small parking area at the base of the hill. From there, a narrow stone stairway winds up through low scrub vegetation, with fourteen carved Stations of the Cross marking the path — each relief rendered in careful detail by Father Jerome’s own hands.
The gradient gets steeper near the summit, and the stone steps can be slippery after rain — sturdy footwear with good grip is essential. The path has no shade, so early morning or late afternoon visits are far more comfortable. Once at the top, the Hermitage unfolds as a cluster of small chambers: a chapel, a bell tower, a tiny kitchen, and Father Jerome’s sleeping quarters. Doorways are low and rooms are small — built to the monk’s own diminutive scale. You can climb the bell tower for an unobstructed 360-degree view across Cat Island’s entire length and out to the empty Atlantic.
From New Bight Airport or settlement, drive north on the main road about a mile. Watch for the Mount Alvernia signpost on the left. A short unpaved road leads to parking. Rental cars and taxis are available at the airport — advance arrangements are recommended during peak season.
Fourteen hand-carved stone reliefs mark the ascent. The stairway is narrow and uneven — allow 15 to 30 minutes depending on your pace. Bring water and avoid the hottest midday hours. There’s no shade along the path.
Visit the small chapel, Father Jerome’s living quarters, and the bell tower. The spaces are deliberately humble — low doorways, minimal furnishings. Treat the site with respect as a place of spiritual significance. Father Jerome’s remains rest in a small tomb within the monastery walls.
The 360-degree panorama stretches from Exuma Sound to the Atlantic Ocean. Sunrise and late afternoon offer the best light for photography. The climb back down takes about the same time — watch your footing on the steeper sections.
Arrive at Mount Alvernia just before sunrise — the eastern light illuminates the stone carvings of the Stations of the Cross, and the summit is empty. Midday summer visits can be brutally hot on the exposed climb.
Fernandez Bay
Just north of New Bight, Fernandez Bay curves into a natural harbor with calm turquoise water protected by the land’s shape. The beach here runs about a mile and is rarely crowded — most days you’ll share the sand with only a handful of guests from Fernandez Bay Village resort, a collection of beachfront cottages tucked among coconut palms.
The water stays calm here because the bay is sheltered by the land curve, making it a reliable spot for swimming even when the wind picks up elsewhere. Bonefishing expeditions leave from the bay to nearby flats. If you have a few hours, paddle a kayak along the shoreline — the clarity of the water makes it easy to spot sea turtles and rays from above.
Heading south from Fernandez Bay, the road crosses a narrow mangrove swamp to reach something altogether bigger and wilder.
Old Bight Beach
Old Bight Beach is the longest uninterrupted stretch of sand in The Bahamas — nearly five miles of pink-tinged, wide-open shoreline with no crowds, no vendors, no beach chairs lined up in rows. The narrow road that crosses the mangrove swamp to reach it feels like a secret passage, and once you step onto the sand, the isolation is immediate.
Walking the full length of the beach takes the better part of an afternoon. The sand has a faint pink tint from crushed coral, and the water on this side of the island stays calm because it fronts the protected Caribbean rather than the open Atlantic. Old Bight Beach is the kind of place that makes you wonder why more people aren’t here — and then you remember the effort it took to get to Cat Island, and you’re grateful for it.
The Rake & Scrape Festival
If you time your visit for Bahamas Labour Day weekend, you’ll land in Arthur’s Town for the annual Rake & Scrape Festival. Arthur’s Town is recognized as the rake-and-scrape capital of the Bahamas, and the festival was created specifically to honor the musical tradition and keep it alive for younger generations.
The festival runs from morning through evening each day. Beyond the music, there’s a fishermen’s and farmers’ market, locally made straw work and jewelry, and a children’s corner that keeps younger visitors occupied while adults watch the band competition. Rollezz Villas Beach Resort sits just up the road from the festival grounds, which makes it a convenient base if you’re planning to attend both days.
The Rake & Scrape Festival draws visitors from across the Bahamas and beyond, but crowds remain in the low thousands — it’s a community event at heart, not a tourist production. The 2026 dates are June 4–6. Festival information and booking context is available through Carib Journal’s coverage of the event.
Rollezz Villas Beach Resort
Rollezz Villas Beach Resort is Cat Island’s top boutique beach property — a family-owned collection of about ten standalone villas set directly on Old Bight Beach. Carl and Yvonne Rolle run the place, and it shows in the small touches: fresh produce from the property’s gardens, nightly dinners cooked by Carl himself featuring fresh Bahamian seafood, and a beach bar that was added alongside two new two-bedroom villas in a recent expansion.
The villas sit far enough apart that you get genuine privacy — each one has a front porch facing the water, and the beach in front of the resort extends for miles in both directions. If you’re not staying here, you can still stop by for dinner (reservations recommended), but the real value of Rollezz is having Old Bight Beach as your front yard for a few days. The resort’s location also puts it within easy reach of Mount Alvernia, Fernandez Bay, and the airport at New Bight.
Getting to Cat Island & Getting Around
Cat Island sits about 130 miles southeast of Nassau. The most practical way in is to fly. New Bight Airport (TBI) is the primary commercial airport, served by daily flights from Nassau via Bahamasair, Western Air, and Southern Air Charter — the flight takes roughly 45 minutes. Makers Air also operates several weekly flights from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. Regional flight schedules on the Out Islands can be fluid, so build in a buffer and board early when the call comes.
Flight schedules to Cat Island change frequently and flights can be cancelled on short notice, especially in off-season months. Always confirm your return flight the day before departure, and avoid booking a same-day connection in Nassau if you can help it.
Once you’re on the island, rental cars and taxis are available at the airport. Advance arrangements are recommended during peak season. The main road runs north-south along the island, and most of the places covered in this article are within a 15-minute drive of New Bight. There is no public transportation, so a rental car gives you the most flexibility — especially if you want to reach Old Bight Beach or drive north to Arthur’s Town for the festival.
| Option | Details | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahamasair / Western Air from Nassau | Daily flights to New Bight (TBI) | ~45 minutes | Most reliable option; book early |
| Makers Air from Fort Lauderdale | Several weekly flights | ~1 hour | Direct from US; schedule varies |
| Mail boat from Nassau | Weekly service | 10–12 hours | Adventure option; docks at various points |
| Rental car at New Bight Airport | Several local agencies | — | Arrange in advance during peak season |
Before You Go — Cat Island
How much time should I plan for Old Bight?
A long weekend gives you enough time to climb Mount Alvernia, swim at Fernandez Bay, walk Old Bight Beach, and have dinner at Rollezz. A full week lets you add the festival (if dates align), a bonefishing day, and a drive north to Arthur’s Town.
Is the Hermitage climb suitable for kids?
The climb is moderately challenging — steep stone steps with uneven sections near the top. Active kids aged 8 and up can manage it with supervision. The low doorways and tiny rooms at the summit are a hit with younger children. Bring plenty of water and go early.
What’s the biggest downside of Cat Island?
The remoteness is both the draw and the friction. Flight schedules change without notice, restaurant options are limited outside resort dining, and there’s no nightlife to speak of. If you need convenience and variety, this isn’t the island for you. If you want quiet and emptiness, it’s exactly right.
Can I visit without a rental car?
Barely. Taxis are available but expensive and need to be arranged in advance. A rental car gives you the freedom to reach Old Bight Beach, the Hermitage trailhead, and Arthur’s Town on your own schedule. Book one when you book your flight.
When is the best time of year to go?
November through April offers the most comfortable temperatures and lowest rainfall. The Rake & Scrape Festival in early June is a good reason to visit in shoulder season, but expect more heat and humidity. Hurricane season runs June through November.
Old Bight in the Shadow of the Hill
Mount Alvernia rises only 206 feet, but on Cat Island it feels like a mountain — partly because it’s the highest point in the entire country, and partly because of what sits on top of it. The Hermitage was built by one man, by hand, as a retreat and a prayer. It took years of work, and it’s still standing through decades of Caribbean storms. Old Bight sits beneath that hill, on a beach that runs for miles without interruption, facing a sea that stays calm because the island shelters it. The whole place asks you to slow down, and if you’ve made the effort to get here, you’ll be ready to do exactly that.
For more on the quieter corners of the Bahamas, have a look at our guide to Long Island — another Out Island where solitude and natural beauty run deep.
References
Carib Journal. “Rake and Scrape Festival on Cat Island.” Carib Journal, 2026. ↗
Sail Abacos. “New Bight, Cat Island.” Sail Abacos. ↗
Sail Abacos. “Mt Alvernia & The Hermitage.” Sail Abacos. ↗
Carib Journal. “Cat Island, Bahamas: The Sound of the Bahamas.” Carib Journal, 2025. ↗
If you’re still planning your Out Island trip, our guides to secret cays and sandbars in the Exumas, hidden snorkeling spots across the Bahamas, and the best coral reefs for diving and snorkeling cover more ground if you’re island-hopping beyond Cat Island.
Explore Places to Stay in the Bahamas
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