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 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
