< Grandes Rocques Bay>

Grandes Rocques Bay.

Walk R15.   Cobo to Port Soif and back

Time:1 hr. 15 mins.

A map of the walk can be found here.

Cobo is one of the more popular of Guernsey's west coast beaches, and Port Soif is also a popular beach for families. This walk takes in both of these bays, with Grandes Rocques in between, and returns inland past Saumarez Park and Le Guet.

Parking is at Cobo, either the car park in front of Le Guet, or the one on the other side of the Refreshment Kiosk (open in season) and public toilets. On fine summer weekends these car parks get very crowded, and it may be necessary to try further along the coast towards Grandes Rocques, or there is parking for a few cars at the end of the road that leads to Le Guet watch house. Bus routes are 2, 3, 3A, 7 and 7A.

From the car parks by Cobo Kiosk you can choose to walk initially along the road, and then on a path along the top of the dunes. However my preference is to walk on the beach all the way to the far end of Grandes Rocques, though this may not be possible at the Cobo end at high tide.

There are several opportunities for refreshment as you pass Cobo, which are (in order as you pass them), the Rockmount Restaurant and Bars, Cobo Bay Hotel and Restaurant, Cobo Tea Room, Cobo Fish and Chip Bar, Cobo Food Hall (mini-supermarket and post office), and the Mandarin Garden Chinese Restaurant. Cobo Village also includes several other retail and service outlets, including Cobo Village Centre, Cobo Pharmacy and a doctors' surgery. Further along at Grandes Rocques is the Wayside Cheer Hotel.

At the far end of Grandes Rocques is another beach kiosk and public toilets (open in season). From here take the footpath which circuits the headland. Thirty years ago this headland was the scene of one of the more dramatic wrecks on our coasts, when in a winter gale an oil rig (the Orion) broke its tow and was washed ashore here. The huge struts of the rig were visible well inland from the coast. Media publicity was given locally to the gallantry of an RAF helicopter pilot, who flew his craft in gale force winds perilously close to these struts during the rescue of crew members.

It is possible to make an optional visit to Grandes Rocques Battery. Otherwise continue back along the north side of the headland, then pass along the left side of the wall of the large pink granite building (which used to be Grandes Rocques Hotel, but is now a private residence).

Reach the cove-like bay of Port Soif (30 minutes). We will cross the bay before turning away inland. Again, this can be done either on the path over the dunes, or around on the sandy bay and up the steps at the far end. From the headland at the north end of the bay you can look over to Portinfer, another popular surfing spot, but only at low tide. Here can also be found a refreshment kiosk and toilets (both open only in season).

Take the metalled road that heads inland then, just before reaching the main coast road, turn right along the grass verge. After a few paces cross to the other side to find a path heading down, almost but not quite parallel to the road, and which arrives at Port Soif Lane opposite the Rovers sports ground and club house.

Turn left down the lane. At a T junction turn right then, after 25 metres or so, turn left down the road with a cycle lane (Rue a Ronces). Victoria Tower can be seen on the horizon on your left, and Les Touillets TV mast on the horizon almost straight ahead. Reach a main road at a corner, and keep straight on (Route de la Hougue du Pommier).

Pass Guernsey Bowls Stadium, set back from the road on your left (bowls, not bowling), with Hotel Hougue du Pommier just a bit further along. Where the pavement ends a new pavement can be found starting on the opposite side. At the bend cross the road again (care needed here) to turn right into Route de Carteret, and then immediately left up the hill (Rue des Houmets).

Half way up the hill we pass on the right, the States Artificial Insemination Centre, which helps to ensure good breeding stock for our Guernsey cattle. At a T junction we have reached the wall surrounding Saumarez Park. Turn right and soon pass the north gate of the park on your left. If you wish, make a detour around the park (Not included in my timings - for a complete description of a walk incorporating the Saumarez Nature Trail see walk W2, or for further information about the Park trees, see my Saumarez Park Tree Walk).

After the gate ignore right and left turns, keeping straight on along the road with the "no entry" sign (La Rue Traversee), then turn right down La Route de Cobo, which runs gently down hill. You could if you wish keep walking straight down this main road back to Cobo. However we are going to turn left, after the road flattens out, by a bus stop and telegraph pole, into a narrow metalled lane (Ruette des Cherfs).

Note that, half way down this lane there is a left/right zigzag. Do not keep walking straight down the lane past the post, which leads into the housing estate. Turn left here, and immediately right to pick up a footpath continuing in the same direction with fields on its left. When you reach a metalled lane (Rue des Corneilles), turn left then immediately right up another footpath.

At a T junction of the paths you have a choice. If you have already visited Le Guet watch house and viewpoint (for example on walk R.14), you can turn right here to head directly back to Cobo.

Otherwise, to return via the viewpoint, turn left then after 50 metres turn up right. When you get to the metalled road by the house driveways, step through the little wall on your right, then go straight ahead through the pine trees (pathless) until you see the buildings of the watch house. Go through the two gateways of the watch house (the second of these is quite low so mind your head - especially on the way out afterwards) and walk through to the viewing platform to get good views over Cobo, Grandes Rocques and beyond.

After leaving the watch house, walk back (away from the coast) towards the end of the metalled road. Turn back left to pick up a faint path which heads back left towards Cobo, passing to the right of the watch house buildings. This arrives at some steps which lead down to the coast road and the car parking. (1 hr. 15 mins.)

A winter panorama taken from Grandes Rocques headland can be accessed from this link.