Pasture Bay: Wild Atlantic Sands and Untouched Beauty on Mustique

Pasture Bay is one of Mustique's wildest and most secluded beaches, a long stretch of pale sand facing the open Atlantic on the island's windward side. Far removed from the yachts and waterfront activity of Britannia Bay, it is shaped by steady trade winds, rolling surf and an almost completely natural coastline. Mustique's own guides describe Pasture Bay as wild and windswept, making it one of the clearest examples of the island's rugged side.

The atmosphere here is noticeably more dramatic than at Mustique's calmer Caribbean beaches. Waves roll directly toward shore, tropical vegetation borders the sand and there is little visible development from the beach itself. Pasture Bay is particularly suited to long walks, beachcombing, surfing and bodyboarding, although Mustique advises swimmers to take care with the Atlantic currents.

Pasture Bay also connects with some of Mustique's finest walking routes. The Windward Beaches trail links it with neighboring Macaroni Beach, while another route begins at Pasture Bay and follows the coastline through Secret Sand Bay, Black Sand Bay and the unusual Moonscape terrain before climbing toward South Point. For yacht charter guests who have permission to explore the island, this makes Pasture Bay as rewarding for hiking and scenery as it is for the beach itself.

Pasture Bay faces the Atlantic and is significantly more exposed than Mustique's western coastline. Persistent easterly trade winds, breaking waves and stronger currents make the waters immediately offshore unsuitable as a conventional yacht charter anchorage. The same conditions that create excellent surfing and bodyboarding can make yacht positioning close to the beach uncomfortable and potentially unsafe.

Visiting yachts should instead use Mustique's official mooring field in Britannia Bay. Current cruising guidance states that Britannia Bay is the island's only permitted yacht mooring area and that anchoring elsewhere around Mustique is prohibited. Access to some parts of the island can also be restricted for visiting yacht crews, so a trip to Pasture Bay should be confirmed locally before guests leave Britannia Bay.

There is no designated yacht anchorage at Pasture Bay. Its Atlantic exposure alone makes it poorly suited to normal overnight anchoring, while Mustique's controlled yacht regulations prohibit independent anchoring around the island outside the designated Britannia Bay arrangements.

The practical approach is to leave the yacht securely moored in Britannia Bay and visit Pasture Bay overland when permitted. This also protects the sensitive marine environment around Mustique and avoids unnecessary exposure to the wind, swell and currents found along the eastern coastline.

Pasture Bay is closely connected to Mustique's network of nature trails. The 5.5 km Moonscape & South Point route begins at the beach and passes Secret Sand Bay, Black Sand Bay, unusual cactus-covered terrain and South Point before returning toward Pasture Bay. A separate 3 km Windward Beaches route connects Macaroni Beach with Pasture Bay and Pasture Lookout.

Mustique also maintains picnic sites at Pasture Bay, although these are intended for homeowners, villa guests and hotel guests and can be arranged through their respective teams. Several private villas overlook the bay, but the shoreline itself retains the undeveloped appearance that makes this one of Mustique's most striking natural settings.