The sand is coarse, the surf can be strong. At one end stand two hotels, the Grafton Beach Resort and Le Grand Courlan, with a shared beach restaurant; the rest of the beach has no facilities. Stonehaven Bay is one of the beaches in Tobago where leatherback turtles lay their eggs. SOS Tobago counts the nests there under the name Grafton, and in March 2026 the Guardian named "Stonehaven Bay at Grafton" among the island's nesting beaches.
- Sand
- coarse
- calmest spot
- north end
- Nesting season, to June or September depending on source
- March to August
- Coast
- Caribbean side
Take care when swimming. In 2010 the tourism agency warned of very strong surf and dangerous currents and advised staying close to shore. The north end is the calmest, on the right as you face the sea. Rough Guides calls the swimming good. You can snorkel at the north end too; the tourism agency called it "reasonable", while Rueben Clement on discovertnt rates it well.
When the turtles arrive depends on the source. The tourism agency gave March to June for Stonehaven Bay, Rough Guides March to August, and discovertnt (2022) March to September for Tobago, with the peak from June to August. Hatching times differ too: about eight weeks after laying according to discovertnt, six weeks according to Rough Guides, three months according to the tourism agency. If you want to watch, stay in the dark: no torch, no flash, no touching.
At a glance
- Access
- Old Stonehaven Road runs along the bay (Rough Guides).
- Swimming
- Coarse sand, surf can be very strong, dangerous currents. Calmest at the north end, stay close to shore.
- Snorkelling
- At the north end, reasonable to good depending on the source.
- Facilities
- Only at the hotel end: hotel facilities and the Waves beach restaurant run by the two hotels (as of 2020).
Our tipFor a view of the whole bay, go up to Fort Bennett in Black Rock. According to Rough Guides it looks out over Stonehaven Bay as far as Pigeon Point.
Stonehaven Bay: frequently asked questions
Do turtles nest at Stonehaven Bay in Tobago?
Yes, leatherback turtles lay their eggs at Stonehaven Bay and Grafton Beach, and SOS Tobago counts the nests there. All sources have the season starting in March; it ends in June, August or September depending on the source.
Is it safe to swim at Stonehaven Bay?
Only with care. According to the tourism agency the surf at Stonehaven Bay can be very strong, with dangerous currents. Stay close to shore and head for the north end, where it is calmest.
Is Grafton Beach the same as Stonehaven Bay?
Yes, Grafton Beach is the beach on Stonehaven Bay on the west coast of Tobago. The tourism agency treats both as one beach, and SOS Tobago lists it as Grafton.
How should you behave when watching turtles at Stonehaven Bay?
Stay in the dark: no torch, no flash, little noise, and do not touch the turtles or the hatchlings. For Trinidad and Tobago the Guardian advises dark clothing and keeping your distance from nesting turtles.