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.
Saumarez Park is the largest public park in Guernsey and our favourite for combining bike riding, feeding ducks, climbing trees and playing in the huge playground.
