Guernsey Walker
Walk W1. Silbe Nature Reserve
Time: 1 hr. 40 mins.
A map of the walk can be found here. There is also a small information board and sketch map of the nature reserve at the entrance.
There is no parking at the reserve, which is in any case quite small unless you just want a very short walk (or just want to sit and linger). The nearest public parking is at St Peters Church, which is where we start. We visit the nature reserve, then continue to a viewpoint over Rocquaine, and return taking in several of the St Peters green lanes / footpaths. Please note that dogs are not allowed in the reserve, so dog owners would have to omit the short section of this walk around the reserve itself.
There is room to park a couple of cars at St Peters Church in front of the war memorial, provided you don't block the gravel drives. Otherwise park in Rue du Longfrie (which runs from opposite the north gate of the church). Probably the best place in Rue du Longfrie is by the hedge on the left before you get to the doctors surgery, near the community hall. Parking should not be a problem unless the church is in use. If you do find a problem, either try in the St Peters village, or note that there is limited parking half way around this walk at the site of Coudre Mill (see below). Bus routes to St Peters Village are 4, 5 and 5A.
Leaving the little square between the Church and the Parish Hall (La Salle Paroissiale - where there are public toilets), walk down the road with the church on your left, past the end of Rue de Longfrie and into Rue de L'Eglise. If you parked in Rue de Longfrie, walk down in the direction of the church, and turn right into Rue de L'Eglise.
The road descends into a dip, then rises again slightly. At the point where it starts descending into a second dip, take the lane leading off on the right (Rue de Quanteraine). After a few bends this lane starts running downhill at a straight stretch, and the entrance to the Silbe reserve can be found just a little way down on the left (15 mins.).
Go down a little grassy rake. Where this bends back to the right you have the choice of circuiting the reserve clockwise or anticlockwise. For the former continue straight on along a path. For the latter turn right at the elbow bend and continue down the rake.
Going clockwise, the path soon bends right to the bottom of the valley, runs along the stream for a few paces, then crosses the stream to ascend nearly to the top of the opposite side of the valley (which it never quite reaches) before turning right horizontally along the side of the valley. It then descends to pass left of a little pool, before turning right to regain the entrance.
Back at the entrance, turn left to continue down the road. For a shorter walk which omits the Coudre Mill viewpoint, you can turn right up a path which ascends to rejoin the walk at the top of La Boue (point A on the map).
Otherwise continue down the road. After this bends left to cross the bottom of the valley, you may wish to note the water wheel on your left. At the top of the hill turn right at a T junction then almost immediately left. Ignore a right turn by a disused well, then just as you reach the next junction walk right onto the grass (where there is room to park one or two cars) to reach a viewpoint (labelled by Perry's "Viewpoint Site of Coudre Mill"). You get fine views from Pleinmont and Les Hanois on the left, around to Lihou Island on the right.
Retrace your steps about 75 metres, then at the well turn left down the road (La Trappe). At a junction turn sharp back left, then after a cottage (La Fontenelle) go right down the short steep bit of road and turn right at the bottom (Rue a L'eau). Pass Guernsey Water's Pre du Murie pumping station on your left. Ignore a turning sharp back left then, 25 metres after this, fork right up a green lane (La Boue - there is a sign asking horse riders to dismount).
After you reach the top of the hill the lane becomes metalled for a short distance when it passes a house. Turn left at the T junction, then immediately you have a choice (point A on the map). If you wish you can return directly to your car from here by following the lane as it bends around to the right, then continuing along Les Grandes Rues back to Route de Lihou, then Rue de L'Eglise, and so back to St Peters Church. (1 hr. 15 mins.)
To complete the full walk though, keep straight on down the footpath between hedges at the point where the metalled lane turns right. At the bottom of the footpath turn left down the road (Rue des Grandes Rues), then at a T junction turn right (Rue des Vinaires) .
Reach the main road alongside the Coach House Art Gallery and go (almost) straight across (Rue de L'Arsenal). After a left hand bend turn right at a fork. You can see the tower/spire of St Saviours Church straight ahead. Just past the British Legion Western Branch keep around to the right at a fork (Rue du Douit Manchot) to reach a main road (Route des Domaines). Turn left, then almost immediately (just after the stream) turn right down a wide green lane (Rue au Lievre).
This green lane, and the next, get quite muddy after rain. If there's too much mud for you, you can avoid them both by turning the opposite way down Route des Domaines, then left into Rue de la Corderie to rejoin our route at the Sylvans sports ground.
Otherwise continue down the green lane, turn right onto the road (Rue de la Bouvee) then right again at a T junction. The road then bends left, passes a cattle trough, and then bends right. At this right hand bend head straight on up another green lane. Reach a road (Rue de la Corderie) at the Sylvans sports ground and turn left.
Arrive at the main St Peters road (Route de Longfrie) alongside the St Peters HSBC. Go straight across into Rue de Brehaut, which curves slightly around to the right to return to the Church. (1 hr. 40 mins.)