Guernsey Walker
Guernsey Panoramas

View from Grantez Mill.
This page contains links to some Guernsey panoramas taken during the winter of 2009/2010. These are listed under the relevant walk numbers. The intention had been to add to them during 2010 with some brighter spring and summer views, but somehow other things intervened to prevent this.
Please note that a broad band connection and a recent version of Flash Player are needed to view these panoramas. Mostly they will start up initially in monochrome and will only gain their colour as downloading progresses. In case of any difficulty please advise me via my comments page.
Once loading these panoramas can be opened up to a full screen view by clicking the right hand icon in the panorama menu bar. As well as using the menu bar buttons, the panoramas can also be rotated/elevated using the mouse, and can be zoomed in and out using a mouse wheel.
There is a link back to this page below each view but - depending on your monitor - you may have to scroll down to get to it.
Walks R1 and R20
St Peter Port Harbour (February 2010)
A winter's dawn over St Peter Port, with the weather improving after a night of rain, though the wind is still blustery. The view was taken from a public area adjacent to the Guernsey Yacht Club premises. (Any kinks noticeable in the railings are due to the stitching and are not actually there). The cloud obscured sun has risen behind and above Castle Cornet. The outlying islands of Herm (behind the breakwater lighthouse) and Jethou can be seen, with the northern tip of Sark just visible to the left of the castle. The more distant island of Jersey is entirely out of view behind the castle.
Walk R10
Portelet (March 2010)
An early winter's morning at the little fisherman's harbour of Portelet. Completely deserted at this time of the morning, even by the fishermen. (Maybe the wind or tide is wrong). In the summer this is a very popular bay for families.
Viewpoint near Pleinmont Point (March 2010)
A winter's morning overlooking in one direction Fort Pezeries and (just in view) Les Hanois lighthouse. In the other direction boats moored in Portelet can be seen, then Fort Grey with its white tower, then the coast around to L'Eree and Lihou Headland. Lihou island at this state of the tide is completely surrounded by sea. In the foreground below, the road curving around the coastline as far as a one-time car park near Fort Pezeries, has for several years been closed to traffic. It's a popular walk now for families with small children, push-chairs and small bicycles.
Les Hanois (March 2010)
A view over to Les Hanois from part way up the little arete mentioned in paragraph 10 of the walk description. The shot is taken from below the crest to keep the sun out of direct view. The two walkers coming towards us are just about to reach my recommended (option 1) route to the top of the cliff. The not recommended route (option 2) branches off to its right and more in our direction.
Walk R12
Lihou Island from Lihou Headland (March 2010)
A winter's dawn at Lihou Headland, looking across to Lihou Island. It's an hour before high tide, and the causeway is covered by many feet of water. The causeway in fact starts a hundred metres or so further along from here, at the end of the tarmac lane which can be seen. Les Hanois lighthouse can just be seen. The island, including the house on the island, belongs to the States of Guernsey.
The headland above this point and to the left of the German tower is private, as is the rather promising looking path running in the direction of the tower (that's what the white notice is saying). The boundary fence can be seen running up to the tower from the low wall in the foreground. A public path runs up the right hand side of this fence, then through some old German trenches up to the base of the tower. It's possible to walk around the headland on the beach, but it can be seen that this is rather rough walking (and it doesn't get any better around the corner!).
Walk R15
Grandes Rocques Headland (February 2010)
A cold winter's dawn at Grandes Rocques headland, with the sun rising behind Grandes Rocques Battery. Looking south, and beyond a largely obscured Saline (Grandes Rocques) Bay, Cobo Bay can be seen, with Le Guet watch house behind, but really too small to see in its surrounding pine trees, then an even smaller Lihou headland and Lihou Island at the far end of the land mass. North is Portinfer, which only reveals its sandy side at low tide. The reef of rocks running south west from the grassy area is where the Orion oil rig came ashore (mentioned in the walk description). This view shows the pink granite which is characteristic of much of the west coast.
Walk R18
Bordeaux Harbour (February 2010)
A winter sunset over Bordeaux harbour, which is almost empty of boats. Come the summer, this bay will be full of moored craft which are currently laid up for the winter. Looking out to sea, the islands of Herm (left) and Jethou can be seen, with part of the more distant Sark between. Further right is the round fort of Brehon Tower, which 'guards' the approaches to Guernsey. Most of Jersey is behind the islands, but its south west tip would be seen between Jethou and Brehon if it were not obscured by the bank of cloud.
Further right still is the Vale Castle on its mound overlooking St Sampsons Harbour. St Sampsons is not visible, but despite the limits of the resolution it is just possible on full zoom to make out the cranes of St Peter Port Harbour and its breakwater lighthouse, to the left of the Vale Castle mound. (The middle distance dark wall to the left of the castle mound is part of the St Sampsons land reclamation). Behind St Peter Port the cliffs head out to St Martins Point.
Coming right again are Guernsey Electricity's two large chimneys - part of the commercial area surrounding St Sampsons Harbour. Further right, and the Vale Mill is seen on the horizon, with the extra storeys built on in WWII by the German occupying forces for use as a look-out.
Further right, and between the solitary boat with the outboard motor and the white house on the headland, can be seen the grassy mound where the Cocagne quarry used to be. Right again from the headland car park, and above the pebbly beach, is Hommet Paradis, completely surrounded by sea at this time of high spring tide.
Walks W4 and W7
St Saviours Reservoir (February 2010)
A view from the north-east bank of the reservoir on a sunny winter's morning, looking from the shade of some mature pines down to the sunlit dam. This view is similar to the view from the five barred gate (sixth paragraph from the end of the W4 walk description, sixth paragraph of W7). However the exact spot used for this panorama (to avoid having the gate in it) is normally reserved only for members of the fishing club.