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Hiking Route - Beautiful Bays, Marinas and Castles

Pembroke to Vale Castle, Guernsey

Access Guide

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Route Information

  • This route goes from Pembroke and L'Ancresse Bays to Vale Castle.
  • The majority of the route is on compacted earth paths.
  • Some of the route involves walking on some Ruette Tranquilles. There are no footpaths along these roads.
  • The speed limit on the the Ruette Tranquilles is 15mph with priority given to walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
  • The route will take approximately 1.5 hours.
  • This route is not a loop so you may need to retrace the route to return to the car parking at Pembroke Bay.
  • There is car parking available at Pembroke Bay and Vale Castle. These can be used as pickup and drop off points.
  • Alternatively there are bus stops at Pembroke Bay and Bordeaux Harbour.
  • There are a number of additional car parks located along the route, which can be used to make the walk more manageable for people with limited mobility.
  • There are public toilets located at Pembroke and L'Ancresse Bays and at Vale Castle. These may only be open during peak season.
  • For more information about the walk, to download a map or an audio information podcast please click here (opens in a new tab)..

Pembroke Bay to Fort Le Marchant

  • This section of the walk is approximately 1.6km.
  • The walk begins at Pembroke Bay.
  • There is a car park located at Pembroke Bay.
  • The car park has a loose chipping surface.
  • The route from the car park is grassed and uneven.
  • The footpath is compact earth and becomes loose gravel after the bus stop and car park.
  • The footpath follows the road to additional car parking at L'Ancresse Bay.
  • There is 1 medium height step and an easy slope to cross the slipway.
  • The slope does not bypass the step.
  • The car park is split into two sections, around the Beach House restaurant, shop and public toilets (may have seasonal openings).
  • The path becomes concrete along the sea side of the restaurant.
  • Crossing the car park the path becomes loose chippings and compact earth.
  • The route runs along the perimeter of the L'Ancresse Golf Club and care should be taken on this part of the route.
  • The route passes Loop-Holed Towers number 7 and 6, and overlooks both Pembroke and L'Ancresse Bays.
  • The route passes L'Ancresse Bay Kiosk and public toilet, which are only open in season.
  • Beyond the kiosk the path becomes loose gravel and is on an easy slope to additional car parking.
  • Cross the car park and the path becomes compact earth with easy and moderate ramps.
  • The route passes Loop-Holed Tower number 5 and leads up to additional car parking.
  • At this car park the route enters the Fort Le Marchant Rifle Range. Red flags are raised when the range is in use and access is prohibited at these times.
  • The route continues for a further 195m from the car park to a crossway giving access to the fort.
  • Cross the car park and follow the path along the coast until it splits.
  • Take the right fork to the Fort Le Marchant Rifle Range car park. Cross the car park and follow the path around the coastline, passing Loop-Holed Tower number 4.
  • The path becomes uneven, and has some protruding stone which create trip hazards.
  • The route continues for a further 223m from the crossway to the fort.

Fort Le Marchant to Fontenelle Bay

  • This section of the walk is approximately 506m.
  • There is an additional 223m at the start of this section of the walk if the Fort has been visited, to retrace your route to the crossways.
  • At the crossways follow the path around the coast (straight ahead for those not visiting the fort, left for those returning from the fort).
  • The path is compact earth.
  • The route runs along the coastline overlooking Fontenelle Bay.
  • The path becomes compact gravel and has some protruding stones which create trip hazards.
  • There are easy and moderate slopes along this section of the route.
  • On reaching Fontenelle Bay the route narrows to cross the top of the pebbled beach.
  • After approximately 360m the route leaves the Fort Le Marchant Rifle Range.
  • The path becomes a mixture of compact earth sections and loose gravel.
  • The path continues along the top of the beach.
  • This section ends at the centre of Fontenelle Bay.

Fontenelle Bay to Fort Doyle

  • This section of the route is approximately 552m.
  • The path is compact earth with some exposed stones which may create a trip hazard.
  • The route follows the coastline until it reaches the Fort Doyle car park.
  • There are easy and moderate slopes along the route.
  • The surface of the Fort Doyle car park is loose gravel.
  • The car park overlooks Fort Doyle and the headland.
  • Access to the fort from the car park is by a narrow path.
  • The surface of the path is compact gravel.

Fort Doyle to Beaucette Marina

  • The section of the route is approximately 258m.
  • The path is compact gravel.
  • There is 1 shallow step to access the path from the Fort Doyle car park.
  • There is an easy grassed slope next to the step.
  • There are exposed stones on some parts of the path which may create a trip hazard.
  • The route follows the coastline until it reaches the Beaucette Marina north pier access road.
  • Follow the access road to the right.
  • The access road is loose gravel.
  • The access road leads into the marina car park.
  • The car park overlooks the marina.

Beaucette Marina to Dehus Dolman

  • This section of the walk is approximately 1.24km.
  • From the marina car park pass behind The Restaurant @ Beaucette Marina.
  • The route becomes concrete and tarmac.
  • There is not a footpath along this section of the route.
  • There is an easy slope to access the area behind the restaurant.
  • Cross the restaurant car park.
  • The surface of the car park is tarmac.
  • Follow the car park access road out of the marina and onto the road.
  • The route turns left onto a Ruette Tranquille.
  • The speed limit on the Ruette Tranquille is 15mph with priority given to walkers, cyclists, and horse riders.
  • The road passes along fields and gives views across the coastline.
  • The road is on an easy camber.
  • Follow the road to the crossroads.
  • At the crossroads turn left and follow the Ruette Tranquille.
  • At the end of the road turn left onto Rue des Houges de Noirmont.
  • Follow the road towards Rue des Houges de Noirmont, passing an additional car park.
  • Continue along Rue des Houges de Noirmont back inland, passing more fields and agricultural land.
  • At the end of the road turn right onto King's Road to the grass mound of Dehus Dolman.
  • There are easy and moderate slopes along this section of the route.
  • There is a restaurant along this section of the route.
  • For more information about The Restaurant @ Beaucette Marina please click here (opens new window).

Dehus Dolman to Bordeaux Harbour

  • This section of the walk is approximately 1km.
  • From Dehus Dolman retrace your steps along King's Road towards Rue des Houges de Noirmont.
  • Some of this section of the route involves walking on some Ruette Tranquilles.
  • There is not a footpath along the Ruette Tranquilles.
  • The surface of the road is tarmac.
  • Pass Rue des Houges de Noirmont and continue towards the end of King's Road.
  • Just before the end of the road turn left onto Les Croutes.
  • Follow the road until it splits.
  • Take the left fork towards the coast.
  • The surface becomes loose gravel as you approach the coast.
  • There is additional car parking to the left.
  • The surface of the car park is compacted earth.
  • The car park overlooks the Hommet Paradis, and gives views towards Herm and Little Herm.
  • Follow the access road to the right, continuing along the coast, to additional parking.
  • Cross the car park and follow the coastline until you reach the car park at the headland of Bordeaux Harbour.
  • The surface of the car park is loose gravel.
  • The car park overlooks Petils Bay and Bordeaux Harbour.

Bordeaux Harbour to Vale Castle

  • This section of the walk is approximately 1.08km.
  • From the car park at the Bordeaux Harbour headland follow the access road along the harbour.
  • There is not a footpath beside the road.
  • The worn compact earth path next to the road is very narrow and uneven.
  • At the end of the road turn left onto Rue du Bordeaux and take the next left onto Castle Road.
  • The route follows the harbour.
  • There is not a footpath beside the road.
  • Follow Castle Road along the harbour wall to the Castle Road car park.
  • The surface of the car park is loose chippings.
  • The car park overlooks a sea view of Herm.
  • There is a kiosk and public toilets next to the car park.
  • The route continues across the car park, and past the kiosk.
  • The path beyond the car park is compact gravel.
  • There are moderate slopes on the route which follows the coast and Castle Road to a viewpoint beneath Vale Castle.
  • For more information about Bordeaux Harbour Public Toilet please click here (opens new window).