Exploring Guernsey: A Comprehensive Guide to Scenic Walks

Guernsey, an island rich in natural beauty, history, and unique landmarks, offers several walking routes that cater to all types of walkers—from those seeking short, easy strolls to those looking for more challenging cliff-top hikes. Below is a guide to 8 scenic walks that showcase the island’s diverse landscapes and historical highlights.

Walk W1: St Peter Port Harbour to Castle Cornet

Duration: 1 hr 10 mins

A short and charming walk, perfect for exploring St Peter Port’s vibrant harbour and the historic Castle Cornet.

Route Highlights:

  • Start at the North Beach car park, walking along the picturesque waterfront.
  • Head toward Castle Cornet, an 800-year-old fortress with gardens and museums, offering sweeping views of the harbour.
  • Enjoy the views of nearby islands, ships, and the bustling port.

Note: Ideal for those looking for a relaxed walk with historical significance and spectacular views of St Peter Port.

Walk W2: St Martin’s Church to Fermain Bay

Duration: 1 hr 30 mins

This scenic route provides a wonderful combination of country lanes, coastal views, and rich history.

Route Highlights:

  • Begin at St Martin’s Church and head through tranquil lanes and fields.
  • Walk along Les Traudes towards Fermain Bay, passing some of Guernsey’s beautiful landscape and areas of historical significance.
  • You’ll encounter lovely woodland and views of the cliffs as you make your way to the bay.

Note: The route offers a peaceful experience and can be extended with additional cliff walks for those looking for a longer outing.

Walk W3: Petit Bot Bay and the Cliff Path

Duration: 1 hr 40 mins

A beautiful walk that takes you along the southern coast, offering panoramic views over the sea and cliffs.

Route Highlights:

  • Start at Petit Bot Bay, a small cove with rocky shores.
  • Continue along the cliff path, enjoying some of the island’s best coastal views.
  • The walk offers a mixture of rugged terrain, with spectacular vantage points over the cliffs and sea.

Note: Perfect for those looking for a peaceful, nature-filled walk by the sea.

Walk W4: Vazon Bay and the West Coast

Duration: 1 hr 30 mins

A coastal walk exploring Guernsey’s west coast, passing beaches and offering sweeping views of the coastline.

Route Highlights:

  • Start at Vazon Bay, one of Guernsey’s largest sandy beaches.
  • Walk along the coastline, with views of the nearby Hanois lighthouse and small coves.
  • Visit Port Soif and enjoy the tranquil surroundings, before heading back via the same route or a slightly different coastal path.

Note: Great for a peaceful walk with magnificent coastal scenery and a chance to relax by the beach.

Walk W5: Le Guet and the Clifftops

Duration: 1 hr 15 mins

This walk takes you across the south-western cliffs of Guernsey, providing stunning views of the coastline and surrounding islands.

Route Highlights:

  • Start at Le Guet, a quiet spot with breathtaking views of the cliffs.
  • Follow the cliff path towards Les Vardes, with spectacular coastal views along the way.
  • Stop at viewpoints to take in the magnificent landscape, including views of the Channel Islands.

Note: An excellent walk for those seeking a peaceful, nature-focused route with excellent panoramic views.

Walk W6: St Saviour’s Reservoir Circuit

Duration: 55 mins to 1 hr 25 mins

A circular walk around the St Saviour’s Reservoir, offering a mix of woodland, fields, and lovely country views.

Route Highlights:

  • Start at the east end car park of the reservoir, where you can walk around the water.
  • The walk offers tranquil views across the reservoir and the surrounding countryside.
  • Optionally extend the walk by heading to St Saviour’s Church, a beautiful and historic site.

Note: Ideal for a short, peaceful walk in a scenic environment.

Walk W7: St Martin’s Village and Cliff Path

Duration: 1 hr 40 mins (¾ hr longer if returning via the cliffs)

This scenic walk through St Martin’s Village and the surrounding countryside offers an option for a coastal return, extending the experience with stunning cliff-top views.

Route Highlights:

  • Start at North Beach car park, walking through the heart of St Peter Port.
  • Head towards Hauteville House, where Victor Hugo once resided, then continue uphill to St Martin’s Church.
  • Walk through St Martin’s Village, then follow a road towards Fort George.
  • Optionally, extend the route via the Fermain Bay cliff path, offering spectacular coastal views as you return to St Peter Port.

Cliff Path Option (¾ hr extra):

  • From Fermain Bay, follow the cliff path, passing Bluebell Wood and enjoying breathtaking coastal scenery as you descend into St Peter Port.

Note: The cliff path option provides a more adventurous return with scenic coastal views for those with extra time.

Walk W8: Le Valle and the North Coast

Duration: 1 hr 30 mins

This walk takes you along Guernsey’s northern coastline, offering beautiful views of the sea and cliffs.

Route Highlights:

  • Start at Le Valle, a charming village, and walk towards the north coast.
  • Enjoy stunning views of the rugged coastline and the island’s pristine beaches.
  • Explore small coves and sandy bays along the way, with opportunities to spot wildlife and admire nature’s beauty.

Note: A great walk for those looking to explore the island’s quieter, more secluded northern coastline.

General Tips for Guernsey Walks:

  • Parking: Guernsey’s limited parking in St Peter Port and other areas means it’s often best to use public transport or walk during quieter times, especially on weekdays.
  • Weather: Be prepared for changing weather conditions. Guernsey can have unpredictable weather, so pack layers and suitable footwear.
  • Historical Sites: Many walks pass historical landmarks like St Saviour’s Church and Hauteville House, adding a cultural dimension to your walk.
  • Nature: Guernsey’s landscapes are diverse, from rugged cliffs and sandy beaches to peaceful countryside, making these walks a treat for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike.

Conclusion:

Guernsey’s walks offer something for everyone—whether you’re interested in exploring the town’s history, enjoying quiet country lanes, or venturing along the stunning coastal cliffs. With routes for all abilities, these walks are the perfect way to experience the island’s natural beauty and rich heritage. From the historical heart of St Peter Port to the tranquil settings of St Martin’s Village and the cliff paths of the south, Guernsey provides an unforgettable walking experience for all.

Guernsey offers a variety of excellent walks, with wonderful varied scenery and views. From the granite of the impressive south and east coast cliffs, to that of the rocky west coast, the sandy north, and the more industrialised north-east with views across to the other islands, there is plenty of variety of fine scenery. Inland there is also excellent walking, such as the walk around our St Saviours reservoir, as well as many quiet and picturesque country lanes.

The menu links from this page give access to a collection of short but interesting ‘Round the Island walks’, ‘Inland walks’, and a ‘Saumarez Park Tree Walk’, all of which start from accessible car parks, and most from convenient bus stops.

Public car parks in Guernsey are free of charge (except at the airport) but many are time controlled, where you will need to set your arrival time on a “parking clock” which can be obtained at a nominal cost from the Tourist Office or most of the island garages. There has been an extensive revision of bus routes and timetables from 12th May 2013. Routes are now numbered in the range 11 to 111.

The new bus timetables and route maps can be found at www.buses.gg and free printed copies are of course available locally. Because of these revisions, a few of the bus stops shown in existing Perry’s Guides will have changed. Where I’ve mentioned bus routes in these walks, round the island routes 91 and 92 have been included where appropriate. Be aware though that route 91 goes only clockwise and route 92 goes only anticlockwise. If you get on the wrong one you could find yourself going all round the island to get to your destination!

A number of local people provide excellent guided walks. These can be found from internet and other publicity as well as from our Tourist Office. If you like walking in a group with a friendly guide providing lots of local information then these are for you. My walks here are for those who prefer doing their own thing and exploring in their own way, or have maybe done one or more of the guided walks and want to try something different. I’m offering some guidance in route finding which, in a short holiday, should point you towards some of the more interesting routes.

In what follows, nearly all of the walking is straightforward, and along well established paths and roads. The cliff paths of course have gradients and often passages of steps. I may occasionally draw attention to (optional) passages which require a bit more agility. The other lower level areas around the coast are often suitable for push chairs, bicycles etc.

Indeed there are good cycling paths along the west coast from Grandes Rocques northwards, and along the east coast from St Peter Port to St Sampsons. However in all cases I must stress that if you do any of the walks described here then this is entirely at your own risk, and I can accept no responsibility whatsoever for any accidents or problems.

I’ve quoted approximate times for the walks, but these should be treated as a very rough guide only, and are probably minimums. They are timed at what is for me a fairly brisk walk, not a stroll, though if you’re the right side of 40 you may be able to do them faster! On the other hand I have not allowed anything for standing or sitting to absorb views, optional detours, viewing historical monuments or taking refreshments. (Where I’ve called a detour “optional” it is not included in the timings.)

Where I’ve quoted road names these can be found in “Perry’s Guide”, which is readily available locally and which would be a useful accompaniment to at least some of these walks, though it doesn’t necessarily show all my smaller paths. I used the A5 size edition of 2005, now replaced by a slightly larger version, sold at a reasonable price.

A free of charge folding version is also currently available (presumably subsidised by ‘Visit Guernsey’) and may prove adequate, though it lacks many of the road names of the booklet version. A 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey map of Guernsey has also been available in the past. However this does not show the road names, and many of the smaller lanes and tracks are not named on the ground.

I started writing these walks some seven years ago, but am still covering the ground and have kept them up to date with any changes. (Sometimes, if significant changes have been made, I’ve added a revision date at the bottom.) However things do sometimes change from day to day, and if you do find anything that I’ve overlooked, or any difficulties in route finding, it would be helpful to let me know via the comments page.