# Pillory Beach *Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos · 2 min read* A quiet, sheltered beach just north of Cockburn Town on Grand Turk's west coast, with soft white sand and shallow, clear water. ## At a glance - Size: Coast runs about 2 miles (3.2 km) north - Water: Shallow, clear and sheltered - Access: Free parking at the end of Front Street - Best time: Year-round; quiet even on cruise days - Best for: Quiet, Swimming, Snorkeling ## Overview Pillory Beach sits just north of Cockburn Town on Grand Turk's sheltered west coast. It's often called the second-best beach on the island after Governor's Beach, and it doesn't get the crowds from the cruise center. The sand is soft and white, and the water is shallow and clear. Some patches have a clean sandy bottom, while others are rockier or covered in seagrass. A few casuarina trees give shade, and the coast carries on for about two miles toward North Creek and the Grand Turk Lighthouse. Some historians believe Christopher Columbus landed on Grand Turk rather than in the Bahamas, and if he did, this is the likely spot. In 1992 the government renamed it Guanahani Beach, but most people still call it Pillory Beach. Like the rest of the west coast, it's part of Columbus Landfall National Park. ## When to go Pillory Beach is good year-round, since the west coast is sheltered from the prevailing trade winds. It stays quiet even on days when cruise ships are in port, which makes it a good alternative when Governor's Beach is busy. The beach faces west, so it's a nice spot for sunset. Keep a closer eye out for boats as the light fades. ## Things to do ### Swimming - Level: Easy - What you need: Water shoes are handy - Where: Pick one of the patches with a clean sandy bottom. Other stretches are rockier or grassy. ### Snorkeling - Level: Easy - What you need: Mask, snorkel and fins - Where: Rock shelves and gullies off the beach. Expect small reef fish like grunts, goatfish and parrotfish, and sometimes a stingray or eagle ray, rather than big coral. ### Beach walking - Level: Easy - What you need: None - Where: North along the shore toward North Creek and the lighthouse bluff. ## Tours & activity guides - [Scuba Diving](https://www.sastci.com/activities/scuba-diving): The wall sits on Grand Turk's sheltered west side, often about a five-minute boat ride away. Expect spur and groove reef, arches and swim-throughs, very clear water, and shore diving from Cockburn Town Beach and Pillory Beach. - [Whale Watching](https://www.sastci.com/activities/whale-watching): Each winter, North Atlantic humpback whales pass through Turks and Caicos waters to mate and give birth. Salt Cay and Grand Turk, on the deep Turks Island Passage, are the best places to see them. - [History & Culture](https://www.sastci.com/activities/history-and-culture): Loyalist plantation ruins, the National Museum in Cockburn Town, an 1852 lighthouse and the old salt ponds of Salt Cay tell the story of the islands. ## Getting there Grand Turk is a short domestic flight from Providenciales. From the cruise center, take a taxi. From most places on the island you'll need a taxi or rental car. If you're driving, follow Front Street in Cockburn Town to its northern end. There's a small unpaved lot with plenty of free parking, and other roads nearby lead straight to quieter parts of the beach. ## Beach access & parking ### 1. Cockburn Town Access At the northern end of Front Street in Cockburn Town. This is where most people stop. Restaurants, shops and craft stands in north Cockburn Town are a short walk away. - Parking: Small unpaved lot, free - At this access: Restaurants and shops nearby - Eat nearby: [John's Ocean View Bar & Edith's Fish Fry](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grand-turk#johns-ocean-view-bar) (9 min walk), [Barbie's Bar & Restaurant](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grand-turk#barbies-bar-and-restaurant) (11 min walk), [Jucky Jerk Food Truck](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grand-turk#jucky-jerk-food-truck) (11 min walk) ### 2. Side roads to the coast There's no official beach access, but several local roads run straight to the shore. For more space, pick a spot you like and park. ## Facilities - Parking: Yes. There's plenty of free parking, including a small unpaved lot at the end of Front Street. - Food & drink: Limited. There's nothing on the sand itself, but restaurants and shops in north Cockburn Town are a short walk away. - Shade: Limited. Casuarina trees give shade in a few spots. - Accessibility: Limited. There's no developed beach access. The main lot is unpaved and the approaches are informal. - Sunset view: Yes. The beach is on Grand Turk's west coast, so it faces the sunset. Take extra care with boats in the low light. - Restaurants, shops and craft stands a short walk away in northern Cockburn Town - Some natural shade from casuarina trees - No lifeguards ## Where to eat near Pillory Beach - [John's Ocean View Bar & Edith's Fish Fry](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grand-turk#johns-ocean-view-bar): Local · Local seafood and bar, waterfront, 9 min walk - [Barbie's Bar & Restaurant](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grand-turk#barbies-bar-and-restaurant): Local · Local Caribbean and seafood, waterfront, 11 min walk - [Jucky Jerk Food Truck](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grand-turk#jucky-jerk-food-truck): Takeout · Jamaican jerk, 11 min walk - [Berry's Cafe (Annette's Pizza)](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grand-turk#annettes-pizza-berrys-cafe): Takeout · Pizza, wings and sandwiches, 13 min walk - [Cool Beans Cafe](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grand-turk#cool-beans-cafe-grand-turk): Café · Ice cream, sandwiches and pizza, 16 min walk - [Peaches Restaurant](https://www.sastci.com/dining/grand-turk#peaches-restaurant-grand-turk): Local · Caribbean comfort food, 22 min walk ## Safety - There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk. - Watch for boats. Boat strikes can kill, and the risk is higher at sunset when light is low. - The beach is in a national park. Fishing and taking shells, coral or sand aren't allowed. - Don't touch fish or coral. Some species can cause serious injury. - Dogs must be on a leash, and open fires aren't allowed. Take all your trash with you. ## Local tip The beach gets quieter the further north you walk from the main parking area at the end of Front Street. [Open Pillory Beach in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Pillory%20Beach%2C%20Grand%20Turk%2C%20Turks%20and%20Caicos%20Islands)