Natural Crafts Jersey

At the extreme southwest of Jersey, the Corbière lighthouse is the first cement lighthouse built in the British Isles. It was first lit on April 24, 1874 and is 30 meters high. You can also see the German blockhouses, some of them repainted in the original style. The panorama is grandiose and it is one of the most touristic and photographed spots on the island of Jersey. You can access the lighthouse by a causeway. Be careful, do not enter the lighthouse at high tide, you might get stuck.

The longest beach on the island of Jersey, which stretches along the entire west coast of the island, is in fact shared by three communes: Saint-Ouen, Saint-Peter and Saint-Brelade. It is huge, almost straight and particularly popular with surfers, who park their vans in the many car parks, and walkers who can't get enough of it. Numerous blockhouses protect it, as it was, by its shape and size, an ideal landing place and therefore duly fortified by the German occupiers.

We reach this chasm on the side of the cliff by a small and short path. Even if the slope will seem a bit steep on the way back. Make sure you get there at high tide so that it is more impressive (at low tide it is nothing exceptional). You will notice a very kitsch statue of a devil whose hoofed feet are dipping in a greenish pond. It is only the umpteenth replica (the others have been stolen) of a figurehead of a 19th century ship which would have run aground not far away and would have given the name of "Devil's Hole" to the geological formation.

The Jersey Wetland Centre overlooks a beautiful bird sanctuary, the St. Ouen Pond, which has been protected since 1975. The center is a nature center and an interpretation center where you can observe birds in their natural environment and even nest. In addition to the many observation posts (no less than 16 windows), the center offers many explanatory panels and an exhibition for explanations on the different species and wetlands. Harriers and other wading birds await you!

Surrounded by green hills and surrounded by cliffs, Grève de Lecq is a small and friendly beach located between Saint-Ouen and Sainte-Marie in the southwest of the island. Here, it is the absolute calm and a perfect spot for a day at the beach with family, lovers or friends. Conveniently, there are a few restaurant options, in high season, above the beach. Ideal for a drink, an ice cream or a quick lunch on the go. In short, a dream spot for idleness! We love it.

In the hollow of the bay, you can see the islet of Guerdain, topped by a tower, known as "Janvrin's tomb". Philippe Janvrin, a sailor from Saint-Brelade, was approaching the coast when the plague broke out on board his ship. The authorities decided to quarantine the ship offshore. When he died, he was buried on this islet. The promontory of Portelet is also a nature reserve. In addition to the grandiose nature, it is an archaeological site. Excavations have brought to light the remains of Neanderthals, mammoths and rhinoceroses.

This long beach is dominated by gentle hills where pretty manors are scattered here and there. It is really nice and, when the weather is (very) good, you can see France in the distance. For swimming, it is better to go there at low tide for safety reasons. Otherwise, kayaking and sailing are particularly popular activities in the bay. It is bounded on the south by the Archirondel tower (1794) and on the north by a long jetty which advances towards the sea. The jetty, very popular with anglers, is long and can be the object of a nice little stroll. It protects some boats (but also geese and ducks!). At its entrance, not far from the popular Breakwater Café and the parking lot, you will notice a plaque commemorating the exploit of a young Jersey man who swam around the island. This Victorian jetty was one of the elements of one of the two large naval bases of the islands (the other is in Alderney). The purpose was to face a possible French attack coming from Cherbourg. Construction began in 1847 and quickly became a financial drain. Before becoming useless anyway, militarily speaking. The second pier, which was to start from the Archirondel tower and close the bay, was never built. The Sainte-Catherine's Breakwater was completed in 1855... but proved to be unsuitable to receive warships. It was to be the largest port on the south side of the English Channel after Le Havre.