Pembroke and L’Ancresse Bay is a beautiful large sweeping bay situated on the most northern point of Guernsey. 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 northern 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.
Low Tide
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, at low tide it can feel like you need a bus to actually get to the waters edge! The beach is very exposed and it can feel very windy in a northerly breeze, that’s why you’ll often see people with wind breaks on the beach, and they make a huge difference.
High Tide
You would think that a beach as large as Pembroke would be great at high tide as well as low tide, however, that’s unfortunately not the case. It’s hard to believe that, thanks to Guernsey’s vast tidal range, there can be hardly any sand on show at high tide!
Dogs on the 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.
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.
Along with the kiosks is The Beach House, 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!
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.
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 scenery is also stunning and I love looking at the breathtaking views in all directions.
Fort Le Marchant
It’s also well worth a walk to Fort Le Marchant because it’s a great place for kids to explore…safe rocks to climb (as in rocks not on the side of a cliff!), windows looking out to sea, a gaol and small stone passages, to name just a few. For full details of the walk to Fort Le Marchant CLICK HERE.
Pembroke & L’Ancresse Bay is a great choice for a family beach trip. With sand as far as the eye can sea and crystal-clear water it’s great for a swim, building sandcastles, playing games on the beach and with excellent facilities and lovely walks in both directions, it really is a winner. We’ll see you there!
Address
Pembroke, Vale, GY3 5BY
Bus Routes
12, 91, 92
Dogs On Pembroke & L'Ancresse Beach
Dogs are banned between 1st May and 30th September.
