This 2k walk takes you around Guernsey’s quarry with amazing views, it’s staggering how deep the quarry is! The path is mainly gravel for the first part, then it changes to a dirt track before you come to a grassy area with a picnic table (with fantastic views) and a bench. A lovely mud-free walk for children of all ages with the new addition of an Animal Adventure Trail with beautifully carved animal statues to look out for and a must for fans of lorries and trucks!
Location
Les Vardes Quarry is located on Guernsey’s North West coast, off Route des Pulias (the coast road), just on from the Peninsula Hotel. Look out for the Ronez sign which can be seen from the road. As this is a working quarry it isn’t possible to park in the quarry during the week, but there is off-road parking just before the quarry entrance.
At weekends, it is possible to park in the small car park in the quarry, note that it states you must reverse park, no idea why!
The Nature Walk
Walk into the quarry road and on the right you will see the entrance to the nature walk which is indicated by a wooden gate and a sign. The trail is 2k and fairly flat (there are 2 small hills to walk up), so suitable for most people, however, there is a flight of steps you can go down at the end that will bring you out by the car park rather than having to turn around and retrace your steps.
Dogs are allowed on the nature trail but they must be kept on a lead at all times.
The trail starts with an initial section in the trees which leads to a gravel path that leads around the top of the quarry. From here the views into the quarry are amazing, my girls couldn’t believe it when we first visited, you feel so high up! Follow this path for a while and then it will turn into a dirt path within a more wooden section which will lead to a grassed area with a picnic table and bench. This is a fabulous spot for a picnic as the views out to sea are beautiful.
Animal Adventure Trail
A new addition for 2022 are a number of beautifully carved wooden animal statues and a Children’s Whisper Seat that have been dotted along the nature trail. My girls loved looking out for them and they have been kindly sponsored by local Guernsey businesses.
Blackberry Picking
In season the quarry is a good spot for blackberry picking. There are low level blackberries by the picnic table and frustratingly lots on the other side of the quarry wire fence that you can’t get too! Blackberries then line the end of the nature trail all the way to the road. We also found lots of blackberries in the parking area.
Mountain Bike Track
Les Vardes Quarry is now the place for mountain bike fans, thanks to the new Mountain Bike Trail that follows the upper rim of the Quarry on the north-west side of the Guernsey site.
Volunteers from the Guernsey Mountain Bike Association put in hundreds of hours to build the trail that runs parallel with the existing nature walk. It features undulations, a number of sharp bends and some jumps for bikers of all abilities.
The End of the Nature Walk
You’ll know you are at the end of the nature walk when you come to a concrete platform. There are lots of signs here informing you about the quarry. On the right is a wire gate which opens onto a flight of steps which lead down and out of the quarry. You could always turn around and retrace your steps back along the nature trail, but these steps prevent you from having to do that. The steps bring you out into a small residential side-road, just off the main road, by Port Grat beach and a few minutes walk to the left leads you back to the parking area.
Facilities
Les Vardes Quarry is a great place for a leisurely stroll with amazing views into the quarry and out over the west coast. With a few picnic benches it is the perfect place for a picnic but, in the summer, you have to be lucky and get a table before someone else does!
Address
Route du Port Grat, St Sampson, Guernsey, GY2 4TF
Bus Route
31, 32, 91, 92
Cost
The nature walk is free and is open 7 days a week.
