springwalking
week
2015
Saturday 9– Saturday 16 May
The Around Island Walk 2 Guides, 5 days, 50 miles!
Premiers pas
Notre première randonnée avec un accompagnateur parlant français
Walks to keep you Occupied Explore Hitler’s Atlantic Wall
www.jersey.com
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.
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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 12th May 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.
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Programme of walks Saturday 9th The Heart of the East l 10:15 – 12:45 Meet: Upper Queen’s 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 Queen’s 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. 4
Wild Food Forage l 10:30 – 13:30 Meet: 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.
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Bombs, Bunkers and Beagle Liberation Walk l 14:00 – 16:30 Meet: Outside Jersey Tourism, Liberation Place, St Helier 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. Fort Regent - The Impenetrable Fortress l 14:00 – 16:00 Meet: The Liberation Statue, Liberation Square, St Helier Guide: Blue Badge Guide Martin Walton Grade: Easy- 2m (3.2k) Discover the enormous, forgotten, Napoleonic fortress dominating St Helier - with moats, parade grounds, battlements, eerie corners, stairways, a 200ft+ siege well and forgotten gardens. See defences dating from the Napoleonic era to WWII, along with tremendous views of both town and country.
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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 descending through cemeteries, shady lanes, valleys and secret Victorian backstreets. This is St Helier as you may never have seen it before! 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. Nearer to France – Closer to Home l 11:00 – 17:00 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.
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Sunday 10
Les Misérables – In the footsteps of Victor Hugo l 14:00 – 16:00 Meet: George V Statue, 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 bestselling writer, M.J. Rose. This tour will reveal the life and times of the famous author during his exile in Jersey. The Four Towers l 14:30 – 17:00 Meet: Le Hocq car park, La Grande Route de la Côte, St Clement Guide: Johnathan Bull Grade: Moderate – 3m (5k) Bus: 1 This historical walk, focusing on the Occupation, starts at Le Hocq on the south-east coast, heading inland past two of The Jersey Eastern Railway’s former stations. The route continues into the National Trust woodland at Mont Ubé to see the German Resistance Nest and Observation Tower overlooking the bay, and then on to a German Batterie site and former camp for WWII slave workers. A stroll through quiet lanes to a German Range Finding Tower brings you back to your start point at La Hocq to discover a further two towers. Walks on the Seabed: Seymour Tower l 16:15 – 19:15 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 Discover Jersey’s unique marine wilderness on a daytime Moonwalk. 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). Walks are in small groups. For more information, check out the website. 7
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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. 8
Rags to Riches l 10:30 – 12:45 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.
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.
German Occupation Coastal Trail l 10:45 – 13:15 Meet: Portelet Inn bus stop (public car park) Guide: Blue Badge Guide Martin Walton Grade: Easy – 1.5m (2.4k) Bus: 12 Set against the dramatic seascape of Noirmont, experience Jersey’s dry land battleship, Battery Lothringen. Conclude with a guided visit inside the two storey subterranean Command Bunker, with its exhibition bringing back to life those dramatic Occupation days. Donations to the Channel Island Occupation Society for entry to the bunker would be appreciated. Winding Lanes and Wild Coastlines l 13:30 – 16:30 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.
King or Country: Jersey and the Great War l 14:00 – 16:30 Meet: General Don Statue in Parade Gardens, St Helier Guide: Author and Historian Ian Ronayne Grade: Easy / Moderate – 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 or country? One hundred years on from the ‘war to end all wars’, this fascinating walk tells the story of Jersey’s forgotten history in the locations it was made. Learn about the Island’s response to war, its impact on ordinary Islander’s lives and the sacrifices made by soldiers and civilians. Most importantly, gain an understanding of why Jersey’s First World War is a history certainly worthy of commemoration. Corbière Lighthouse – Seeing the Light Sunset Tour l 18:00 – 20:30 Meet: Advised when booking Price: £13.50 (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. l l
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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.
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) 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’.
Pack Up Your Troubles Liberation Walk l 10:00 – 12:30 Meet: Liberation Square, St Helier Guide: Blue Badge Guide Sue Hardy Grade: Easy – 2m (3.2k) Join Badge Guide Sue Hardy and discover how the joy of Liberation in 1945 and the memories of those difficult years of wartime occupation have been recorded in tablets of stone and sculpture around St Helier. Everyone who lived through those momentous times had a story to tell and as the years go by these stories are handed down the generations ‘lest we forget’.
A Harbour Master’s History of St Helier Harbour l 10:30 – 12:30 Meet: Outside Jersey Tourism, Liberation Place, St Helier 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. Donations to Channel Islands Airsearch would be appreciated.
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The Jersey Beauty Parade l 13:45 – 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.
Strongpoint Plémont: in defence of a coastline l 14:30 – 16:30 Meet: In the carpark outside Plémont Café Guide: Author and Historian Ian Ronayne Grade: Moderate – 2m (3.5k) Bus: 8 Plémont on Jersey’s rugged north-west coast has been making headlines for many years now. Before the controversial holiday camp appeared, however, this historic location was the scene of considerable military activity. Discover Napoleonic-era fortifications on this walk and hear about the Island’s first telegraph system and its reinforcement and protection during the First World War. Explore the concrete reminders of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall in this part of Jersey before turning back in time to visit one of the Island’s least known prehistoric sites. 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 13 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. Parcels, Pills & Hope At Last l 10:30 – 12:45 Meet: Liberation Square, St Helier Guide: Blue Badge Guide Tom Bunting Grade: Easy – 2m (3.2k) The Red Cross founded in 1863 and is now one of the main humanitarian organisations in the world, giving many forms of aid, help and support to any crisis/disaster in all countries around the World. Jersey has cause to be particularly grateful as the parcels that arrived on the Red Cross ship Vega late in December 1944 brought crucial food supplies, medicines and hope to the civilian population. This walk will take in many of the sites associated with the Red Cross around St Helier, focusing on the Occupation and the events of daily life for the civilians of Jersey. The walk is free but any contributions to the Jersey Red Cross will be gratefully received.
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The Rector’s Daughter’s Tale l 10:30 – 14:00 Meet: Lych Gate, St Saviour’s Parish Church Guide: Blue Badge Guide Hugh Gill Grade: Moderate – 6m (9.6k) Bus: 20 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 avalley 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. Our Eastern Front l 10:30 – 13:30 Meet: La Rocque Harbour, Grouville Guide: Blue Badge Guide Remi Couriard Grade: Moderate - 6m (9.4k) Bus: 1 The walk begins at La Rocque Harbour and ends at Gorey Village, passing the Royal Jersey Golf Course which was viewed by the German occupiers as a second airport, while sand from the beach here became the fine cement used for the construction of Jersey’s WWII fortifications. After D-day this area became an escape route to France for courageous Islanders; hear of escape attempts, the three German soldiers who drowned on return from Seymour Tower, and other fascinating Occupation tales on this linear walk.
Behind the Wire: St Ouen’s Bay’ and the Great War l 14:00 – 16:30 Meet: Le Braye Slip – outside the public toilets Guide: Author and Historian Ian Ronayne Grade: Easy – 2.5m (4k) Bus: 12, 12a For centuries, the magnificent sweep of St Ouen’s Bay has been a centre of military activity. Throughout its long history, it was never fuller with soldiers than during the First World War. And yet it’s a largely forgotten period – until now. Learn about the men who served in the bay between 1914 and 1918 on this revealing walk, their training, weapons and defences. Hear stories of spying, sea battles and secret tunnels. Visit the fascinating remains of a huge WW1 prisoner of war camp, and discover the lives and experiences of more than 2,000 enemy soldiers who ended up caught behind the wire in St Ouen’s Bay.
Art & Architecture of St Helier l 14:00 – 16:00 Meet: Liberation Square, St Helier Guide: Blue Badge Guide Sue Hardy Grade: Easy – 2m (3.2k) This walking tour will look at some of the most important old buildings in the town; discover some of the local institutions that inhabit them and their fascinating history. There will be a treasure trove of public art to admire along the way. Behind Enemy Lines – Evening Walk l 19:30 – 21:30 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. 13
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Around Island Walk Day 4 – Bouley Bay to Gorey l 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. 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, 12 Enjoy an all-day circular ramble across cliff paths and through unspoilt country lanes in Jersey’s rugged north-west parish of St. Ouën. 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. 14
Green Lanes et Sentiers de Jersey l 09:30 – 13:00 Point de rencontre : Liberation Square, St Helier Accompagnatrice : Rae Gandit, accompagnatrice francophone Niveau : Modéré - 7 m (11 km) Bus : No 3 pour le retour Petite randonnée d’une demi-journée, dont le point de départ est au coeur même de St Helier, la capitale de Jersey. Nous traverserons la ville, observant au passage son architecture: maisons riches en histoire, places, églises,... pour nous retrouver rapidement dans le St Helier rural. Les superbes et tranquilles Green Lanes nous conduiront à travers la campagne profonde des vallees et des collines, avec ses anciens manoirs, ses maisons de maître en granite traditionnel, longeant un moment le célèbre zoo de Jersey. En atteignant le nord nous emprunterons les chemins de falaises qui offrent un panorama spectaculaire sur les côtes francaises et les autres îles anglonormandes, pour terminer notre balade dans le petit port pittoresque de Rozel. Vous pourrez vous restaurer dans un des endroits charmants de la baie avant de repartir sur St Helier, en bus... ou à pied! Chaussures de randonnée recommandées.
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The Green Green Lanes of Home l 10:15 – 13:15 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 crisscrosses 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. A Village Life l 10:30 – 13:00 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-fisherman 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. The Royal Bay of Grouville; Napoleonic Sea Defences 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. See Jersey’s oyster and mussel farming and 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.
TheatreLand l 14:30 – 16:45 Meet: Jersey Tourism, Liberation Place, 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. Walk with the stars at your feet l 21:00 – 22:30 Meet: Advised when booking Price: £15.50 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 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 bioluminescence can vary. 15
Friday 15 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 openair 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.
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Walks on the Seabed: Seymour Tower l 09:45 – 12:45 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 Moonwalk. 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). Walks are in small groups.
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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 Saint 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 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! 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. (Rather than returning to L’Etacq, walkers may
prefer to continue on their own, 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) The Enemy Has Landed; Occupation Begins l 12:45 – 16:15 Meet: The George de Carteret Inn, St Peter’s Village Guide: Blue Badge Guide Remi Couriard Grade: Moderate - 5m (8.4k) Bus: 9 Begin at the George de Carteret car-park where the remains of a German Bunker still exist. General De Gaulle had stayed at the St Peter’s Hotel (now the pub) on his flight out of France, en route to England in a Whitley bomber, just before Paris fell to the invading German forces in June 1940. This circular walk follows a route opposite the existing Airport, with views overlooking the Western front defences in St Ouen’s Bay. Battles, Batteries and Bunkers l 14:00 – 16:30 Meet: Grouville Parish Hall car park, La Rue a Don, Grouville Guide: Johnathan Bull Grade: Moderate – 4m (6.4k) + one steep hill Bus: 2 This historical walk covering aspects of the Occupation, starts in deepest Grouville, in the east of the island. Heading to a long forgotten German Resistance Nest and Batterie site with exclusive access on private land, take in the stunning views before continuing off-road along a beautiful nature trail, passing another German Batterie site located on a quiet country lane. Ramble past some lovely Jersey properties on your way back.
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Saturday 16 In Search of the Ice Man l 10:00 – 13:30 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.
Coastal Foraging l 10:30 – 13:00 Meet: 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.
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Corbière Lighthouse – Seeing the Light l 10:30 – 13:00 Meet: Advised when booking Price: £13.50 (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. The Heart of Jersey l 10:45 – 12:45 Meet: St Lawrence Church, La Grande Route de St Laurent, St Lawrence Guide: Blue Badge Guide Pete Webb Grade: Easy – 2.5m (4k) Bus: 27 Explore the verdant heart of the Island, passing through Green Lanes in the tranquil Parish of St Lawrence. Discover Jersey’s farming heritage in this leafy green paradise dotted with the Island’s traditional pink granite farmhouses, some built at the time of the Great Fire of London. This walk undulates gently, allowing the chance to savour and enjoy rural Jersey at an easy pace. 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.
BeachAbility is a charity providing specially designed manual, ballooned wheel chairs for use on the beach and other rough terrain. Chairs are located at six key sites:
• Le Braye Cafe, St Ouen • West Park, St Helier * • Gunsite Slip, St Aubin’s Bay • St Brelade’s Bay at Winston Churchill Car Park • Long Beach, Gorey • La Mare Slip, St Clement* * planned for 2015
BeachAbility chairs are available for anyone that needs help with their mobility at no cost and can be booked out for up to three hours. Users should be able to transfer onto the chair and should be accompanied by a helper. To find out more and to book a chair please visit our website www.beachability.org or call 07797 935 088
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Your week at a glance Date
Time
Walk
Guide
Meeting Point
Bus
Info
13
Moderate
12, 12a
Easy
Sat 9
10:15 – 12:45
The Heart of the East
Johnathan Bull
Queen’s Valley car park
Sat 9
10:30 – 13:30
Wild Food Forage
Kazz Padidar
Advised when booking
Sat 9
14:00 – 16:30
Bombs, Bunkers & Beagle
Ian Ronayne
Outside Jersey Tourism
Easy
Sat 9
14:00 – 16:00
Fort Regent
Martin Walton
Liberation Square
Easy
Sun 10
10:00 – 13:30
Town, Not As You Know It
Tom Bunting
West Park Slipway
Easy
Sun 10
10:30 – 13:00
Occupation to Liberation
Martin Walton
Jersey Tourism
Easy
Sun 10
11:00 – 17:00
Nearer to France
Remi Couriard
Archirondel Café
Sun 10
14:00 – 16:00
Les Misérables
Pete Webb
Howard Davis Park
Sun 10
14:30 – 17:00
The Four Towers
Johnathan Bull
Le Hocq car park
1
Moderate
Sun 10
16:15 – 19:15
Walk on the Seabed to Seymour Tower*
Jersey walk Adventures
Advised when booking
1
Booking required
Mon 11
09:30 – 18:30
‘Around Island’ Day 1*
Arthur Lamy
Liberation Square
cc
Booking required
Mon 11
10:30 – 12:45
Rags to Riches
Pete Webb
Oyster Box, St Brelade
12a, 12
Easy
Mon 11
10:30 – 13:00
Simple Pleasures
Sue Hardy
St Mary’s Church
27
Easy
Mon 11
10:45 – 13:15
German Occupation Coastal Trail
Martin Walton
Portelet Inn Bus Stop
12
Easy
Mon 11
13:30 – 16:30
Winding Lanes and Wild Coastlines
Remi Couriard
Grève de Lecq, Round Tower
9
Moderate
Mon 11
14:00 – 16:30
King & Country Great War
Ian Ronayne
Parade Gardens
Mon 11
18:00 – 20:30
Corbière Lighthouse *
Sue Hardy
Advised when booking
12, 12a
Booking required
Tue 12
09:30 – 18:30
‘Around Island’ Day 2*
Arthur Lamy
Liberation Square
cc
Booking required
Tue 12
10:00 – 12:30
Pack Up Your Troubles
Sue Hardy
Liberation Square
Tue 12
10:30 – 12:45
Living with the Enemy
Tom Bunting
Gunsite Café
Tue 12
10:30 – 12:30
A Harbour Master’s History
Brian Nibbs
Jersey Tourism
Tue 12
13:45 – 17:00
The Jersey Beauty Parade
Hugh Gill
Gunsite Café
9, 12, 12a, 15
Moderate
Tue 12
14:30 – 16:30
Strongpoint Plémont
Ian Ronayne
Plemont Café car park
8
Moderate
Tue 12
19:30 – 21:30
Murder, Muck & Mayhem
Tom Bunting
Royal Square
20
2&4
Moderate Easy
Easy
Easy 9, 12, 12a, 15
Easy Easy
Easy
Date
Time
Walk
Guide
Meeting Point
Bus
Info
Wed 13
09:30 – 18:30
‘Around Island’ Day 3*
Arthur Lamy
Liberation Square
cc
Booking required
Wed 13
10:30 – 12:45
Parcels, Pills & Hope
Tom Bunting
Liberation Square
Wed 13
10:30 – 14:00
The Rector’s Daughter
Hugh Gill
St Saviour’s Church
20
Moderate
Wed 13
10:30 – 13:30
Our Eastern Front
Remi Couriard
La Rocque Harbour
1
Moderate
Wed 13
14:00 – 16:30
Behind the Wire
Ian Ronayne
Le Braye Slipway
12, 12a
Easy
Wed 13
14:00 – 16:00
Art & Architecture
Sue Hardy
Liberation Square
Easy
Wed 13
19:30 – 21:30
Behind Enemy Lines
Pete Webb
Jersey Tourism
Easy
Thu 14
09:30 – 18:30
‘Around Island’ Day 4*
Arthur Lamy
Liberation Square
Thu 14
09:30 – 13:00
Green Lanes et Sentiers de Jersey
Rae Gandit
Liberation Square
Thu 14
10:00 – 17:00
St Ouen’s Parish Walk
Hugh Gill
St Ouen’s Parish Hall
8,9
Moderate / Difficult
Thu 14
10:15 – 13:15
Green Green Lanes
Tom Bunting
Gunsite Café
9, 12, 12a, 15
Moderate
Thu 14
10:30 – 13:00
A Village Life
Sue Hardy
Gorey Pier Bus Stop
1 or 2
Moderate
Thu 14
14:00 – 16:30
Napoleonic Sea Defences
Martin Walton
La Rocque Harbour
1
Moderate
Thu 14
14:30 – 16:45
Theatreland
Pete Webb
Jersey Tourism
Thu 14
21:00 – 22:30
Walk with the Stars at your Feet
Jersey Walk Adventures
Advised when booking
1
Booking required
Fri 15
09:30 – 17:30
‘Around Island’ Day 5*
Arthur Lamy
Liberation Square
cc
Booking required
Fri 15
09:45 – 12:45
Walk on the Seabed to Seymour Tower *
Jersey Walk Adventures
Advised when booking
1
Booking required
Fri 15
10:00 – 16:30
Water, Water Everywhere!
Hugh Gill
Hire Shop, Millbrook
8, 9, 12, 12a, 15
Moderate
Fri 15
10:30 – 12:45
St Helier’s Old Quarter
Pete Webb
Jersey Tourism
Fri 15
10:30 – 13:00
Atlantic Wall Soldier
Martin Walton
L’Etacq Bus Stop
Easy
cc
Booking required French tour Moderate
Easy
Easy 12a & 8
Moderate
Fri 15
12:45 – 16:15
The Enemy has Landed
Remi Couriard
George de Carteret Inn
Fri 15
14:00 – 16:30
Battles, Batteries & Bunkers
Johnathan Bull
Grouville Parish Hall
2
Moderate
Sat 16
10:00 – 13:30
In Search of the Ice Man
Remi Couriard
Portelet Inn Bus Stop
12
Moderate
Sat 16
10:30 – 13:00
Coastal Foraging
Kazz Padidar
Advised when booking
12, 12a
Easy
12, 12a
Booking required
Moderate
Sat 16
10:30 – 13:00
Corbière Lighthouse *
Sue Hardy
Advised when booking
Sat 16
10:45 – 12:45
The Heart of Jersey
Pete Webb
St Lawrence Church
27
Easy
Sat 16
13:30 – 16:30
Cod, Smugglers & Privateers
Hugh Gill
St Aubin
12, 12a, 15
Easy
* = charge applicable / cc = courtesy coach available / Booking required - Tel: 01534 448877
21
week
springwalking Dates for your Diary 2015 Thursday 21 – Monday 25 May Jersey Food Festival
Thursday 13 – Friday 14 August Battle of Flowers Carnival 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 448899 Email: info@jersey.com All information correct at time of print – March 2015
Designed by The Idea Works
Saturday 20 June Collas Crill Around Island Walk
www.theideaworks.com
Friday 26 – Monday 29 June June in Bloom