Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit Channel Islands

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.

La Rocque Point is located in the extreme southeast of Jersey. It was here that Baron de Rullecourt (1744-1781) landed on January 6, 1781, before heading west towards Saint-Hélier. Guided by two Jersiais, the Frenchman had managed to find his way through this maze of rocks on the water's edge, which were nonetheless battered by strong currents. He died of wounds sustained during his battle against the English forces. Since this episode, no less than two small forts and six Martello towers defend the access today.

The perfume industry in Jersey has been famous since the 18th century. At that time, lavender was grown on a large scale, but the activity gradually disappeared. David and Elizabeth Christie took over the tradition in 1983 and grow some 70 varieties of lavender on a 2.8 hectare property. Here, visitors can walk through the fields from May to August, when the lavender is picked. They can also visit the distillery and the bottling room. Afterwards, visitors are welcomed in a tea room, and then in a store.

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 only way to reach the peninsula of Little Sark, it is to pass by the Coupée, a rocky ridge which dominates the sea on both sides and can give the vertigo. The crossing is impressive. It links the two Sark islands by a cement road. This 90 m long road, lined with railings, was built by German prisoners of war. The road replaces an old narrow and particularly dangerous path where even horses refused to venture! Small pleasant beaches border the cliff, at low tide. Caves, covered with anemones, offer their marine treasures.

Coming from the Grand Sark, by descending a series of steps (not easy), one can reach just below the small beach of the Grande Grève creek, on the west side. South of the Coupée, one reaches Adonis Pool, a pond located in front of the islet called Moie de la Bretagne, and visible 2 hours before and after low tide. The sea rises very quickly here: do not underestimate the duration of the journey.

You have to cross a kind of deep ravine to reach the hole whose clear waters are 2 m deep. You can also pass by the shafts of the old silver mine, at Port Gorey, and, quite to the south, go to Venus Pool, an extraordinary rocky pool almost as deep (6 m) as it is wide (10 m diameter). You can swim there at low tide (2 hours before and after too). The flat rocks surrounding it allow to dry off and to sunbathe. Offshore, at 500 m, the Etac rock stands up to the waves.

Shell Beach. Shell Beach" is Herm Island's most famous beach. Situated at the north-eastern end of the island, it is covered with shell debris accumulated with each rising tide. In summer and winter alike, it's naturally one of the most popular beaches for a stroll. And in summer, it's a delight for kayakers and paddleboarders. The natural rock pool is a delight for the little ones. There's also a kiosk to quench your thirst in summer.

Belvoir Beach. Next to Shell Beach, this so-called "Belvoir" beach is located in a small, well-protected bay which, in summer, can fill up very quickly with holidaymakers. It's also a good spot for scuba diving and snorkeling. From the beach, there's a lovely view of the island of Sark. There's also a small café.

Bear's Beach. Well sheltered thanks to a natural windbreak with its rocks, the delightful "Bear's Beach" is perfect for holidaymakers in search of sun (in summer) or beautiful walks sheltered from the wind (in winter). The beach is also a little secluded and will delight tourists looking to get off the beaten track. It's also an ideal beach from which to enjoy a superb view of the island of Guernsey, just across the road. A must for photographers. Last but not least, it's a well-known spot for local fishermen.

Fisherman's Beach. Accessible by steps alongside the Mermaid Tavern, this beach, known as "Fisherman's Beach", is perfect for exploring the natural pools that form in the rocks at low tide. An ideal spot for families with young children.

Harbour Beach. Close to the stores and the port, this aptly named "Harbour Beach" is well known among families for its easy access.

Hotel Beach. Hotel Beach" is - as the name suggests - right in front of the White House Hotel. And the harbour protects it from the wind, which is a nice touch. Yet in a corner of the island somewhat shunned by visitors, the beach offers a natural pool in the rocks and a breathtaking view of the islands of Guernsey and Jethou.

North Beach. Unlike the other beaches in the north of the island, this "north beach" features several natural rock pools. Beware of strong currents.

Oyster Point. The island's family secret. Located in the north of the island, it is sheltered and very isolated. Seagulls may be your only company. At low tide, bags of oysters form pools of seawater.

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!

Maîtresse-Île is the only inhabitable islet of the Minquiers archipelago which contains about fifty islets, reefs and sandbars. And for good reason, at high tide, only this one island of less than 1 km2 (150 meters long by 40 meters wide) remains. An island that emerges five or ten meters above the sea. Although there are naturally a few fishermen's houses, they are uninhabited and are only used occasionally as a refuge during the peak fishing season in the archipelago. As early as the 18th century, the islet was occupied by about twenty Jersey fishermen, because the bad season, with its storms and terrible winds, obviously forbade any residence. Maîtresse-Île, which was also a den of smugglers in the 19th century, was also exploited for a long time as a granite quarry. A customs post was also built there by the inhabitants of Jersey. Here too, the houses protect each other from the elements. These constructions are of English origin. Note the tax house which bears the coat of arms of the States of Jersey and the inscription: taxes. Note that the Minquiers and Maîtresse-Île are mentioned at length by Victor Hugo in Quatre-Vingt-Treize (1874). The archipelago is also evoked in Les Travailleurs de la mer (1866) by the French writer who makes one of his heroes say that Les Minquiers "is a very bad rock". It must be said that having lived in Jersey and Guernsey, the novelist knew the place rather well.

Philippe Pinel, a fisherman from Jersey, lived there for nearly fifty years from 1848. As the first sovereign of the Ecréhous, he received Queen Victoria as an equal and as a neighbour, during her stay in Jersey in 1857. He gave her, as a royal gift, one of the products of his kingdom: a basket made from dried seaweed. A pebble beach discovered at low tide allows to reach Marmotier. Blanche-Île is only inhabited during the summer season

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.

Since 1831, successive owners of this beautiful granite mansion (built in 1797) had devoted themselves to wine, but the tradition was gradually lost. Fortunately, in 1968, the Blayney family, with the help of German and French winemakers (the grape varieties are German and French), managed to save the farm from ruin and re-establish a 6-hectare vineyard of quality. Annual production ranges from 13,000 to 21,000 bottles, with a range of dry white, red and rosé wines of excellent quality (Sainte-Marie, Baliwick, Perquage) sold on the estate.

On your tour (10:45, 11:45, 12:45, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 pm), you'll learn about the distillation process used to make wine and Jersey's famous cider brandy. What's more, it's all accompanied by a wine tasting (and delicious local apple juice for young and old alike)! In addition to wine, you'll also find Grapple (a refreshing blend of wine and cider), ciders, Jersey Apple Brandy and house gin, as well as many other local products such as traditional Jersey Black Butter, chocolates, fudges and cookies. A café is also available for lunch or tea. And, of course, there's a well-stocked store where you can do your shopping and slip a few goodies into your suitcase before boarding the boat home. An unmissable visit to the area.

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.

In this very extensive area of dunes, at the back of the very popular and visited bay of Saint-Ouen, one can observe a series of menhirs: the Trois Rocques, the Grand, the Petit Menhir and the Menhir Brisé and, at their heart, a burial chamber where the bones of about twenty people were found, presumably, during the excavations that brought the site to light in 1922. This megalithic site can be the occasion for a walk inland in a corner of the island where people come mostly for iodine-filled walks along the coast.

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.

Lihou is a 20-hectare island connected to Guernsey by a paved causeway that is covered by high tide. It is part of Guernsey's nature conservation program. The rock is a favorite stopover for migratory birds and home to an abundance of marine life. You will also find many species of seaweed, anemones, starfish, crabs and fish. The causeway can only be crossed at low tide. Ask the tourist office for opening hours and a tide table.

Located just outside the center of St. Sampson parish, this horticultural center is built on almost one hectare and features a large crop of freesias (sweet, fresh-smelling flowers) that grow in a warm greenhouse. During your visit to the nursery, you can also buy bulbs and flowers in the gift store. A very original souvenir to bring back! For horticulture lovers only.