Blolly Ham Bay: Anguilla's Wild West-End Hideaway
A rugged, crowd-free cove where cliffs, arches, and turquoise shallows do all the talking.
Why Go
If Shoal Bay is Anguilla's supermodel, Blolly Ham Bay is the barefoot, sun-bleached poet living at the end of the road. Tucked into the island's remote western tip near West End, this pocket-sized bay trades beach bars and loungers for dramatic limestone formations, a natural rock arch, and the kind of silence you can actually hear.
The Experience
You'll know you've arrived when the paved road runs out and the sea opens up in front of you in three shades of blue at once. The sand is soft and blindingly white, framed by low sea-carved cliffs and scrubby sea grape trees. On calm mornings the water is glassy enough to see your shadow on the sandy bottom; by late afternoon, a light swell rolls in and the whole cove glows gold. There are no vendors, no umbrellas, no music — just you, a couple of pelicans, and, if you're lucky, a single fishing skiff drifting off the point. Most visitors stay 20 minutes and leave; the ones who bring a cooler, a book, and a snorkel end up staying all day.
What to Try
Snorkel along the northern rocks, where parrotfish and the occasional small ray patrol the ledges around 'The Arch.' Wade out at low tide for a closer look at the sea-sculpted formations, then dry off with a slow walk along the shoreline toward Shoal Bay West. Strong, experienced paddlers can launch a kayak toward Anguillita, the tiny uninhabited cay just offshore — but only when the channel is flat. Bring a picnic and stake out one of the shaded pockets under the sea grapes for the classic barefoot Anguillian afternoon.
Insider Tip
Come in the morning, not at sunset. The bay faces west-northwest so it does catch a decent sunset, but afternoon winds funnel through the point and kick up chop that ruins the snorkeling. Locals treat 8–11am as the sweet spot: mirror-flat water, cool sand, zero footprints besides your own. Also — the last stretch of road is rough gravel; a small SUV is far happier than a compact rental.
The Practical Stuff
Location: western tip of Anguilla, past West End and Shoal Bay West. Access: about a 20–25 minute drive from The Valley, 10–15 minutes from Blowing Point ferry terminal; taxi from the ferry runs roughly US$18 for two. Hours: open daylight, always free. Facilities: none — no restrooms, no food, no rentals, no lifeguard. Bring water, reef-safe sunscreen, shade, and pack out everything you pack in. Swim shoes help on the rockier northern end.
Pair It With
- Shoal Bay West — Just around the headland — pair Blolly Ham's wild beauty with Shoal Bay West's longer stretch of powder sand for a full west-end beach-hopping morning.
- Sherricks Bay Guide — Another almost-empty cove nearby; combine the two for a self-guided 'hidden beaches of West End' tour.
- Smokey's at the Cove — The nearest proper beach bar — reward the barefoot exploring with grilled snapper, rum punch, and live music back at Cove Bay.
- Anguillita Island viewpoint — The uninhabited cay off Blolly Ham's point is one of Anguilla's most photogenic backdrops; even from shore it makes every beach shot better.
