One day we were out exploring the north of the island and we discovered a real gem on the footpath from Pembroke Beach to Fort Pembroke, an amazing natural playground with ‘real’ rock climbing for all ages. It’s now a place we visit frequently.
Start At Pembroke Beach
Pembroke and L’Ancresse Bay is a beautiful large sweeping bay situated on the most northern point of Guerney. With the largest expanse of sand on the island and crystal clear water, it is popular with families year round.
I find it confusing that there are 2 names for the beach, it appears that the left half is Pembroke Beach and the right is L’Ancresse Beach, however, there is no distinction between the 2!
There is ample parking behind the beach, to the left and right of The Beach House cafe.
From the parking area to the left of The Beach House Cafe, follow the gravel footpath and this will take you to the headland. You can also walk to the far left side of Pembroke Beach and join the footpath from there. The views from the footpath are beautiful, looking back towards Pembroke Beach and out to sea. With benches dotted along the way, there are plenty of places to stop and enjoy the view.
We first explored this area because, whilst on Pembroke beach, we spotted an old building at the end of the headland and decided to see what it was. Once you have been on the footpath for about 5 minutes the old building will came into view. We have since found out that it is Fort Pembroke, it is closed so there’s not much to see up close but the landscape around it is amazing.
The footpath takes you to Fort Pembroke with the path branching off in different directions. If you follow it to the end, with Fort Pembroke on your left, you’ll be amazed at the rock formations. Our kids can’t wait to start climbing as soon as we get there.
Real Rock Climbing
There are so many rocks to climb and a large number of them are not on the edge of the footpath making them safer to climb without fear of a big drop and with little climbs for little legs and more challenging climbs for older children (and adults), it’s a place for people of all ages.
Proof it’s not just for the kids!…
Return Route
We always have to drag our kids away as they would play here forever. You can either retrace your steps back to Pembroke Beach, there are a few different footpaths which all end up at the same place so you could go back a slightly different route. Or, we often carry on around the headland (walk past Fort Pembroke) and you will see another Bay, this is La Jaonneuse Bay. This tiny cove has soft white sand and crystal-clear water, and as very few people have heard of it, it is nearly always empty!
Rocks line the back of the bay, which our girls enjoy climbing on. Tilly was climbing the rocks around the headland and followed the rocks onto the ones at the back of the beach, that’s how we found it!
From the back of the beach you will see the main coastal road and you can walk on the pavement back to the parking area at Pembroke Beach, this will only take you a few minutes.
Food & Drink
There are plenty of options for food and drink at Pembroke Beach. There are beach kiosks at either end of the beach and, for something more substantial, there is the Beach House cafe. There are toilets at the Beach House Cafe plus a separate toilet block behind the beach.
We are so pleased we stumbled across this amazing walk. We highly recommend taking the footpath, even for those not interested in, as Lottie calls it, ‘real rock climbing’ , the views are well worth the stroll. There is also a family friendly gravel footpath behind the beach which takes you to Fort Le Marchant in the other direction, another fantastic walk and one we highly recommend too.
Address
Start at Pembroke Beach, Vale, Guernsey
Bus Routes
12, 91, 92
More Information
For more information about Pembroke & L’Ancresse Beach CLICK HERE.
Fore more information about La Jaonneuse Bay CLICK HERE.
