The Dunmore is the classic Harbour Island hotel for couples who want old-school charm right on Pink Sands Beach. It is small, with just 19 rooms spread through colorful historic cottages in a tropical garden. The soft rose-tinted sand is a few steps from your door. There is no big pool deck, no lobby bustle and no resort sprawl, only gardens, the beach and a Clubhouse that feels like a stylish 1960s beach club on the Riviera.
The cottages have cozy interiors and breezy outdoor spaces, while a handful of private residences with their own pools suit couples who want more room or a longer stay. Lunch is relaxed and barefoot. Dinner is candlelit and a little more dressed up, which makes the Clubhouse one of the island's most romantic evenings out.
The Dunmore suits couples who want a beach hotel with personality and a short golf cart ride to the restaurants of Dunmore Town. It is less suited to couples who want a resort pool, a spa or a big range of facilities. If your idea of a honeymoon is long beach walks, a good book and a lovely dinner, it fits perfectly.
Highlights at a glance
- Just 19 rooms on Pink Sands Beach
- Historic cottages in tropical gardens
- The Clubhouse, with Riviera-inspired style
- Private residences with their own pools
- Short golf cart ride to Dunmore Town
Why Couples Love The Dunmore
The beach is the star. Pink Sands Beach runs for about three miles along the Atlantic side of Harbour Island and the stretch in front of The Dunmore is one of its loveliest. The sand is softest and pinkest at the waterline in the early morning, when you will often have it almost to yourselves.
The hotel adds a sense of style without fuss. The cottages are painted in island colors and shaded by palms and flowering shrubs, so even with 19 rooms the property feels private. The Clubhouse sets the tone with a Riviera-inspired look and the sort of relaxed glamour that has drawn travelers to Harbour Island for decades. Couples love that it feels more like staying at a friend's beach house than at a resort. The staff are friendly and the pace is slow, which is exactly the point.
Cottages and Residences to Book
The Dunmore has three kinds of accommodation.
- Cottages are the heart of the hotel. They sit among tropical gardens with cozy interiors, outdoor spaces and the beach steps away. For most honeymooners, a cottage is the one to book.
- Residences are private homes with open living areas, sunny patios and their own pools near the shoreline. They suit couples who want a pool of their own or a longer stay.
- The Owner's House is the property's showpiece for a special occasion or a group.
Ask for a cottage with an ocean view or as close to the beach as possible, since the gardens can block the view from some rooms. If a private pool matters to you, a residence is the only way to get one at The Dunmore, since the hotel has no shared resort pool.
Food and Drink at the Clubhouse
The Clubhouse is the hotel's restaurant and a destination in its own right. Lunch is relaxed and seaside, with fresh island seafood and salads suited to a day spent between the beach and the shade. Candlelit evenings feel more refined. The look is Riviera-inspired with a 1960s feel, so dress up a little for dinner. Book ahead for weekends in high season.
The Dunmore also makes a good base for eating around the island. Harbour Island has a strong restaurant scene for its size, from conch stands on Bay Street to polished dining rooms in other boutique hotels. Plan to eat at the Clubhouse two or three nights and explore the rest of the time. Ride your golf cart into Dunmore Town for lunch at a harbor-side spot, then come back for a sundowner on the beach. Most restaurants on the island welcome smart casual clothes for both partners and few require jackets.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Beyond the beach, the hotel can arrange scuba diving, snorkeling, boat excursions and a private beach day. The Devil's Backbone reef off the north end of Eleuthera is a popular snorkel and dive trip. Golf carts are the way to get around the island, so rent one to explore Dunmore Town's pastel cottages, shops and harbor-side restaurants. Spend an afternoon on a conch salad crawl along Bay Street and come back to the hotel for sunset drinks. There is no spa, but massages can usually be arranged on request.
Getting There
Fly into North Eleuthera Airport (ELH), which has flights from Florida, Atlanta and Nassau. From the airport, a short taxi ride takes you to the dock and a water taxi crosses the harbor to Harbour Island in about 10 minutes. On the island, a taxi or golf cart takes you to the hotel in a few minutes.
Most hotels and villas on Harbour Island rely on golf carts. Rentals can run short in high season. Book yours in advance, either through the hotel or a local rental company. Golf carts drive on the left. Harbour Island is small enough that you will rarely need anything else. For a longer trip, consider combining a few nights here with a stay on Eleuthera to explore the Glass Window Bridge and the island's empty beaches.
Is It Worth It?
The Dunmore sits at the upper end of Harbour Island prices. Expect cottages to start at roughly USD 700 to 900 a night for two, room only, with residences costing considerably more. Treat those figures as approximate, since rates vary widely between seasons and room types.
For couples who want a small, stylish beach hotel with character, it is money well spent. The beach in front is superb and the Clubhouse dinners are a highlight. Pick elsewhere if you need a pool, a spa or an all-inclusive plan. Pink Sands Resort nearby has private pool cottages and two restaurants, while The Rock House in Dunmore Town is a smaller boutique hotel within walking distance of restaurants and the harbor.
Insider tips
- Request a cottage as close to the beach as possible for the best views.
- Book a golf cart before you arrive, since rentals can run out in high season.
- Reserve Clubhouse dinners ahead for weekends in winter and spring.
- Walk the beach at sunrise, when the pink sand is at its brightest.
