Saline Bay, also known as Grandes Rocques, is one of our year-round favourites, whether it’s having picnics on the sand in the summer, watching the sunsets or wrapping up warm and climbing the rocks on a windy winters day, this is the beach that keeps on giving!
Location
Grandes Rocques is located on Guernsey’s West coast, just north of Cobo Bay.
There is ample room for parking with a car park off Rue de la Saline and a further car park off this one which gives closer access to the beach.
Front car park off the coast road
Rear car park (follow lane from the front car park)
There is also parking on a narrow gravel lane off the coast road, before you get to Grandes Rocques, when travelling from the direction of Cobo. There is a small path that leads from this parking area to the beach, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can access the beach by climbing down the rocks that line the back of the beach.
Parking off Rue de la Saline
Our girls love it when we park here, guess why?…
Why walk along the path when you can trek through knee high grass!
The Beach
Grandes Rocques at low tide
Grandes Rocques is a beautiful beach with a large expanse of soft white sand. At low tide there is a bit of a walk if you fancy a paddle / swim, however, the exposed wet sand makes for expert level sandcastles!
At high tide there is usually ample sand on show, making this a great beach choice whatever the tide, however, it’s the wind direction that can make time on Grandes Rocques feel like an endurance test. The beach faces southwest so if the wind is coming from the east, then Grandes Rocques will be lovely, but when the wind is coming from the southwest (straight across the Atlantic) it will be very windy!
Access to the beach is via a few steps next to the Grandes Rocques Beach Kiosk. It is a little rocky when you first enter the beach so very little ones need to be a bit careful.
Steps to access Grandes Rocques beach
Note that dogs are allowed on Grandes Rocques year round which means the beach can be popular for dog owners in the summer months. If you would prefer a beach without dogs, the following beaches have a dog ban from 1st May to 30th September: Fermain, Petit Bot, L’Erée, Vazon (Northern end), Cobo, Port Soif, L’Ancresse and Pembroke.
Rock Climbing Fun
To the right of the beach kiosk is what makes this beach special for us… the rocks. Small rocks, big rocks, you name it, it’s here, nature’s playground is great fun for all ages. So, if you have family members who won’t sit still on a beach, this is a great choice. We often have one of our daughters playing in the sand and the other off climbing the rocks with Daddy (someone has to volunteer to stay with the bags, me!).
There are also German defences hidden in the rocks. I don’t advise trying to get into the bunker, my husband tried and he was nearly trapped forever!
German Bunker on Grandes Rocques Beach
Rock Pooling
The rocks also provide excellent rock pooling at low tide, though care needs to be taken because the rocks get very slippy.
Facilities
There are excellent facilities at Grandes Rocques including a kiosk, picnic tables and public toilets.
Grandes Rocques Beach Kiosk
The beach kiosk serves hot and cold food, snacks, drinks, ice creams, and if you’ve forgotten to pack a bucket and spade, not a problem, they sell a selection of beach toys. They also hire out deckchairs and windbreaks.
If we’re at Grandes Rocques and the kiosk is closed, we love getting fish and chips from Cobo Fish Bar (which is only a minute down the road) and bringing it back to the beach. Nothing tastes better than eating fish and chips out of the paper!
Fort Grandes Rocques
If you look high above the beach on the right hand side, you can see Fort Grandes Rocques.
Fort Grandes Rocques in the distance
Fort Grandes Rocques was constructed c.1779 and was armed with three 24 pounder guns. The battery was later altered by the German occupying forces during the Second World War. Kids will have great fun exploring what remains of the battery.
Grandes Rocques Battery
The Fort can be accessed by the footpath from Grandes Rocques beach.
Have Fun, We’ll See You There!
Address
Rue de la Saline, Castel, GY5 7FX
Bus Route
41, 91, 92
Dogs on Grandes Rocques
Dogs are allowed on the beach year round.
BBQs on Grandes Rocques
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.
Havelet Bay is a sheltered spot in Guernsey’s capital, St Peter Port. A great place for an ice cream and a walk along the sand whilst taking in the stunning view of Castle Cornet in the distance.
Location
Havelet Bay is located in St Peter Port, south of the main harbour and within easy walking distance of the high street.
There is ample on-street parking behind the bay, though during low season this is 10hr parking so it fills up quickly with those working in town. In the summer months parking is restricted to a few hours so spaces become available.
The Beach
Havelet Bay offers soft sand and beautiful turquoise clear water. The beach has easy access with a wide cobbled slipway at either end of the beach.
A note of caution, at high tide the sea water can cover the slipway making the lower section very slippery, so we would advise not letting young children run down to the beach. Also, there is a safety rail at the top part of the slipway however, there is no rail at the bottom part and there is still quite a drop down to the beach.
We like visiting Havelet Bay because it is a well contained beach. With only 2 entry points (that are clearly visible) kids can have the freedom to explore the beach without fear of them wandering off.
The view from Havelet Bay is beautiful with Castle Cornet at its northern shore and Sark in the distance.
Low Tide
A lovely expanse of soft sand is exposed at low tide with a splattering of small rocks that are great for kids to climb.
High Tide
At high tide there is often no beach at Havelet Bay with the sea water crashing into the sea wall. However, you will still see lots of people sitting on the sea wall with an ice cream or a cuppa taking in the view.
For those more daring, people have fun jumping into the water from the high stone wall that leads to the castle.
Facilities
There are no specific facilities on the beach however, there are numerous restaurants and cafes within walking distance, thanks to its location in town.
Octopus Bar & Restaurant overlooks the bay and has a great kids menu and they give the kids an activity pack, makes it a hit with us!
In the summer months an ice cream van parks next to the entrance of Havelet Bay (at the end of Castle Pier) which is always a hit with families.
Dogs on the Beach
Dogs are allowed on Havelet Bay all year round. We like taking our little dog to the bay because it is well contained.
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.
Petit Port beach is simply stunning, however, the only way to reach it is by walking down over 270 steps! We haven’t made it to the beach with our girls yet (they are 6 years old), however, plenty of our friends have and they have coped with the steps ok (just remember to take lots of yummy bribe food to keep motivation up on the way back!).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzc5fDK1Qlw
Location
Petit Port is located off La Route De Jerbourg in St Martin on the coastal footpath.
Access to the footpath is signposted from the main road, look out for a small sign a few feet off the ground (opposite the Doyle monument). By car, drive past the sign and there is parking at the top of the hill on the right hand side.
Petit Port can also be accessed from 2 directions on the coastal footpath, 1) from Jerbourg, 2) from Moulin Huet
View of Petit Port beach in the distance, photo taken from the Jerbourg footpath
Footpath from Moulin Huet
View of Petit Port from the footpath
The Steps
The 270 steps are not for the feint hearted and are not suitable for anyone with limited mobility. The steps zig-zag down the cliff, there is a handrail and a bench halfway down for a well earned rest.
270 steps to get to Petit Port beach
The bench provides a well earned rest
Steep Steps down to Petit Port beach
The Beach
Low Tide
There is something very special about Petit Port beach at low tide thanks to the soft white sand and crystal clear blue water. It is a beautifully sheltered bay with rocks to explore on either side and a vast expanse of sand.
Due to the effort required to get onto the beach it is never very busy and you may have the whole beach to yourself!
Petit Port is a great place for children to swim/ paddle because there are no rocks underfoot, just soft sand, and it slopes gently into the water.
Kayak fun on a summers day at Petit Port
High Tide
You need to be mindful of the tide when planning a visit to Petit Port because at high tide there is no sand visible on the beach, it is totally under water. It is a long way down the steps to find a small rocky bay at the bottom!
It is good to get to Petit Port after high tide, ideally midway between high and low tide to maximise your time on the beach.
High Tide at Petit Port
Tide coming in at Petit Port
Facilities
There are absolutely no facilities on Petit Port beach so you need to take everything with you, but remember, what goes down must go back up!!
Address
La Route De Jerbourg, St Martin, Guernsey
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.
Portelet offers a lovely sheltered beach with soft sand and clear water and, thanks to it being a small working fishing harbour, there are always plenty of little boats to look at.
Location
Portelet is located in the parish of Torteval, in the south-west of the island. When following the coast road south from Cobo and Vazon, Portelet is at the end of the road.
The Imperial Hotel stands at the end of the coast road with ample parking available beyond the hotel (the road is marked as a dead-end).
The Beach
At the end of the road (beyond the parking and the kiosk) is a cobbled slipway that gives access to the beach. There are a number of benches at the top of the slipway allowing people to take in the stuning view of Rocquaine Bay.
View of Fort Grey From Benches At Portelet
As Portelet is situated in the south west of the island, it’s a great choice for an afternoon beach trip in the summer, as it gets the best of the afternoon sun and offers stunning sunset views.
Low Tide
Low Tide At Portelet Harbour
At low tide, a large expanse of soft white sand is uncovered along with a vast carpet of rocks. The rocks make Portelet one of the best beaches in Guernsey for rock pooling and for sea glass collecting.
For those who have never come across sea glass, it is smooth, frosted, beautiful pieces of glass that are formed from man-made glass products and are polished and refined by the waves and currents of the sea – we’d never heard of sea glass until we moved to Guernsey and now my girls hunt for it on every beach trip!
Rocks Exposed at Portelet At Low Tide
High Tide
During high tide there can be no beach left at Portelet, instead waves can be seen crashing into the rocks at the back of the beach.
Dogs on Portelet Beach
Dogs are allowed on Portelet beach all year round.
Facilities
There is a really nice beach Kiosk at Portelet offering hot and cold food, drinks, ice creams and beach essentials (bucket and spade etc), along with numerous table and chairs. There is also a toilet block that is open year round.
For those wanting a more substanial meal, the Imperial Hotel is located a few minutes walk from Portelet beach. The hotel has a modern restaurant and large outside dining area with a good menu of hot and cold food. The Imperial has a good kids menu but we have learnt that the kids meals are MASSIVE, to the point their roast totally overwhelms our girls!
Kids Roast At The Imperial
Walking from Portelet
We head down to Portelet everytime we have visitors because of the amazing walk from Portelet to the Fairy Ring. Follow the tarmacked road that runs behind Portelet Beach (no access for cars) and you’ll encounter a WWII German bunker, Fort Pezeries and the ‘Fairy Ring’, a site that has become part of local folklore suggesting the site is linked with fairies, witches, and elves. If you carry on past the Fairy Ring you will end up at Pleinmont Observation Tower (used by German forces between 1942 and 1945). The whole walk offers the most stunning views over Guernsey’s coastline and out to the Hanois Lighthouse.
Portelet is a great choice for a day out, combining playing in the sand, swimming, rock pooling, walking and eating and drinking out. Though don’t forget to check the tides as they make all the difference!
