West End

West End is the oldest settlement on Grand Bahama and sits at the island's far western tip, about a hundred kilometres from the Florida coast, which is exactly why it mattered during American prohibition: liquor was legal here, boats ran it across the Gulf Stream, and the village had a brief period of considerable money and considerable notoriety. That ended in 1933 and West End went back to fishing. Today it is a quiet strip of pastel houses along the water with a marina at the point, a few conch stands and Sunday church that fills the road. The sunsets, facing straight west across open water, are the best on the island.

What you actually see

• The waterfront village - pastel houses along the shore road.
• The rum-running history - the reason for the village's brief boom.
• The conch stands - fresh salad made on the waterfront.
• Sunset - straight west across open water toward Florida.

When to go

December to May is the dry season. Late afternoon into sunset is the time to be here. Sundays are quiet apart from church. The drive from Freeport takes about forty-five minutes on a straight road.

Honest expectations

There is very little to do: a handful of conch stands, a marina and a village. The large resort at the point has closed and reopened repeatedly and its status changes. Hurricane Dorian caused damage here in 2019 and some buildings remain unrepaired. Do not expect facilities.

Nearby

Freeport is 45 minutes east; Lucayan National Park is beyond it.