Jersey Coastal Path

It is important to note that Jersey has one of the world’s biggest tidal ranges. As much as 40 feet (12m) at spring tides. Please pay close attention to the tide tables and avoid venturing onto the beach when the tide is incoming as you can quickly become cut off. Do not attempt to walk from beach to beach around the foot the cliffs!

St Helier to La Pulente 

From St Helier a delightful promenade walk leads to the busy village of St Aubin. Time and tide permitting there are two fascinating extensions available on this opening stretch of the trail. When the tide is out it is possible to walk out to Elizabeth Castle off St Helier, and St Aubins Fort off St Aubin. A walk out to the castle and back, including some exploring, will add around 2.5 miles/4 km, while a walk out to the fort and back will add a mere 0.5 mile/800 m. It’s worth noting at St Aubin that while you are free to step onto the island, it’s not possible to visit the fort itself.

Leaving St Aubin the trail follows green lanes and mixed woodland to reach the impressive viewpoint on the headland at Noirmont, before turning for Portelet Beach. If the tide allows consider walking the short distance to the rocky tidal island of Ile au Guerdain, known locally as Janvrin’s Tomb.

Beyond Portelet Beach the trail heads through the delightful Portelet Common nature reserve to reach Ouaisne Beach and the magnificent St Brelade’s Bay, home to a whole host of hotels, restaurants and cafes.

Clifftop paths lead to Corbiere, where, again tide permitting, it is possible to walk out to the rocky islet of La Corbiere with its striking lighthouse. The walk out and back is around 1 mile/1.5 km

From Corbiere it’s a short walk to the village of La Pulente, from where you leave the trail and take the bus to St Brelade for the evening.

La Pulente to Greve de Lecq 

Returning to the trail the next stretch is along the stunning St Ouens Bay. Running the length of Jersey’s west coast it’s the longest beach on the island. The road running parallel with the beach is known locally as ‘The Five Mile Road’ but this is a bit a myth as neither the road nor the beach are quite five miles in length. However there’s certainly a good 4 miles/6.5km of golden sands and dunes to enjoy as you make your way to L’Etacq.

Next up is the broad upland heath of Les Landes, a Site of Special Interest, and home to some 200 species of plant as well as several species of butterfly and dragonfly. Look out for sparrowhawks, hen harriers and peregrines here too. Weather permitting you may be rewarded with views of Sark, Herm and Guernsey.

On the extreme northwest of the island sit Grosnez Castle and Grosnez Lighthouse. Both worthy of exploration. Heading east the trail passes above the attractive Plemont Beach before a fine stretch of cliff path leads to the little village of Greve de Lecq with its popular golden beach.

Greve de Lecq to Rozel

Leaving Greve de Lecq the trail heads inland for a short time avoiding the Crabbe rifle range, before rejoining the cliff top in time to view the impressive sea stack of Ile Agois, Jersey’s smallest offshore islet. The stack is just 500 yards square and is separated from the 250 foot high cliffs by a narrow gorge.

A short way along comes the next point of interest, the Devil’s Hole, an impressive 100ft wide and 200ft deep natural crater that has been eroded into Jersey’s coastline over the millennia. You can look down into the crater from the safety of a viewing platform and watch the waves crash in through the tunnel entrance onto the rocks below.

The fine clifftop walking continues as the trail visits popular viewpoints at Sorel Point and the rocky headland of La Tete de Fremont providing stunning views over Bonne Nuit Bay.

From Bonne Nuit Bay the trail heads along flower-fringed cliff paths making its way to Bouley Bay which is located next to Jersey’s tallest cliffs, standing at 400 feet. The pebble beach at Bouley Bay, once a haunt of smugglers, stretches for 3km/2 miles before a roller-coaster clifftop path leads to Rozel.

Rozel to St Helier

The trail climbs out of Rozel offering great views over the harbour before dropping down to a lovely wooded valley. Woodland walking continues to Dolmen du Couperon, from where the trail heads inland for a time before once again turning for the coast and Fliquet Bay. Further wooded coastal walking leads to the impressive structure, St Catherine’s Breakwater. A walk to the end of the breakwater and back will add 1 mile/1.5 km to your day’s walk, however the views over St Catherine’s Bay are a fine reward for your efforts.

Pleasant walking round St Catherine’s Bay leads to one of the highlights of the Jersey Coastal Path, Mont Orgueil Castle. Take time to explore this idyllic hill-top castle overlooking the picturesque Gorey Harbour.

Next up are the sweeping golden sands of Grouville Bay and a fascinating string of five Jersey Towers as the trail makes its way to La Rocque harbour, the southernmost point of Jersey.

The final stretch of the trail along the southern coast to St Helier involves a mix of road, promenade and tide permitting, beach walking.

Easy to Moderate

Jersey has a gentle landscape and with the exception of one 15 mile day on our shorter itinerary, daily trail distances never exceed 12 miles, therefore with a little preparation, most walkers will find the Jersey Coastal Path really quite comfortable.

Terrain: A combination of cliff and coastal paths, sandy beaches, woodland and quiet country lanes.

What’s it like underfoot? For the most part the trail is on firm, dry surfaces, however some stretches can become muddy following heavy rain. Some of the steeper slopes benefit from wooden steps, most of which are slip-proof.

How Much Up & Down? Although the coastline is undulating and there are one or two steeper slopes, there are no hills to speak of, and you will rarely find yourself much above 330 feet (100m). The tallest cliffs on the island are between Greve de Lecq and Rozel, and are a mere 400 feet (120m).

Signposting & Navigation: There are very few signposts or waymarkers, however the guidebook is incredibly detailed and is supported with a 1:25,000 map, therefore you should find it really straightforward. Once out of built up areas and onto the trail coastal paths tend to be fairly easy to follow.

It is important to note that Jersey has one of the world’s biggest tidal ranges. As much as 40 feet (12m) at spring tides. Please pay close attention to the tide tables and avoid venturing onto the beach when the tide is incoming as you can quickly become cut off. Do not attempt to walk from beach to beach around the foot the cliffs!

Weather: The weather on Jersey tends to be a touch milder than the south of England, however you must be prepared because the weather can change quickly. Autumn is generally the wettest season. Whatever the time of year ensure you wear comfortable footwear and carry reliable waterproofs. It is important you carry plenty of water on warm days. As always, pack your floppy hat and sun cream!

Good accommodation and friendly hosts are an essential part of any holiday. We understand this and go out of our way to find the best. We put a great deal of effort into hand picking our accommodation and matching it to individual customer requirements. As well as visiting the accommodation ourselves, we ask all our customers to complete a short evaluation on each night’s accommodation, which then gives us an insight into the day-to-day operation and lets us spot any potential issues before they become a problem.

We use a variety of hotels on Jersey including small characterful country hotels and large luxury seafront hotels. Occasionally we may use a chain hotel.

We are happy to book single rooms on our holidays but cannot normally book more than two for any one group. Single room bookings include a supplement.

Here are some examples of the accommodation we use on the Jersey Coastal Path:

You are assured of a very warm welcome at the Biarritz Hotel above St Brelade’s Bay, where comfortable rooms, excellent food and breath-taking views await. From the moment you arrive at this stunning hotel you’ll find yourself immersed in an atmosphere of absolute relaxation, thanks to the dedicated team, renowned for their personal level of service. Visit their website

Overlooking one of Jersey’s most beautiful bays, Greve de Lecq, is The Prince of Wales Hotel. Refurbished to a very high standard, this lovely hotel is known for its friendly, relaxing atmosphere. After a day on the coastal path why not dine on freshly caught seafood in their popular restaurant, enjoying stunning panoramic views out to sea. Visit their website

Located on the cliffs at Rozel is Chateau La Chaire, a beautiful grade II listed country house hotel. Each of the bedrooms are individually styled and elegantly furnished. Their quintessential high tea is baked freshly to order every day and dinner is served in the Rozel Restaurant just a pleasant few minutes walk from the main house. Visit their website

A warm welcome awaits at The Beausite Hotel in the heart of the picturesque parish of Grouville. You’ll love this peaceful, friendly, family run hotel with views to France, and home to the iconic Mont Orgueil Castle overlooking Gorey Bay. Relax with an aperitif before dinner in the cocktail bar, part of the original hotel, dating back to 1636. Visit their website

General travel information for the Jersey Coastal Path will be in your holiday pack.

Detailed instructions on getting to your first night’s accommodation will also be included in the holiday pack on individual accommodation maps.

To view bus timetables please see Visit Jersey

Getting to St Helier:

By Air: Jersey has an International Airport (JER) located in the parish of St Peter’s. Flights operate to Jersey from over 20 British airports as well as a number of European countries including France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Switzerland. Buses run regularly between the airport and the capital, St Helier.

By Ferry: Ferries from Britain sail to St Helier from  Poole and Portsmouth, while ferries from France sail from St Malo, Granville and Barnville-Carteret.

Getting Back:

As this is a circular route you will be walking back to your starting location so you can depart by the same means you arrived.

St Helier

Jersey’s capital St Helier is a great choice for an additional day on your island break. It’s big enough to have plenty to see and do, yet small enough to easily explore. St. Helier has so much to offer; from its celebrated culinary scene with street food and Michelin-starred fine dining, to its collection of shopping neighbourhoods, each with their own individual character.

Jersey Museum, Art Gallery & Victorian House is a fascinating experience. Discover the Island’s story and learn about its rich heritage of fishing, farming and food.

Just north of St Helier is Jersey Zoo which began life over 60 years ago as the first ever conservation-themed zoo. Today, Gerald Durrell’s beautiful 32-acre park is the natural place to discover some of the world’s most incredible creatures and rarest animals.

Also nearby are the Jersey War Tunnels, where you can discover the true story of wartime Jersey. The exhibition is housed within the tunnel complex orchestrated by the Germans during WWII.

St Brelade

St Brelade’s Bay is regularly voted one of the very best beaches in the British Isles. Home to glorious golden sand fringed with palm trees, and with crystal clear waters for safe swimming this is an ideal location to take a break from the trail. As well as soaking up the sun why not try out some of the exciting watersports on offer, or check out the cuisine in one of the seafront restaurants or beach cafés.

Nearby in St Ouen you’ll find Jersey Pearl, where you can pick a pearl from an oyster, see pieces being made in the workshop, enjoy delicious food and treat yourself to something special.

Your guidebook features a short 'La Pulente and Les Quennevais' circular walk with sandy and grassy paths over dunes as well as some woodland walking. A great opportunity to enjoy some inland trails.

Greve de Lecq

Fringed with wooded slopes and leafy country pubs, Greve de Lecq's beautiful sheltered beach has rocks to climb, pools to search, and a sea that’s never too far out, even at a low tide, making it a perfect place to relax for a day.

Nearby in the picturesque parish of St Mary is the La Mare Wine Estate where you can enjoy a tour and tasting experience, relax and refuel in the Vineyard Café and purchase genuine Jersey treats in the Cellar Gift Shop.

Also nearby is the Val de la Mare Arboretum, home to unusual trees and plants from all around the world. Jersey's temperate climate is able to support tree life and other exotic fauna from the likes of the Mediterranean, Australasia and East Asia. Val de la Mare is also rich in birdlife, with regular visitors including egrets, herons, moorhens and owls, and there's no shortage of fauna either, look out for frogs, hedgehogs, lizards and Jersey's trademark red squirrels.

Your guidebook features a short 'La Greve de Lecq and Devil's Hole' circular walk with some road walking and woodland paths, which could be adapted to avoid duplicating coastal sections, yet allow for an opportunity to indulge in a little wine tasting at the aforementioned La Mare Wine Estate.  

Rozel

If you’d like to take a day out from walking the trail and simply enjoy some tranquility then consider adding an additional day here. Rozel Bay is a delightful fishing port nestled in the north-east of the island and is sheltered by green rolling hills. At low tide you can visit the small expanse of beautiful white sand and walk among the tiny fishing boats stranded on its banks while enjoying views of the French coast.

Your guidebook features a short 'Rozel and St Catherine's' circular walk on paths, tracks and roads which could be adapted to avoid duplicating coastal sections while accommodating a visit to St Martin's Church. Quiet green lanes and wooded valleys link St Martin's and Rozel.