Little Harbour

The Johnston Legacy and Bronze Foundry

The story of Little Harbour begins in 1952 when Randolph Johnston, a Smith College art professor, sailed into the harbour aboard his schooner Langosta with his wife and four children. When the boat began to sink, the family took shelter in a large cave on the shore, sharing the space with bats and owls while they built a thatched-roof home. Johnston established a bronze casting foundry using the ancient lost-wax method—a 5,000-year-old technique requiring twelve collaborative steps.

The Johnston Studio remains the only working bronze foundry in The Bahamas. Three generations of the family have continued the tradition, producing sculptures that range from marine life to human figures. Their work has gained international recognition, with pieces displayed in museums worldwide, including the Vatican, which houses Johnston's sculpture titled St Peter: Fisher of Men. Visitors can tour the gallery adjacent to Pete's Pub and purchase works ranging from small keepsakes to major sculptural pieces.

Pete's Pub: Heart of the Community

Pete's Pub is far more than a beach bar—it is the social and cultural centre of Little Harbour. Established by the Johnston family, this open-air eatery serves fresh Bahamian seafood, including whatever the local fishermen bring in that day. The pub operates Thursday through Sunday, with lunch served from noon and dinner available later in the week.

The atmosphere is deliberately casual and welcoming, with historic murals, live music on occasion, and views of bronze sculptures scattered across the property. Pete's also maintains moorings in the harbour for visiting boats at approximately twenty dollars per night, with discounts for longer stays. The pub offers vacation cottage rentals, boat storage, and provisioning services, making it a one-stop destination for cruisers exploring the Southern Abacos.

Anchorage and Access

Little Harbour provides well-protected anchorage within a scenic natural harbour. The entrance channel carries approximately four feet at mean low water and seven feet at high tide, so deeper-draft vessels should time their arrival accordingly. Inside, depths range from six to twelve feet at low water. Pete's Pub maintains fourteen secure moorings; anchoring in the inner harbour is now restricted, so plan to pick up a mooring ball.

For vessels that draw too much to enter, nearby Lynyard Cay offers an alternative anchorage with dinghy access into Little Harbour. The settlement is also accessible by road from Marsh Harbour, roughly twenty-five kilometres to the north, via a scenic drive that ends on a white-sand track leading into the village. Explorer Charts AB-23 and AB-23A cover the area, and the Abaco Cruisers Net on VHF Channel 68 provides daily updates from 0815 to 0915.

Exploring the Surroundings

Beyond the foundry and pub, Little Harbour rewards visitors who take time to explore. Quiet beaches fringe the harbour, ideal for swimming, beachcombing, or simply relaxing. The nearby reefs and cays—including Sandy Cay Reef en route from the north—offer good snorkelling in clear Bahamian waters.

A footpath leads to the remains of the old Little Harbour Lighthouse, established in 1889 on a remote promontory at the harbour entrance. Though the light is no longer active—successive hurricanes destroyed both the original tower and its steel replacement—the hike offers panoramic views and a glimpse into the area's maritime history. Birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts will find plenty of interest in the surrounding mangroves and coastal bush.

Timing the Entrance

Little Harbour demands respect on approach. The entrance channel carries only about four feet at mean low water and seven feet or more at high tide, with some cruiser reports noting depths as shallow as three and a half feet at the shallowest point during low tide. If your vessel draws more than four feet, time your arrival for the top half of the tide cycle.

The cut is narrow with breakers visible on either side, so timing arrival for slack water reduces the impact of currents pushing you off course. Once inside, depths improve dramatically to ten to thirteen feet at the mooring balls. If you must wait for high water, anchor west of Tom Curry Point until the tide rises sufficiently.

Pete's Pub maintains approximately fifteen mooring balls at thirty dollars per night, and anchoring inside the harbour is now restricted. Take a mooring, pay at the pub, and settle in for one of the most atmospheric stops in the Abacos.

Pete's Pub and the Johnston Legacy

Pete's Pub is not merely a beach bar—it is the soul of Little Harbour. The open-air restaurant serves whatever the local fishermen bring in that day, grilled fresh and paired with cold Kalik beer or rum cocktails. The pub operates Monday through Wednesday for lunch from noon to 5pm, and Thursday through Sunday adds dinner service from 6pm to 9pm. Sushi Fridays have become a local tradition.

Adjacent to the pub stands the Johnston Art Foundry, the only working bronze casting studio in The Bahamas. The foundry uses the ancient lost-wax method—a 5,000-year-old technique requiring twelve collaborative steps—to produce sculptures ranging from small keepsakes to major commissioned pieces. Johnston bronzes reside in permanent collections at the Vatican, the Smithsonian, and museums worldwide. The gallery is open to visitors, and even a small purchase supports three generations of artistic tradition.

Exploring the Settlement

Little Harbour remains deliberately off-grid and uncommercialised, with roughly fifty homes scattered among the coconut palms and seagrapes. The Johnston family famously lived in a seaside cave while establishing their homestead in the 1950s, and that spirit of resourceful simplicity endures.

Quiet beaches fringe the harbour, ideal for swimming, beachcombing, or simply watching the light shift across the water. A footpath leads to the remains of the old Little Harbour Lighthouse, established in 1889 on a remote promontory at the harbour entrance. Successive hurricanes destroyed both the original tower and its steel replacement, but the hike offers panoramic views and a glimpse into the area's maritime history.

Snorkeling and Marine Life

The waters surrounding Little Harbour feature excellent snorkeling in typical Bahamian clarity. Sandy Cay Reef, en route from the north, rewards a mid-morning stop with healthy coral formations and abundant reef fish. The harbour entrance and surrounding rocks also hold small congregations of juvenile fish, lobster, and the occasional nurse shark resting on the sandy bottom.

For deeper-draft vessels that cannot enter the harbour, anchoring off Lynyard Cay provides an alternative with dinghy access to Little Harbour and its own rewarding snorkeling terrain. The combination of art, food, and underwater exploration makes Little Harbour worth the careful navigation required to reach it.

Practical Considerations

Little Harbour has no fuel, no grocery store, and no marina in the conventional sense—only Pete's moorings and the pub's hospitality. Provision fully in Marsh Harbour before heading south, and top off your water tanks; the settlement operates largely on rainwater collection and generator power.

Cell service can be spotty, and the pace is deliberately slow. Bring cash for the mooring fee and meals, as connectivity for card payments is not guaranteed. The reward for this preparation is an authentically remote Bahamian experience that feels unchanged from decades past.

Getting there

Little Harbour is most commonly reached by private yacht or charter catamaran, making it an ideal stop on a Southern Abacos itinerary. The harbour entrance is navigable for vessels drawing up to four feet at low tide or seven feet at high tide; deeper boats can anchor at nearby Lynyard Cay and dinghy in. By land, the settlement is accessible via a scenic drive from Marsh Harbour, approximately twenty-five kilometres to the north. The final stretch of road is unpaved white sand, adding to the village's remote character. There is no scheduled ferry service to Little Harbour.

Frequently asked questions

What are Pete's Pub hours and is a reservation needed?

Pete's Pub is generally open Monday through Wednesday for lunch (12-5pm) and Thursday through Sunday for lunch and dinner (12-4pm lunch, 6-9pm dinner). Reservations are not typically required, but it is wise to confirm hours in advance, especially during the off-season, by calling 242-577-5487 or emailing pete@petespub.com.

Can I visit the Johnston Art Foundry?

Yes, the foundry gallery is open to visitors and showcases bronze sculptures created on-site using traditional lost-wax casting methods. Pieces range from small affordable items to large commissioned works, and some of the foundry's sculptures are displayed in the Vatican and other major museums.

Is Little Harbour suitable for anchoring overnight?

Little Harbour offers a well-protected anchorage with moorings maintained by Pete's Pub at around twenty dollars per night. The inner harbour no longer permits anchoring, so plan to take a mooring ball. Vessels with deeper drafts can anchor off Lynyard Cay and dinghy into the harbour.

What is the minimum depth to enter Little Harbour?

The entrance channel carries approximately four feet at mean low water and seven feet or more at high tide. Some cruisers report depths as shallow as three and a half feet at the shallowest point during low tide. Time your arrival for the top half of the tide cycle if you draw more than four feet.

How much do moorings cost at Little Harbour?

Pete's Pub maintains approximately fifteen mooring balls at thirty dollars per night. Anchoring inside the harbour is now restricted, so plan to pick up a mooring and pay at the pub.

What are Pete's Pub hours?

Pete's Pub is generally open Monday through Wednesday for lunch from noon to 5pm, and Thursday through Sunday for lunch from noon to 4pm and dinner from 6pm to 9pm. Sushi Fridays are a popular tradition. Hours can vary seasonally, so confirm by calling 242-577-5487.