< One of the valley crossings>

One of the valley crossings in Autumn.

Walk R8. La Corbiere to Les Tielles and back

Time: 1 hr. 45 mins.

A map of the walk can be found here.

This is quite an undulating walk, which crosses a number of little valleys. So you get some good views of the craggy cliffs along here, which adds interest to the walk, while at the same time the ups and downs make it a bit more demanding in terms of energy. Note also that you will need to carry your own food and drink, because you pass no facilities on the way.

Park at the end of the very narrow lane that leads to the public car park at La Corbiere. (From Rue du Manoir, take Manoir Cote Sud to the car park). If you come by bus (route 11 or 91), I suggest you join this walk from the bus stop near the junction of Rue du Manoir and La Route des Bruliaux (maybe the bus driver will know where to drop you for the lane to La Corbiere), and then start reading with my last two paragraphs below.

As with walks R6 and R7, on a clear day you can just see the light house at Les Roches Douvres on the horizon. (In fact this can be seen from most of the south coast cliffs).

Leave from the west side of the car park, taking the path that heads out towards the end of the point. After about 50 metres turn right to cross a little valley, with the WWII German tower of La Prevote Watch House in view ahead. As you approach the tower the path forks, with a granite block indicating that the left hand fork is a dead end. So take the right fork to get to the tower.

However if you do go left here, you will see that the state of the rocky cliff above the far end of the path indicates that many people must have clambered up it to get to the tower. If you do decide to follow them, keep on the landward side of the wire fence. There used to be a sign against the north side of the tower warning you about the danger of falling masonry but, at the time of writing, only the post remains.

From the tower, continue down to the little car park and start up the metalled road. After about 20 metres, turn left to rejoin the cliff path (signed: Pleinmont Point on a granite block), and immediately descend to cross another valley. After several ups and downs you eventually reach a flatter section at the top of the cliff, as you approach another little valley above La Creux Mahie. You can see the spire of Torteval Church half right ahead emerging from a clump of trees. On your left you may glimpse the top of a metal ladder heading steeply down the cliff. This is solely for Public Services employees to reach the foul water plant at La Creux Mahie, and is out of bounds.

At a granite block (Main road: right. Pleinmont: left) turn left. (The path going right does not lead directly to the main road, but to a lane (Le Coemi) which you can follow left or right to get to the road and bus route).

Our path passes a couple of short wire fences then crosses the little valley above La Creux Mahie (which you can't see). You are nearly at Les Tielles. After the ascending steps the path flattens out and you come to a fork. You can make an optional diversion left to reach a viewpoint at what seems to be the floor of an old battery, and where there are three seats facing south, east and west. Otherwise turn right to follow the now level path along a wire fence which joins a low wall at the small car park of Les Tielles. (1 hour).

Turn right along the narrow metalled lane to reach the main road (and bus route) where we turn right (care needed along this quite busy stretch of main road). After two or three hundred metres the main road bends sharp right. Take the little lane which keeps straight ahead (Les Landes Hues). Do not turn left or right, but reach a fork where there is a granite block sign, and take the right fork signed on the block: "Forest" (we then follow Le Gree and then Le Truchon shown in Perry's).

At a T junction turn left (Rue des Mares). Follow the lane as it bends around to the right, then continue straight on, ignoring a couple of turn offs to the left. After a few minutes you pass "The Anchorage" and "Brookland" on your right. After the garden of "Brookland" turn right down a green track where there is a line of young Sycamores. (At this point you have joined up with part of walk W5). This path and the next can get quite muddy after winter rain.

Reach a road. Turn left, then almost immediately right onto a second path which arrives back at the main road again. Go (almost) straight across and down a metalled lane (signed La Prevote Watch Tower), then after about a hundred metres turn left (or you could of course go straight on here if you wish, to meet your outward cliff path and return that way).

If you have turned left though, you arrive back at the main road and bus route for the third time, at a bend. Go straight ahead on the main road, ignoring a lane which turns off almost immediately on the right. If you came by bus you will see that you have arrived back at your bus stop.

After about 100 paces, turn right down the lane signed "La Corbiere" on a granite block. After a sharp left bend and a little dip with an animal trough, the road bends half right (ignore the sharp turn back on the left). Fifty metres or so further on, the path on the left is the return path of walk R7 (signed "Strictly no motor vehicles"). We continue along the partly metalled lane to reach the car park at La Corbiere (1 hr. 45 mins.).

(Revised July 2010)