Port Grat Bay

A real hidden gem on Guernsey’s West Coast, offering soft white sand, turquoise water, rockpools and rocks to climb. With a path behind the beach leading to Rousse Tower & Battery, it’s a great area to explore.

Location & Parking

Port Grat is situated a few minutes up the coast road from Port Soif. It’s not signposted, and you only get a glimpse of it from the main road, which is why it’s such a hidden gem.

There are a number of different parking areas that give access to the beach. We park off Route du Port Grat, in a small car park behind the beach. The access road is very hidden, look for a sign to the public footpath and to Vaugrat Camping (camping sign is pointing to the road opposite the one you want).

There are also other parking areas off the coast road on Les Dicqs, by the Rousse Tower (past the Peninsula Hotel), and by the Rousse Kiosk (next to Le Grand Havre Bay). From here you need to join the footpathpath and head left and you’ll come to Port Grat beach.

The Beach

Port Grat is an absolutely stunning horseshoe bay with soft white sand and clear turquoise water, and unlike many of Guernsey’s beaches, Port Grat is perfect for a swim at high tide and is nearly always quiet.

The bank of rocks at the back of the beach provides really good shelter and also makes for fun rock climbing for the kids.

At the far end of the beach, rocks are unveiled as the tide goes out, making it a great beach for rockpooling.

Accessing The Beach

There are a number of access points to the beach with a slipway at the far left end of the beach (when facing the sea), and stone steps at the other end.

Along the beach there are access points amongst the stones, these are pretty steep but a fun way to get onto the beach…

Facilities

There are no facilities at Port Grat Beach, which is most likely why this stunning beach remains a well kept secret (even amongst locals) and why the beach is rarely busy, even when the surrounding west coast beaches are full of families. I wouldn’t let the lack of immediate facilities put you off visiting this gem of a beach, because Roussee Kiosk is only a 5 minute walk away.

The kiosk serves hot and cold drinks, snacks and limited hot food and there are toilets by the kiosk

Rousse Tower & Battery

The beauty of a visit to Port Grat, is that even if you don’t fancy a stay on the beach, you can join the footpath behind the beach and walk around the Rousse Headland. After a few minutes on the footpath, you will come to the Rousse Tower & Battery. The fully restored loop-hole tower & battery was originally built in the 19th Century, and still houses 5 cannons, which make for great climbing frames!

There a number of routes to access the Rousse Tower but, without fail, my girls will head to the moat and love running down the hill and back up the other side to the tower.

There is a fantasic long sign in the battery that pinpoints all of the things you can see from where you are stood. It’s so interesting and helpful, and the kids loved spotting the places from the picture.

Le Grande Havre Bay

Past the Rousse Tower & Battery you will see Le Grande Havre Bay, a wide bay encompassing a number of beaches. Infront of the Rousse Kiosk there are always little fishing boats bobbing in the small harbour, and at low tide, the exposed stone jetty is great for jumping off into the crystal clear water below.