Fermain Bay is one of few pebble beaches in Guersey, and for us that’s a blessing, as picnics on pebble beaches mean no sand in the food!
When we first arrived in Guernsey we were keen to visit Fermain Bay however, we found out that you can’t drive down to the beach because access is restricted and we couldn’t find any details of the roads/ paths leading down to it. I was therefore unsure if the walk was suitable for my girls. We now know there are 3 ways to access Fermain Bay and I hope this will help you plan how best to get to this great little beach.
Location
Fermain Bay is located on Guernsey’s east coast in the parish of St Martin, just south of St Peter Port. It is situated at the bottom of the picturesque Fermain Valley.
Getting to Fermain Bay
Fermain Lane Route
Fermain Lane is a winding steep road off Le Route De Sausmarez (there is a convenient bus stop on the main road close to the turn off into Fermain Lane). Fermain Valley Hotel is situated on this lane and there is a scenic footpath from the hotel leading down to the beach or alternatively walkers can follow the narrow road all the way down. Returning from Fermain Bay this way is not for the feint hearted, it is very steep and, in my opinion, relentless! I would be tired out taking this route and my girls would have no chance!
Calais Lane Route
An easier walk down to the beach, and the one we use with the girls, is from Calais Lane, off Route de Blanches. There is a bus stop at the entrance to Calais Lane, hop on the Jerbourg bus and the driver will be able to tell you where to get off.
Entrance to the footpath
Walk down Calais Lane for a few minutes and you will get to a sharp left bend in the road. On the right you will see a footpath called Gypsy Lane. Keep walking round the bend and take the road on the right signed Calais, this is a short road that leads to the footpath to Fermain Bay (the footpath is signed).
The footpath is quite narrow and not suitable for a buggy and we always find it muddy no matter what the weather or time of year! The path has some breathtaking view points, our favourite panoramic view is from the benches you get to after only being on the footpath for a few minutes.
Benches with a spectacular view on the footpath to Fermain Bay
The footpath is a mixture of steps and sloping path and takes us about 10 minutes to reach the beach. We have been on the footpath with a toddler who managed it, she just needed carrying up some of the steps on the way back as they are quite deep and tricky to climb with little legs. Tilly and Lottie don’t mind the walk back as there are a few benches which they race to reach before us.
St Peter Port footpath Route
There is a footpath from Fermain Bay which leads to St Peter Port and when you’re at Fermain Bay you will see lots of walkers coming from the footpath. We have done it once and it’s a great walk with lots to see including Bluebell Wood, Clarence Battery and the Bathing Pools however it’s not short and took us well over an hour (around 1 hour, 40 mins). The route itself is good with lots of ups and downs along the path, lots of benches to get your breath back and lots of photo opportunities.
Bluebell Wood, March 2019
Footpath bench with a view
The Beach
Fermain Bay at Low Tide
Fermain Bay is one of the harder Guernsey beaches to get to, however, it is worth the effort thanks to it being a beautiful pebble beach with clear blue water alongside a fantastic beach cafe.
The beach itself is sheltered by high cliffs on either side making it a great spot to avoid Northerly and Westerly winds. The water quality is excellent making it the perfect choice for sea swimming and for those using paddle boards/ kayaks, however, note that the sea is always particularly cold at Fermain Bay and Tilly and Lottie find it too cold to enter the water without a wetsuit even on hot sunny days.
Fermain Bay at High Tide
Fermain Bay Slipway at High Tide
At high tide it is still possible to be on the beach as water rarely comes all the way to the back wall.
A little way down the beach to the left hand side (when looking from the slipway) are a set of steps that are accessible off the Fermain Bay to St Peter Port foot path. These are a popular place for sunbathing and for jumping into the sea at high tide.
Winter high tide at Fermain Bay
Fermain Bay at Low Tide
Spring Tide at Fermain Bay
At low tide there is sand on the beach thanks to how far out the water goes. To the left of the beach (when looking out from the café) lots of rocks are exposed and the girls absolutely love looking for crabs under the rocks. Little ones need to be careful though because, thanks to the seaweed, the rocks can be incredibly slippery.
Hunting for crabs
Winter low tide at Fermain Bay
Facilities
Fermain Beach Cafe
The Beach Café at Fermain Bay is not your average beach café. It has a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence and the menu ranges from milkshakes to champagne! Due to the fantastic food and location it is very popular for breakfast, lunch and snacks throughout the day, however, it certainly isn’t cheap.
There is seating inside and outside and they provide blankets for outside seating when it’s chilly. We’ve had bacon rolls from here are they were amazing. Note that the portions are very large so you might be paying £13 for a sandwich but it could be shared amongst two people.
A busy summer lunchtime at the Beach Cafe at Fermain
Loving the blankets provided by the Fermain Cafe
There are toilet facilities next to the beach café and a water fountain with cups and we have been told it is possible to park at the café with a disabled badge.
Address
Fermain Ln, Guernsey GY1 1ZZ
Dogs on the Beach at Fermain Bay
Dogs are banned on the beach at Fermain Bay between 1st May and 30th September, however, they are welcome at the cafe.
The Beach Cafe at Fermain Bay
The cafe is open 7 days a week from April to September, more details on there facebook page.
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 a great choice for families year round.
Location
Pembroke and L’Ancresse Bay is situated in the parish of Vale, on the northerm tip of the island.
There is ample room for parking behind the beach, to the left and the right of the Beach House cafe.
It is also easily accessible by bus, with 3 bus routes servicing the area.
The Beach
Pembroke and L’ancresse bay is a real beauty. 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.
The left side of the bay is Pembroke Beach
The right side of the bay is L’Ancresse Beach
The soft sand and a gentle slope into the sea make it great for paddling/ swimming and playing games on the beach. Due to the large expanse of sand and the depth of the beach, Pembroke and L’Ancresse Bay can be enjoyed during both high and low tide. Note that at low tide it can feel like you need a bus to actually get to the waters edge! Also, we do find the beach rather exposed and it can feel very windy in a northerly breeze!
Enjoying drawing in the sand on Pembroke Beach
Dogs on Pembroke and L’Ancresse Beach
Most of Guernsey’s beaches are dog friendly during the summer months, however, there are 7 beaches where dogs are banned between 1st May and 30th September and Pembroke and L’Ancresse is one of those beaches.
Enjoying winter dog time on Pembroke Beach
Facilities
With a cafe, beach kiosks, toilets and ample parking, Pembroke and L’Ancresse Bay is a great choice for a day on the beach.
There are 2 beach kiosks, Pembroke beach kiosk and the L’Ancresse beach kiosk at the other end of the bay. Both serve hot and cold drinks, snacks and ice creams.
Beach House Cafe
Beach House, Pembroke Beach
The Beach House is a relaxed and informal beach cafe overlooking Pembroke Beach with ample seating inside and out. With a range of food and drinks available including hot and cold lunch options, cakes, snacks and ice cream. They also offer a take-away option so food/ drink can be enjoyed on the beach.
Lottie is particularly keen on the babyccino’s and chocolate cake!
The Beach House is open year round aside from Christmas Day through to late Jan. In the summer (June to Sept) they are open everyday from 9am to 8pm.
Outside seating at the Beach House, this would be full in the summer!
Footpath
There is a family friendly gravel footpath that sits behind Pembroke and L’Ancresse Bay leading to Fort Le Marchant to the right and Fort Pembroke to the left. The footpath is great for a leisurely walk or for bike riding.
Footpath to the right of L’Ancresse Beach
Looking back at Pembroke Beach from the footpath leading to Fort Pembroke
The footpath from Pembroke Beach to Fort Pembroke is one of my favourite places to go because of the amazing rock formations. Everytime we go the girls can’t wait to start climbing, a large number of the rocks 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!) there is something for everyone. The screnery is also stunning and I love looking at the breathtaking views in all directions.
For more details of the Fort Pembroke footpath take a look at our recent blog post…
Vale: Rock Climbing as Nature Intended
Address
Pembroke, Vale, GY3 5BY
Bus Route
12, 91, 92
Dogs on Pembroke and L’Ancresse Beach
Dogs are banned between 1st May and 30th September.
BBQs on Pembroke and L/Ancresse Beach
Beach bbqs can be lit between 5:00pm and midnight. Permission is required for beach bbqs to be attended by more than ten people. Beach barbeque Application Forms can be downloaded from https://www.gov.gg/beachbbq
Beach barbeques should be lit well below the high tide mark and away from coastal dune or grassland vegetation.
Beach House Cafe
Beach House is open all year aside from Christmas and New Year. Opening times and the menus can be found on their website https://www.beachhouseguernsey.com/
Petit Bot is a picturesque beach on Guernsey’s south coast and it’s a great choice for families. With a large expanse of sand, great paddling, rocks to explore, plus good facilities, it’s a must when visiting Guernsey.
Collecting Seaweed on Petit Bot Beach
Location
Petit Bot is located in the parish of Forest at the base of 2 wooded valleys.
The bay can be reached by driving down a small lane off Forest Road (opposite Forest Stores). Look out for the signpost on the main road. Drive down the lane all the way to the end where you’ll find a small one-way loop around the tearoom and you’ll see the beach ahead of you.
A small number of parking spaces line the road around the tearoom, however, it can be tricky to find a park in the height of summer.
Parking around the tearoom
If you’d prefer a walk to Petit Bot, it is on the coastal path. I’ve once parked at icart and walked to Petit Bot and it was incredibly beautiful but not something my girls would probably manage because it took a few hours and was a steep walk down to the bay. If you have older children then it could be something to consider.
Footpath from icart to Petit Bot
The Beach
Petit Bot beach is a tale of 2 halves, it is an absolute stunner at low tide with a mass expanse of white sand, however, the beach is non-existant at high tide!
Petit Bot Beach Mid Tide
The beach is accessed via a sloped stone slipway off the main road. This leads to a stoned section of the beach that needs to be walked over to get to the beauftiful soft white sand, this makes it a little harder to access for those with mobility issues.
During the summer months, Outdoor Guernsey have a number of kayaks on Petit Bot beach to hire. If you are interested you need to call or text Outdoor Guernsey on 07781130403 to check availability in the morning of your chosen day.
Low Tide
Low Tide at Petit Bot
Petit Bot is a beautiful place to be at low tide and it’s easy to see why this beach is so popular with families in the summer. The scenery is beautiful with magnificant views in all directions and the high cliffs that shelter the bay make it a sun-trap.
High Cliffs Shelter Petit Bot Beach
A sandcastle makers paradise! The sand at Petit Bot is wet and compact (thanks to it being under water at high tide) making it perfect for sandcastles and ball games.
The beach is also a top spot for paddling/ swimming in the sea, however, it is quite a walk to the water’s edge at low tide!
Enjoying the water at Petit Bot
Along with playing in the sand and swimming, Petit Bot also offers a cave to explore and rocks to climb (the rocks make for a great drying rack for wet clothes!).
Drying swimwear on the rocks!
We also love visiting Petit Bot in the winter, wrapped up warm, it’s a great place for the kids to run off some steam.
High Tide
High Tide at Petit Bot
Can you believe this is all that is left of Petit Bot Beach at high tide, just some pebbles!!
It is hard to comprehend that the tidal change is so vast, which is why it’s important to check tide times before planning a day on Petit Bot beach.
The best time to get to the beach is a few hours after high tide so you can watch as the beach opens up and you won’t be chased off the beach by the tide.
Benches With A View
To the right of the beach entrance are steps which lead up to a grassed viewing area.
The benches provide the most stunning view over Petit Bot Bay and the loophope tower. The Napoleonic loophole tower was built over 200 years ago to protect the beach from potential invasion. The tower (Tower 13) is open to the public, free of charge, on a daily basis from March to October.
Tower 13 at Petit Bot Bay
Facilities
Petit Bot Tearoom is situated behind the beach and offers hot and cold meals, snacks, ice creams and drinks. There are toilets on the ground floor of the tearoom and a lovely courtyard out front. PLEASE NOTE: The tearoom was closed down in 2019, hopefully it will be up and running again this year.
Petit Bot Tearoom
Address
Petit Bot, Forest, GY8 0BP
Bus Route
11, 91
Dogs on Petit Bot
Dogs are banned on the beach at Petit Bot between 1st May and 30th September.
BBQs on Petit Bot Beach
Beach bbqs can be lit between 5:00pm and midnight. Permission is required for beach bbqs to be attended by more than ten people. Beach barbeque Application Forms can be downloaded from https://www.gov.gg/beachbbq
Beach barbeques should be lit well below the high tide mark and away from coastal dune or grassland vegetation.
We stopped off at Port Soif beach on our first family trip to Guernsey in May 2018 and fell in love with it, we felt like we were in the Bahamas! As with many place names in Guernsey I spent many months pronouncing Port Soif incorrectly, it’s Port Swoff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TumP_aBRpm4
Our first visit to Port Soif, May Bank holiday 2018
Location
Port Soif is situated on the west coast of Guernsey, just North of Cobo.
The Beach
Port Soif is a picturesque horse-shoe shaped beach with soft sand and crystal clear waters. The bank of rocks at the back of the beach provides really good shelter and also makes for fun rock climbing for the kids.
The 17 steps to go down to enter Port Soif beach
Fun climbing for kids
The beach is easy to access off the coast road (Portinfer Coast Road), with the beach café (Surfside) signposted from the road. There is plenty of parking next to Surfside and also at the end of the road giving great views over the beach and rocks.
Lane off the coast road with parking at the end
Rocky view from the parking area
Right turn leads to Surfside Cafe and the parking area
Effect of the Tide
The main thing to note is the effect the tide has on Port Soif beach. After visiting the beach, by chance, at high tide on our first visit, we made a second trip another day at low tide and there was no water in the bay just rocks!
Around high tide the beach is fantastic for kids, perfect for paddling with soft sand underfoot. For those wanting a swim the water quality is rated as excellent, as highlighted on the information board at the entrance to the beach.
Just after high tide at Port Soif beach
The bay is unrecognisable at low tide, the tide goes out so far that you would need to attempt a significant walk across the rocks to reach the water. Kids can still build sandcastles, collect shells, climb the rocks that provide the shelter at the back of the beach but just don’t promise a swim in the sea!
Low tide at Port Soif
Exposed rocks at low tide
The sea at low tide, all the way back to the parking area
Surfside at Port Soif
Surfside is up there amongst our favourite beach cafés, the food is always really good and reasonably priced and the staff are very friendly. There are a number of tables outside with umbrellas for those wanting shade.
The café serves hot and cold food and a selection of cakes and ice creams. The café also has a little shop selling beach goodies…buckets, spades, beach toys etc. The cafe is set back from the bay so you won’t get a sea view when you’re seated but it means it is very sheltered which is great on windy days.
There are toilets behind the café and a large sanded area which the girls love to play in whilst waiting for their food.
Port Soif sand pit!
There is a gravel footpath behind the cafe (beyond the sandpit), we haven’t walked along it yet but it looks like a lovely coastal walk with great views.
Port Soif footpath
We thoroughly recommend a trip to Port Soif whether you’re looking for a beach to spend the day on or quick stop off at Surfside Cafe and a look at the stunning views.
Address
Port Soif Coast Road, Grandes Rocques, Castel, Guernsey
Dogs on Port Soif Beach
Dogs are banned on Port Soif beach between 1st May and 30th September.
BBQs on Port Soif beach
Beach bbqs can be lit between 5:00pm and midnight on Port Soif beach. Permission is required for beach bbqs to be attended by more than ten people. Beach barbeque Application Forms can be downloaded from https://www.gov.gg/beachbbq
Beach barbeques should be lit well below the high tide mark and away from coastal dune or grassland vegetation.
Surfside At Port Soif
Surfside cafe is open (depending on weather) from April until October. More details on their Facebook page.