Moulin Huet (pronounced Moolon Wet) is nestled at the foot of the stunning south coast cliff’s of St Martins. With crystal clear water and the most stunning views of the cliffs, it’s easy to see why legendary renaissance painter, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, fell in love with this secluded cove during a visit to Guernsey in 1883. He painted 15 famous pieces of Moulin Huet during his stay in Guernsey.
Location
Moulin Huet Bay is located at the end of Rue du Moulin Huet in St Martin’s. The bay is signposted from various directions in the lanes of St Martin’s.
Follow the tree lined Rue du Moulin Huet down the hill, all the way to the end, where you will come to 2 parking areas.
Moulin Huet is also accessible from the coastal path in both directions. The coastal path is well worth going on because the views are breath taking.
Getting to Moulin Huet Bay
It’s not possible to park very close to Moulin Huet Bay so you need to be prepared for a walk down to the beach (and more importantly the walk back up the steep hill!).
Beyond the parking areas, and the access to the cliff paths, is a lane that is signed as no entry to traffic. This lane takes you down to the bay. The lane starts wide to allow vehicle access to the few houses located on the way down to the Bay. Beyond the houses, the lane becomes a narrower footpath which takes you past the tea room before coming to the bay.
At the end of the lane you come to a bench that overlooks Moulin Huet Bay…
Low Tide
Moulin Huet beach is separated into 2 sides. The largest section is to the left, with large rock formations leading to soft sand, perfect for paddling. With endless rocks to climb, rockpools and sand to build sandcastles, Moulin Huet is a real family favourite.
The left section of beach is accessed by walking down a handful of steps.
The smaller section of beach to the right is rockier and it is hard to access the sea thanks to the amount of rocks you need to climb over to get to it! This section of beach is accessed via a cobbled stone path.
High Tide
If you’re planning to spend time on Moulin Huet beach, then you must check the tides. The left beach is underwater at high tide and there is often only a splattering of pebbles left on the right beach. The views are still amazing, so we often still head down to the bay for some fresh air and a walk on the cliff path.
Renoir
2019 marked the centenary of Renoir’s death and, in order to celebrate his importance to Guernsey, Art For Guernsey has erected 5 steel frames which allow viewers to stand in the exact spots where Renoir worked on his paintings. This gives you the chance to see Moulin Huet bay from exactly the same perspectives as the Frenchman did. The frames echo the ornate frames that Renoir chose for his own artwork but with a contemporary twist and they offer great photo opportunities.
QR codes on panels adjacent to the frames can be scanned with a smartphone, allowing you to listen to an audio guide conducted by Mr Cyrille Sciama, a world authority on Renoir.
Art For Guernsey has created a guide to take you along the route and even inspire you to produce your own piece of art! Check out https://artforguernsey.com/renoir/
Moulin Huet Tea Room
The Moulin Huet Tea Room is located on the footpath before reaching the bay. Now this is a tea room not to be missed. With stunning views, indoor and outdoor seating and homemade food, it’s a real gem.
The menu is not as lengthy as at some beach kiosks, however, their scones are baked daily onsite, by the owners, and they are like nothing you have tasted, so why anyone would choose anything other than a cream tea is beyond me!!…
The only thing to note about the tea room, is that there are no toilets onsite, you need to walk back to the toilets in the car park. I always make sure the girls go to the toilet before we walk down to the tea room/ beach as it’s a long way back when you’re busting!
All in all, a great beach for families however, not as easy to access as other family favourites. For us, the amazing scenery, great rock climbing, picture perfect paddling and the tea room, make it well worth the walk. Hope you enjoy it too!
Address
Rue du Moulin Huet, St Martin, Guernsey
Dogs on Moulin Huet Beach
Dogs are welcome on Moulin Huet beach year-round.
