2014
Saturday 13 – Saturday 20 September
The Around Island Walk 2 Guides, 5 days, 50 miles!
AT THE END OF THE DAY
Explore the Island after sundown
Behind Enemy Lines
An Island Fortress - discover darker days
www.jersey.com
week
autumnwalking
Important Notes for Participating Walkers Although there may be opportunities to stop for refreshments along your route, you are advised to bring a packed lunch on the full day walks. Unless otherwise stated, all routes are circular and will bring you back to your starting point. Where possible, all routes have been programmed to coincide with local bus services. Please bring suitable clothing and footwear for your walk. Whilst many of the walks are on country lanes, some are on coastal paths, off road or on the beaches, so walking boots or stout shoes with good grips are recommended. Walks are taken at your own risk. If walking on the beach, please be aware of tides, streams that cross the beach and sand that can be very soft in places. Whilst the walks in this programme have been designed to suit all abilities, please take care in choosing your walk and consider carefully
whether you can complete the longer walks. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. All persons participating in any aspect of this programme do so at their own risk and neither Jersey Tourism nor their appointed agents and guides can take responsibility for personal injury. Please note that all distances shown are approximate. The guides reserve the right to refuse participation to any walker if they are not suitably attired or, in the guide’s opinion, would be unsuitable to undertake the walk. All specified public bus routes and timings are correct at time of print. For updated information, contact LibertyBus – Tel: 01534 828555. Jersey Tourism can accept no responsibility for any subsequent alteration to bus timings and routes shown in this programme. All suggested bus routes start and finish at Liberation Station in St Helier.
What Jersey lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in natural beauty, stunning scenery and rich heritage. Whether you choose to venture along the dizzying heights of the north coast cliffs, stroll down shady lanes to picturesque villages or take a laid-back coastal jaunt, you’re sure to find a walk to suit you. Without doubt, it’s the best way to discover the real heart of Jersey. Unless otherwise stated, almost all of the walks in this programme are free of charge and all are in the company of the Island’s most respected and experienced walking guides.
1
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
walk
Around Island
Join Blue Badge Guide Arthur Lamy and Bronze Award Guide Christine Sangan for a week of exploration and fun on this unique walking extravaganza. Spectacular headlands and beaches, historic towers and castles, ancient burial chambers and “Green Lanes” - these are just some of the experiences you’ll encounter on this five-day, 48 mile trek that aims to take in all of Jersey’s coastline. Your guides will ensure you are suitably looked after throughout the week as well as providing ample supplies of encouragement. Courtesy coach transfers are included to take you to the start point each day, except for Monday 15th September when the walk starts from Liberation Square, St Helier. Don’t forget to bring along a packed lunch. The registration fee for the five-day walk is £25 and advance reservations for this walk, including the coach service, are required – call Jersey Tourism: 01534 448877. 2
3
Programme
of walks
Saturday 13 Walk the Way – Sark l 10:00 – 18:20 Meet: Outside Manche Iles Ferry Terminal, Albert Pier, St. Helier Grade: Difficult – up to 10m (16k) Boat Tickets are £45.50 and available from Itravel, The Esplanade, Call: 01534 631390 / 869900 or from Manche Iles Express, Albert Pier, Call: 01534 880756 Please note: walkers will have to purchase their own ferry tickets for the crossing to Sark. Boat departs at 10:50, returning at 17:20. Walk some of the Sark section of The Channel Island Way with the guide’s author, Blue Badge Guide Arthur Lamy. Sark is quiet and unspoiled, its gravel roads only traversed by bicycles, horse-drawn-carts and the occasional tractor. A feudal hierarchy until just a few years ago, Sark defies the pressures of the 21st century. Cross the isthmus to Little Sark, see the relics of the Silver Mines, pass the Island Hall, the Seigneurie and see the Methodist Church where ‘An Island Parish’ was filmed before returning via the north of the Island to the boat home. 4
l
l l
l
l
Rags to Riches l 10:00 – 12:00 Meet: Outside The Oyster Box Restaurant, St Brelade’s Bay Guide: Blue Badge Guide Pete Webb Grade: Easy- 2.5m (4k) Bus: 12, 12a Encounter mansions and villas and enjoy a morning full of famous names and residents; this gentle peek will let you know who’s who… and who’s living the dream! Then, discover another type of wealth on this walking extravaganza as you explore a photogenic coastline rich in stunning rock formations and spectacular cliff-top views.
In Search of the Ice Man l 09:45 – 13:15 Meet: Portelet Inn bus stop (public car park), St Brelade Guide: Blue Badge Guide Remi Couriard Grade: Moderate – 4m (6.4k) Bus: 12 Enjoy wonderful views of this beautiful corner of the Island and discover vantage points created by the WWII occupying forces and the towering ravine system of La Cotte de St Brelade, one of Europe’s most significant early Stone Age sites. Hear some of the prehistoric history of the area, stretching back at least 250,000 years and encounter the flora and fauna of Portelet Common.
Corbière Lighthouse – Seeing the Light l 14:00 – 16:30 Meet: Advised when booking Price: £12.50 (includes a donation to RNLI) Booking essential – Call 01534 448877 or pop into Jersey Tourism Guides: Blue Badge Guide Sue Hardy and Sheila Mallet Grade: Easy – 1m (1.6k) + steps! Bus: 12, 12a A rare opportunity to see inside the famous lighthouse of La Corbière. Explore the dramatic headland with your guides and be entertained with tales of tides and shipwrecks, the building of the lighthouse and the men who kept watch for over 100 years. Cross the causeway, uncovered at half tide, and climb up the spiral staircase to the lantern room to discover the intricacies of 19th, 20th and 21st century technology, and to enjoy spectacular views. Moonwalk to Icho Tower l 14:45 – 17:45 Meeting point advised when booking Booking essential – Call 01534 448877 or pop into Jersey Tourism Guide: Andrew Syvret Grade: Moderate – 3m (4.8k) you will get your feet wet Bus: 1 Visit one of the most remarkable marine habitats on the planet. Watch precious wildlife and sample our unique maritime culture as you join your experienced seashore guide, creator of Jersey’s famous moonwalks and true local, marine biologist Andrew Syvret, on a daytime wander to Icho Tower. 5
Sunday 14 St Ouen Parish Walk l 10:00 - 17:00 Meet: St Ouen’s Parish Hall Guide: Blue Badge Guide Hugh Gill Grade: Moderate / Difficult – 9m (14.5k) Bus: 8, 9 Enjoy an all-day circular ramble across cliff paths and through unspoilt country lanes in Jersey’s rugged north-west parish of St. Ouen. Stunning views await as you explore the glories of the gorse above L’Etacq on Les Landes, Jersey’s largest single expanse of maritime heath land and a designated Site of Special Interest (SSI). As befits a parish walk, you will pass the Parish Hall and school, the Parish Church, Millennium Stone and Cross - and a few ‘côtils’, where some of the best potatoes in the Island are grown. Enjoy a lunch-stop at Plémont Bay Café or bring some sandwiches.
6
Inner Grouville Fortifications. l 10:15 – 12:15 Meet: Lower Queens Valley Reservoir car-park, Rue du Moulin de Bas, Grouville Guide: Johnathan Bull Grade: Moderate – 2.5m (4k) + one steep climb Bus: 2 (alight at Grouville Parish Hall, 15 min walk to meeting point) Overlooking the Royal Bay of Grouville, WWII second line German defences lay awaiting any allied advances. You will walk through leaf covered lanes on this road based walk whilst taking in the views of the French coast, Mont Orgueil Castle and the flat lands of Grouville. Few remains exist but fascinating clues are scattered throughout. Discover why the East of the Island became so important in the German defences while exploring the history of Grouville and the Occupation in general.
Behind Enemy Lines l 10:30 – 12:30 Meet: Jersey Tourism, Liberation Place, St Helier Guide: Blue Badge Guide Pete Webb Grade: Easy- 2.5m (4k) Jersey: the oldest possession of the British monarchy. Left undefended, deserted and on its own. Turn the clock back seventy years; the truth behind the German Occupation of WWII will both surprise and shock. Mysteries of the East l 10:30 – 13:30 Meet: St Clement’s Parish Hall, La Grande Route de la Côte, St Clement Guide: Blue Badge Guide Tom Bunting Grade: Moderate – 5m (8k) Bus: 1 An ancient burial site, a rock used by witches, a windmill and a folly; happen upon all these fragments of Jersey history as you traverse salt marshes, fields, hills, beaches and pathways that wind through the sleepy south east of the Island. Corbière Lighthouse – Seeing the Light l 15:00 – 17:30 Meet: Advised when booking Price: £12.50 (includes a donation to RNLI) Booking essential – Call 01534 448877 or pop into Jersey Tourism Guides: Blue Badge Guide Sue Hardy and Sheila Mallet Grade: Easy – 1m (1.6k) + steps! Bus: 12, 12a A rare opportunity to see inside the famous lighthouse of La Corbière. Explore the dramatic headland with your guides and be entertained with tales of tides and shipwrecks, the building of the lighthouse and the men who kept watch for over 100 years. Cross the causeway, uncovered at half tide, and climb up the spiral staircase to the lantern room to discover the intricacies of 19th, 20th and 21st century technology, and to enjoy spectacular views.
Family Walk Towards Seymour Tower l 15:15 – 18:15 Meet: Advised when booking Price: £14.50 adults, £7.50 children Booking essential – Call 07797 853033 or log on to: www.jerseywalkadventures.co.uk Guides: Wild Life Safe trained and Bronze Badge Guides Derek Hairon and Trudie Trox Grade: Moderate – 3m (4.8k) you will get your feet wet Bus: 1 Discover Jersey’s unique marine wilderness on a daytime Moon walk. Hear about local history and have fun exploring rock pools teeming with life. Cross gullies and gutters, sandbars and shingle banks covered by the ocean twice a day. Wellington boots (can be hired for £1 per pair).
l l l
l l
l
7
Monday 15
Around Island Walk Day 1 – St Helier to Corbière l 09:30 – 18:30 Meet: Liberation Square, St Helier for courtesy coach pick up Booking essential – Tel: 01534 448877 Grade: Difficult – 10m (16k) Today’s walk will leave the hustle and bustle of St Helier behind as you head out west, along the sands of St Aubin’s Bay, towards the town of St Aubin itself. There is a steep climb to Noirmont Point and the war memorial, before dropping down into the beautiful bay of St Brelade. Climbing again to Beauport and along the rugged cliffs, today’s adventure will come to a close at the spectacular setting of Corbière lighthouse. It’s Town, But Not As You Know It! l 10:00 – 13:30 Meet: West Park Slipway (opposite Grand Jersey Hotel), The Esplanade, St Helier Guide: Blue Badge Guide Tom Bunting Grade: Easy – 5m (8k) Bus: Any heading west, or a short walk from town From Victoria Park, ascend to infamous Gallows Hill for sweeping views of the town, before 8
descending through cemeteries, shady lanes, valleys and secret Victorian backstreets. This is St Helier as you may never have seen it before! German Occupation Coastal Trail l 10:30 – 13:00 Meet: Portelet Inn bus stop (public car park) Price: the walk is free, but donations to the Channel Island Occupation Society for entry to the bunker would be appreciated. Guide: Blue Badge Guide Martin Walton Grade: Easy – 1.5m (2.4k) Bus: 12 Against a backdrop of spectacular coastal cliff scenery, walk around Jersey’s dry land battleship, Battery Lothringen. Conclude with a guided visit inside the restored underground armoured Command Bunker, with its two storey exhibition, bringing back how life was in those dramatic Occupation days.
Simple Pleasures l 10:30 – 13:00 Meet: St Mary’s Church, La Rue de Ste Marie, St Mary Guide: Blue Badge Guide Sue Hardy Grade: Easy – 3m (4.8k) Bus: 27 A rural ramble reveals Jersey’s farming traditions with a visit to The Elms, headquarters of The National Trust for Jersey. Situated in splendid meadows with its walled garden and orchard, cider-press and the old bake-house, the buildings tell of agricultural and domestic changes. A circular walk reveals surprises and secrets, before returning to the centre of the parish, where the country pub offers refreshments.
Discover Jersey’s Ice Age Coast - The French Connection l 14:00 – 16:00 Meet: Gorey Pier Bus Stop, St Martin – Finish: at St Catherine Guide: Curator of Archaeology at Jersey Heritage, Olga Finch Grade: Moderate – 3m (4.8k) Bus: 1 and 2 The east coast provides a rich record of the submerged Ice Age landscapes around Jersey. Discover places where flint tools used by Neanderthal hunters have been found, and travel back 250,000 years with your guides. Find out how, over this long period of time, the landscape has dramatically changed from a cool open land dominated by trees, to grasslands roamed by mammoths and woolly rhinos.
Enemy Across the Water l 14:00 – 16:30 Meet: Outside Archirondel Café, Archirondel, St Martin Guide: Author and Historian Ian Ronayne Grade: Moderate 4m (6.4k) Bus: 2 St Catherine’s Bay contains one of the Island’s most enigmatic sights – a massive breakwater stretching out to sea with apparently little purpose other than angling and the shelter of a few small boats. The nearby coast of France – for so long home to the enemy – holds a clue to its existence however. So too does the stump of massive blocks found at Archirondel, where our walk starts and ends and where we find the first of three Napoleonic-era towers and several WWII German bunkers. After leaving the coast, we turn inland past the site of a hurriedly established gun battery and a long established feudal manor, before returning through peaceful woods for a visit to a remarkable and very substantial reminder of the German occupation. Coastal Foraging 16:30 – 18:00 Meeting point advised when booking Booking essential – Call 01534 448877 or pop into Jersey Tourism Guide: Bushman Kazz Padidar Grade: Easy – 2m (3.2k) Bus: 12, 12a This coastal forage, along a stretch of the tide and shore line of St Ouen’s beach, will identify edible plants, seaweeds and shellfish on the way. Kazz will also track down some coastal plants. Cooking on a beach fire, we will then prepare the foraged foods and learn about any healthy properties they may hold. Please dress with an eye on the weather and bring along any food and drink you may need.
l l l l
ll
9
Tuesday 16 Around Island Walk Day 2 – Corbière to Grève de Lecq l 09:30 – 18:30 Meet: Liberation Square, St Helier for courtesy coach pick up Booking essential – Tel: 01534 448877 Grade: Difficult – 12m (19k) Today, head north along the west coast and the vast expanse of St Ouen’s Bay, known locally as the Five Mile Road. A steep path leads to the top of the headland at the northern end of the bay, passing Le Pinacle rock, the racecourse and the ruins of Grosnez Castle. From Plémont the walk follows the cliff path to Grève de Lecq. Nearer to France – Closer to Home l 10:00 – 16:30 Meet: Outside Archirondel Café, Archirondel, St Martin – Finish: Bouley Bay, Trinity Guide: Blue Badge Guide Remi Couriard Grade: Moderate – 6m (9.6k) Bus: 2 and 4 From the Jersey Round Tower standing guard at Archirondel, hear about the bay’s military activity and the abandoned harbour, before heading up for panoramic views of the French coast above Jersey’s ‘Côtils’, the steep slopes best used for growing our famous Jersey Royal potatoes. Wander through woodlands to Rosel Manor, pause for lunch in the oyster fishing harbour of Rozel, traverse the cliff path that overlooks Bouley Bay and discover Napoleonic forts and wartime tales. Living With The Enemy – The Time Team Special l 10:30 – 12:45 Meet: Gunsite Café, Beaumont – Finish at Jersey War Tunnels, St Lawrence Guide: Blue Badge Guide Tom Bunting Grade: Easy – 2m (3.2k) Bus: 9, 12, 12a, 15 Delve into life in Jersey when it was occupied in World War II. What was life like for everyday people? What did they eat? How did they know what was going on in the outside world? See original trenches built by the occupying forces as the walk passes from country lanes to woodland in an area excavated on Channel 4’s ‘Time Team’.
l
l l
10
l
A Harbour Master’s History of St Helier Harbour l 10:30 – 12:30 Meet: Outside Jersey Tourism, Liberation Place, St Helier Price: the walk is free, but donations to Channel Islands Airsearch would be appreciated. Guide: Captain Brian Nibbs Grade: Easy- 1.5m (2.4k) + one set of steps Join a retired Harbour Master for a pleasant stroll around St Helier’s Harbour. Hear about its history, nautical traditions and recent developments. The tour explores some of the lesser known areas of the Harbour and is interspersed with the occasional maritime anecdote. West Hide Story l 10:30 – 12:30 Starting point Kempt Tower, St Ouen’s Bay Guide: Naturalist Mike Stentiford MBE Grade: Easy – 2m (3.2k) Bus: 12, 12a Experience the subtle seasonal changes taking place in and around La Mare au Seigneur and the effect these changes have in relation to the wildlife. Visit the maritime grasslands and freshwater pond and reed-beds where Marsh harriers have set up home and finish with a flourish at the National Trust for Jersey’s new wetland centre set entirely within Jersey’s Coastal National Park.
Bombs, Bunkers & Beagle Liberation Walk l 14:00 – 16:30 Meet: Outside Jersey Tourism, Liberation Place, St Helier (finishes at Liberation Square) Guide: Author and Historian Ian Ronayne Grade: Easy – 2m (3.2k) The five long years of Jersey’s Occupation loom large over St Helier to this day. Many of the key events between 1940 and 1945 took place among the streets, quays, squares and parks of the Island’s capital. Today, they are recalled in buildings, plaques and monuments. Behind every memorial there is a story of ordinary people. On this fascinating Liberation Day walk you will visit the locations where Occupation history was made and learn about the people who made it. Follow the story of Jersey’s Second World War from air raids to evacuations, deportations to fortifications and starvation to liberation. Murder, Muck and Mayhem l 19:30 – 21:30 Meet: Royal Square, St Helier Guide: Blue Badge Guide Tom Bunting Grade: Easy – 2m (3.2k) By the dim light of dusk, lift the veil on the murkier side of Jersey’s capital as you find yourself in parts of town that are ‘off the beaten track’. Gruesome events and bizarre characters, oddities and quirks, murder, muck and mayhem; within this twilight world, discover the events that really shaped the Island. 11
Wednesday 17 Around Island Walk Day 3 – Grève de Lecq to Bouley Bay l 09:30 – 18:30 Meet: Liberation Square, St Helier for courtesy coach pick up Booking essential – Tel: 01534 448877 Grade: Difficult – 10m (16k Be prepared for a strenuous day of undulating cliff paths, thick with gorse and bracken, winding up and down the many little valleys carrying streams from the Island’s high north coast. The route passes through the smuggler’s cove of Bonne Nuit and up to Jersey’s highest point at Les Platons (113 metres), before descending sharply to the finish in Bouley Bay. Wild Food Forage 10:15 – 12:45 Meeting point advised when booking Booking essential – Call 01534 448877 or pop into Jersey Tourism Guide: Bushman Kazz Padidar Grade: Easy – 2m (3.2k) Bus: 12, 12a Come and get lost in the wilds of St Ouen; take in fantastic scenery, encounter local wildlife and learn about the vast variety of wild edible and medicinal plants our unique environment has to offer. Please dress with an eye on the weather and bring along any food and drink you may need.
12
King & Country: Jersey’s First World War l 10:30 – 13:00 Meet: General Don Statue in Parade Gardens, St Helier Guide: Author and Historian Ian Ronayne Grade: Easy – 2.5m (4k) While Jersey’s occupation between 1940 and 1945 has received great attention, the story of Jersey’s First World War is largely unknown. How did this terrible conflict impact on the Island, and how did islanders respond to the demands of King and country? One hundred years on from the ‘war to end all wars’, on this walk you will discover Jersey’s forgotten history in the locations it was made. Learn about the Island’s defences and its soldiers, the men who left and those who stayed, the spies, the suspects and the enemy who came to stay. Most importantly, through this walk you will understand why Jersey’s suffering and sacrifice between 1914 and 1918 is a history certainly worthy of commemoration. Beautiful Bonne Nuit l 13:15 – 16:15 Meet: St John’s Parish Church, La Route de St Jean, St John Guide: Blue Badge Guide Sue Hardy Grade: Moderate – 3.5m (5.6k) + steps and a climb Bus: 25 A glimpse inside the Parish Church sets the scene for tales of Jersey’s French connections, fishermen and sea farers, and the quarrying of that unique pink granite used for Island buildings. Then it’s onward for amazing views from the cliff paths that descend into the bay where there will be a stop for refreshments overlooking the quaint harbour. Another path snakes through National Trust land as it climbs to dizzying heights and meets the lanes that lead back to the church. The Jersey Beauty Parade l 13:30 – 17:00 Meet: Gunsite Café, Beaumont Guide: Blue Badge Guide Hugh Gill Grade: Moderate – 4.5m (7.2k) Bus: 9, 12, 12a, 15 Enjoy an afternoon walk through country lanes and wooded valleys, passing old mills and granite houses. The highlight of the walk will be visits to both the Blanc Pignon and Manor (Classic Herd)
Farms – working farms filled with prize cows, Jersey bulls, calves, pigs and piglets. Both farms have a reputation for producing some of the best Jersey cows and bulls in the Island and Manor Farm is now producing prize-winning cheese from their own rich Jersey milk. Winding Lanes and Wild Coastlines l 13:45 – 16:45 Meet: Jersey Round Tower, Grève de Lecq, St Mary. Guide: Blue Badge Guide Remi Couriard Grade: Moderate – 4m (6.4 k) Bus: 9 Wander through the isolated private woods of Grève de Lecq and up to the winding Green Lanes of St Mary, past granite farms and cod houses, to the wind swept cliffs of the north coast. Spectacular views of the other islands and occasionally the French coast await as you return past the old militia shooting grounds and the ancient hill fort back to the bay. Napoleonic Sea Defence – Jersey’s Round Towers l 14.00 – 16.30 Meet: La Rocque Harbour bus stop/car park, Grouville Guide: Blue Badge Guide Martin Walton Grade: Moderate – 4m (6.4 k) Bus: 1 Starting at historic La Rocque Harbour where the French landed in 1781, journey along the shore passing five Jersey Round Towers and a Fort. Hear tales of ‘vraic’ gathering and shipwrecks. Pass Harry Vardon’s statue at ‘The Royal Jersey Golf Club’ on Grouville Common and return via wooded lanes, passing a ‘lavoir’, a fisherman’s chapel and some old farm houses along the way.
l
l
l
l l l
13
Thursday 18 l
l
l
l
l l
Around Island Walk Day 4 – Bouley Bay to Gorey l 09.30 – 18:00 Meet: Liberation Square, St Helier for courtesy coach pick up Booking essential – Tel: 01534 448877 Grade: Difficult – 8m (13k) After a relatively difficult section of cliff path above Bouley Bay, the walk becomes easier as it descends into picturesque Rozel Bay. Continue past hidden coves, the Dolmen du Couperon and the mid 19th century naval harbour at St Catherine’s. The walk finishes for the day below impressive 13th century Mont Orgueil Castle, towering above the Royal Bay of Grouville. 14
Water, Water Everywhere! The St Lawrence Food Trail l 10:00 – 16:30 Meet: The Hire Shop, Millbrook Guide: Blue Badge Guide Hugh Gill Grade: Moderate – 7m (11k) Bus: 8, 9, 12, 12a, 15 This walk takes in the heights of St Lawrence on the boundaries of St Helier and St John, visiting one of the biggest growers of potatoes in Jersey and the strawberry plantations at La Croix Anley. After taking in beautiful Waterworks Valley there is a lunch stop at the St Laurent, one of Jersey’s genuine country inns. You may wish to bring a packed lunch. The afternoon takes in a narrow and secret medieval sanctuary path and some of St Lawrence’s loveliest lanes, offering views across St Aubin’s Bay, on the way back to Millbrook.
A North-Easterly l 10:00 – 13:30 Meet: Rozel bus stop, by Rozel Inn, Rozel Bay, St Martin – Finish: Durrell Wildlife Park, Trinity Guide: Blue Badge Guide Remi Couriard Grade: Moderate – 5m (8k) Bus: 3 or 13 From the picturesque harbour of Rozel Bay, venture up through a verdant valley and be rewarded with spectacular seascapes from the cliffpaths and scenic views across sweeping fields to France and the offshore reefs; you may even see our beautiful Jersey cows en-route! This enchanting walk uncovers a hidden garden, stops in at one of our dairy farms and comes to an end at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in time for you to spend the afternoon there, should you wish. Life of an ‘Atlantic Wall’ Soldier l 10:30 – 13:00 Meet: L’Etacq bus stop, St Ouen (opposite Faulkner Fisheries) Guide: Blue Badge Guide Martin Walton Grade: Moderate – 3m(4.8k) Bus: 12a (8 return from Plémont) Head north from the sweeping coastline of St Ouen’s Bay, along a breezy cliff path with spectacular coastal scenery and views of the other Channel Islands. Discover the cliff face emplacements of Battery Moltke, the restored coastal gun and the massive seven storey observation tower, the most impressive
of the Island’s German towers. From there, see the ‘Gun Graveyard’ and ruins of an ancient castle before making your way back across the heath land. (Instead of returning to L’Etacq, walkers may prefer to continue on, without their guide, for about half an hour along the cliff path to the beaches, caves and beach café of Plémont, where they can catch a bus back to St Helier). West Hide Story l 10:30 – 12:30 Meet: Kempt Tower, St Ouen’s Bay Guide: Naturalist Mike Stentiford MBE Grade: Easy – 2m (3.2k) Bus: 12, 12a Experience the subtle seasonal changes taking place in and around La Mare au Seigneur and the effect these changes have in relation to the wildlife. Visit the maritime grasslands and freshwater pond and reedbeds where Marsh harriers have set up home and finish with a flourish at the National Trust for Jersey’s new wetland centre set entirely within Jersey’s Coastal National Park. A Village Life l 14:00 – 16:30 Meet: Gorey Pier bus stop, St Martin Guide: Blue Badge Guide Sue Hardy Grade: Easy / Moderate – 3m (4.8k) Bus: 1 or 2 First came the castle; then the harbour and, as the village evolved, it grew to accommodate the numbers of English oyster-fishermen
who arrived during the 19th century. The steam railway and the coast road followed later, creating a thriving community that flourished in this beautiful village. Join your guide on a leisurely circular wander around Gorey and discover the secrets of the past and the changes that took place in the shadow of impressive, medieval Mont Orgueil Castle.
TheatreLand l 14:00 – 16:15 Meet: George II Statue, Royal Square, St Helier – Finish: The Jersey Opera House Guide: Blue Badge Guide Pete Webb Grade: Easy- 2m (3.2k) Did you know that The Beatles, Morecambe & Wise and Dame Vera Lynn all performed in Jersey? Pete’s lifetime in show business ensures anecdotes aplenty on this tour of Jersey’s quirky theatrical sites, including the Little Theatre and the Playhouse. Visit the theatre that hosted a male strip show and look in to the magnificent Opera House where Lillie Langtry and Charlie Chaplin performed.
15
Friday 19 Around Island Walk Day 5 – Gorey to St Helier l 09:30 – 17:30 Meet: Liberation Square, St Helier for courtesy coach pick up Booking essential – Tel: 01534 448877 Grade: Moderate – 8m (13k) Complete the final stretch along the east coast back to your starting point. Some sections of the walk may be completed on the beach. See a number of forts and Jersey Round Towers built in the 1780s and 90s following an invasion by the French at La Rocque in 1781 and resulting in the Battle of Jersey in St Helier’s Royal Square. Passing Havre des Pas and the Victorian open-air swimming pool, there is a short final climb over Mount Bingham, leading down past the harbour to finish in the town. Certificates will be awarded at this time for those walkers who have successfully completed all sections of the Around Island Walk.
16
Mysteries, Myths and Methodists l 10:30 – 13:00 Meet: Outside The Priory Inn, Devil’s Hole, St Mary Guide: Blue Badge Guide Martin Walton Grade: Moderate – 4m (6.4k) Bus: 8 This coastal walk, rich with magnificent views of the ‘other’ Islands and reefs, is punctuated with dramatic rock formations and caves, sculpted by the sea. The story of a tiny island of refuge is interwoven with smuggler’s tales, a prehistoric mystery hidden from view, old country houses and a link to John Wesley. l l l l l l
The Green Green Lanes of Home l 10:15 – 13:30 Meet: Gunsite Café, Beaumont – Finish at El Tico, St Ouen’s Bay Guide: Blue Badge Guide Tom Bunting Grade: Moderate – 5m (8k) Bus: 9, 12, 12a, 15 The Island’s 50-mile network of shady Green Lanes is a paradise for walkers. The walk criss-crosses this tranquil labyrinth of by-ways, passing through the very first lane to achieve Green Lane status, before finishing in the open expanse of St Ouen’s Bay. St Helier’s Old Quarter l 10:30 – 12:45 Meet: Jersey Tourism, Liberation Place, St Helier Guide: Blue Badge Guide Pete Webb Grade: Easy- 2m (3.2k) Secrets from the nooks and crannies of St. Helier’s Old Quarter expose the horrors of the Reformation, burnings at the stake and the legacy of French peasant workers. Come and find out how the town doubled in size in less than half a century… and why! Country Ways l 13:15 – 16:15 Meet: Lych Gate, St Lawrence Church, la Grande Route de St Laurent, St Lawrence Guide Blue Badge Guide Sue Hardy Grade: Easy – 3.5m (5.6k) Bus: 27 Discover the workings of a Jersey Parish centred on the Church and Parish Hall before setting off along leafy, tree-arched lanes into the hidden interior of the Island. Granite farmhouses are tucked away amid hedgerows of abundant wild-flowers, and clues to the history of generations of islanders are revealed, telling of life in the past, and the community spirit that thrives today.
St Aubin – Cod, Smugglers and Privateers l 13:30 – 16:30 Meet: St. Brelade’s Parish Hall, St. Aubin Guide: Blue Badge Guide Hugh Gill Grade: Easy – 3m (4.8k) Bus: 12, 12a, 15 Enjoy a leisurely stroll exploring the picturesque 18th century harbour and town of St. Aubin. Learn of the riches gained from the sea and from plundered French shipping, and admire the 17th and 18th century houses built by the merchants who created this little town. Head along the Railway Walk, through quiet lanes and return to the parish hall via the beautiful cobbled High Street. Walk with the stars at your feet 22:00 – 23:30 Times and departure point advised when booking – Booking essential Price: £15.50 adults, £7.50 children, Wellington boot hire £1 per pair Guides: Wild Life Safe trained and Bronze Badge Guides Derek Hairon and Trudie Trox Grade: Easy – 1m (1.6k) Call: 07797 853033 or log on to www.jerseywalkadventures.co.uk As night descends and the ocean recedes, star like shapes of luminous green (bio-luminescence) begin to twinkle and sparkle in a few special spots off the south east coast. Expect to get your feet wet -maybe up to the knees- as you discover and experience the uniqueness of this area. In just a few hours the ocean will return and cover your footprints by up to 40ft. Walks are in small groups. Note: The amount of bio-luminescence can vary.
17
Saturday 20 The Rector’s Daughter’s Tale l 10:00 – 13:30 Meet: Lych Gate, St Saviour’s Parish Church Guide: Blue Badge Guide Hugh Gill Grade: Moderate – 5m (8k) Bus: 13 The imposing church of St Sauveur de L’Épine and the vast graveyard featuring Lillie Langtry’s gravestone, mark the start of this stroll through the (almost) land-locked parish of St Saviour. Passing Lillie’s birthplace in the Old Rectory, the walk leads down into the Grands Vaux valley and reservoir. An organic dairy farm en-route contrasts with La Hougue Bie, one of Europe’s finest Neolithic monuments, as the walk crosses high ground providing views out to sea towards the Minquiers reef and France. Walk through urban St Saviour, passing the Millennium Cross and the parish school before returning to the church.
Les Misérables – In the footsteps of Victor Hugo l 10:30 – 12:30 Meet: Front entrance of Howard Davis Park, St Helier Guide: Blue Badge Guide Pete Webb Grade: Easy- 2.5m (4k) Victor Hugo: author of Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and the subject of a new book researched by Pete for the American best-selling writer, M.J. Rose. This tour will reveal the life and times of the famous author during his exile in Jersey. 18
St Helier – Occupation to Liberation l 10:30 – 13:00 Meet: Jersey Tourism, Liberation Place, St Helier Guide: Blue Badge Guide Martin Walton Grade: Easy – 2.5m (4k) Jersey was occupied by the Germans throughout World War II. Visit sites around St Helier’s Harbour with poignant reminders of events from both the Occupation and Liberation of the Island. Hear what really happened during those fateful days.
Flight Paths and Country Lanes l 12:45 – 15:45 Meet: Main entrance, St Peter’s Parish Church, Rue de L’Eglise, St Peter Guide: Blue Badge Guide Remi Couriard Grade: Moderate – 4m (6.4k) Bus: 9 Hidden around the outskirts of St. Peter’s Village are views, landscapes and architectural gems that may surprise you. Discover facts about the nearby airport and the neighbouring cod houses. Finishing at Manor Farm’s dairy, meet the cows themselves and if you wish, try some of the homemade “Genuine Jersey” goodies in the tea room (at own expense).
The Heart of the East l 13:15 – 15:45 Meet: Upper Queens Valley Reservoir car-park, La Rue D’Aval, Grouville Guide: Johnathan Bull Grade: Moderate – 5m (8k) + two steep hills Bus: 13 (alight at St Saviour’s Hospital, 5 min walk down the hill to Queen’s Valley parking area) Walk around the inlands of the East, starting at the beautiful Queens Valley. This walk takes in quiet back lanes, hidden footpaths and some charming local properties. Layers of history from long gone Water mills to a Princes Tower and German Occupation are all to be discovered. The views of the East are outstanding on this walk as is the rural setting along the way.
Wild West Flora Walk l 14:30 – 16:30 Meet: Big Vern’s car park, Five Mile Road, St Ouen’s Bay Guide: Botanist Tina Hull Grade: Easy – 2m (3.2k) + some uneven surfaces/wet meadow Bus: 12, 12a Enjoy a stroll around St Ouen’s Bay discovering the botanical delights of coastal strip, duneland and wet meadowland. See plants adapted to survive salt spray, baking sun and little fresh water to those at home in a wet meadow and many conditions in between. l l
l l
l
19
Your week at a glance Date
Time
Walk
Guide
Meeting Point
Bus
Info
Sat 13th
10:00 – 18:20
Walk the Walk – Sark
Arthur Lamy
Albert Pier, St Helier
Sat 13th
10:00 – 12:00
Rags to Riches
Pete Webb
Oyster Box, St Brelade
12a, 12
Moderate
Sat 13th
09:45 – 13:15
In Search of the Ice Man
Remi Couriard
Portelet Inn Bus Stop
12
Moderate
12, 12a
Booking required
Moderate
Sat 13th
14:00 – 16:30
Corbière Lighthouse *
Sue Hardy
Advised when booking
Sat 13th
14:45 – 17:45
Moonwalk to Icho Tower
Andrew Syvret
Advised when booking
1
Booking required
Sun 14th
10:00 – 17:00
St Ouen’s Parish Walk
Hugh Gill
St Ouen’s Parish Hall
8,9
Moderate / Difficult
Sun 14th
10:15 – 12:15
Sun 14th
10:30 – 12:30
Behind Enemy Lines
Pete Webb
Jersey Tourism
Sun 14th
10:30 – 13:30
Mysteries of the East
Tom Bunting
St Clement’s Parish Hall
1
Moderate
Sun 14th
15:00 – 17:30
Corbière Lighthouse *
Sue Hardy
Advised when booking
12, 12a
Booking required
Sun 14th
15:15 – 18:15
Family Walk towards Seymour Tower *
Jersey Walk Adventures
Advised when booking
1
Booking required
Mon 15th
09:30 – 18:30
‘Around Island’ Day 1*
Arthur Lamy
Liberation Square
cc
Booking required
Mon 15th
10:30 – 13:00
German Occupation Coastal Trail
Martin Walton
Portelet Inn Bus Stop
12
Easy
Mon 15th
10:00 – 13:30
Town, Not As You Know It
Tom Bunting
West Park Slipway
Mon 15th
10:30 – 13:00
Simple Pleasures
Sue Hardy
St Mary’s Church
27
Easy
Mon 15th
14:00 – 16:00
Discover Jersey’s Ice Age Coast
Olga Finch
Gorey Pier Bus Stop
1 and 2
Moderate
Mon 15th
14:00 – 16:30
Enemy Across The Water
Ian Ronayne
Archirondel Café
2
Moderate
Mon 15th
16:30 – 18:00
Coastal Foraging
Kazz Padidar
Advised when booking
12, 12a
Booking required
Tue 16th
09:30 – 18:30
‘Around Island’ Day 2*
Arthur Lamy
Liberation Square
cc
Booking required
Tue 16th
10:00 – 16:30
Nearer to France
Remi Couriard
Archirondel Café
2 and 4
Moderate
Tue 16th
10:30 – 12:45
Living with the Enemy
Tom Bunting
Gunsite Café
9, 12, 12a, 15
Easy
Tue 16th
10:30 – 12:30
A Harbour Master’s History
Brian Nibbs
Jersey Tourism
Tue 16th
10:30 – 12:30
West Hide Story
Mike Stentiford
Kempt Tower, St Ouen’s Bay
Tue 16th
14:00 – 16:30
Bombs, Bunkers and Beagle Liberation Walk
Ian Ronayne
Jersey Tourism
Easy
Tue 16th
19:30 – 21:30
Murder, Muck & Mayhem
Tom Bunting
Royal Square
Easy
20
Inner Grouville Fortifications Johnathan Bull
Lower Queen’s Valley 2 + walk reservoir car park
Moderate Easy
Easy
Easy 12, 12a
Easy
Date
Time
Walk
Guide
Meeting Point
Bus
Info
Wed 17th
09:30 – 18:30
‘Around Island’ Day 3*
Arthur Lamy
Liberation Square
cc
Booking required
Wed 17th
10:15 – 12:45
Wild Food Forage
Kazz Padidar
Advised when booking
12, 12a
Booking required
Wed 17th
10:30 – 13:00
King & Country WWI
Ian Ronayne
Parade Gardens
Wed 17th
13:15 – 16:15
Beautiful Bonne Nuit
Sue Hardy
St John’s Parish Church
25
Moderate
Wed 17th
13:30 – 17:00
The Jersey Beauty Parade
Hugh Gill
Gunsite Café
9, 12, 12a, 15
Moderate
Wed 17th
13:45 – 16:45
Winding Lanes and Wild Coastlines
Remi Couriard
Grève de Lecq, Round Tower
9
Moderate
Wed 17th
14:00 – 16:30
Napoleonic Sea Defence
Martin Walton
La Rocque Harbour
1
Moderate
Thu 18th
09:30 – 18:30
‘Around Island’ Day 4*
Arthur Lamy
Liberation Square
cc
Booking required
Thu 18th
10:00 – 16:30
Water, Water Everywhere!
Hugh Gill
Millbrook
8, 9, 12, 12a, 15
Moderate
Thu 18th
10:00 – 13:30
A North - Easterly
Remi Couriard
Rozel Bus Stop
3 or 13
Moderate
Thu 18th
10:30 – 13:00
Atlantic Wall Soldier
Martin Walton
L’Etacq Bus Stop
12a
Moderate
Thu 18th
10:30 – 12:30
West Hide Story
Mike Stentiford
Kempt Tower, St Ouen’s Bay
12, 12a
Easy
Thu 18th
14:00 – 16:30
A Village Life
Sue Hardy
Gorey Pier Bus Stop
1 or 2
Moderate
Thu 18th
14:00 – 16:15
Theatreland
Pete Webb
Royal Square
Fri 19th
09:30 – 17:30
‘Around Island’ Day 5*
Arthur Lamy
Liberation Square
cc
Booking required
Fri 19th
10:30 – 13:00
Mysteries, Myths & Methodists
Martin Walton
Devil’s Hole
8
Moderate
Fri 19th
10:15 – 13:30
Green Green Lanes
Tom Bunting
Gunsite Café
9, 12, 12a, 15
Moderate
Fri 19th
10:30 – 12:45
St Helier’s Old Quarter
Pete Webb
Jersey Tourism
Fri 19th
13:15 – 16:15
Country Ways
Sue Hardy
St Lawrence Church
27
Easy
Fri 19th
13:30 – 16:30
St Aubin – Cod, Smugglers & Privateers
Hugh Gill
St Aubin
12, 12a, 15
Easy
Fri 19th
22:00 – 23:30
Walk with the stars at your feet *
Jersey Walk Adventures
Advised when booking
1
Booking required
Sat 20th
10:00 – 13:30
The Rector’s Daughter’s Tale
Hugh Gill
St Saviour’s Church
13
Moderate
Sat 20th
10:30 – 12:30
Les Misérables
Pete Webb
Howard Davis Park
Easy
Sat 20th
10:30 – 13:00
Occupation to Liberation
Martin Walton
Jersey Tourism
Easy
Sat 20th
12:45 – 15:45
Flight Paths & Country Lanes
Remi Couriard
St Peter’s Church
9
Moderate
Sat 20th
13:15 – 15:45
The Heart of the East
Johnathan Bull
Upper Queen’s Valley reservoir car park
13
Moderate
Sat 20th
14:30 – 16:30
Wild West Flora Walk
Tina Hull
Big Vern’s Car Park
12, 12a
Easy
* = charge applicable | cc = courtesy coach available
Easy
Easy
Easy
21
week
autumnwalking Dates for your Diary 2015 Friday 8 – Monday 11 May Liberation Day 70
Friday 26 – Monday 29 June Jersey in Bloom Thursday 13 – Friday 14 August Battle of Flowers Carnival Saturday 5 – Sunday 13 September Hidden Treasures Thursday 10 September International Air Display Saturday 12 – Saturday 19 September Autumn Walking Week Thursday 3 – Sunday 6 December La Fête dé Noué Jersey Tourism and The Idea Works take our responsibilities very seriously. All waste materials from the printing of this guide are recycled, including aluminium plates, metal ink tins & plastic ink cartridges, the ink itself, paper, cardboard and even the wood from the delivery pallets.
For further information visit:
www.jersey.com/walking Jersey Tourism, Liberation Place, St Helier, JE1 1BB Tel: +44 (0)1534 448877 Fax: +44 (0)1534 448898 Email: info@jersey.com All information correct at time of print – July 2014
Designed by The Idea Works
Thursday 21 – Monday 25 May Jersey Food Festival
www.theideaworks.com
Saturday 9 – Saturday 16 May Spring Walking Week