Guernsey Walker
Walk W5. The South Coast from St Peter's Church and back
Time: 1 hr 15 minutes (A bit longer if you take the route via La Prevote Watch Tower or add the St Peter's Church walk - see below).
A map of the walk can be found here.
This walk leaves St Peter's Church, passing along narrow lanes and green paths to reach the south coast near La Prevote Watch House. We then follow the south coast cliff path for a quarter to half a mile, crossing one or two little valleys in the process, then head back inland to return along mostly quiet country lanes. Note that some of the green paths can get quite muddy after rain.
Parking is as for walk W1, or there is a rough car park at La Prevote Watch Tower part way along the walk, which would make a good alternative. Bus routes to St Peters Village are 4, 5 and 5A. We also cross the number 7 and 7A bus routes on two occasions (paragraphs 7 and 12 below).
Leave the square between the church and the parish hall, with the church and the war memorial on your right, to head slightly right along the road signed "Unsuitable for vehicles over 6 ft wide". After 50 metres, where the granite walls at either side end, turn left along a path.
At the end of the path turn right along a metalled road, then almost immediately left at a T junction. In the field on your left is one of the light clusters for the western approach to the airport.
At a fork continue around to the right (Rue des Pres). (On your right pass a house name "Green Acre" on the driveway pillars). Continue along for a quarter of a mile or so, then pass (and ignore) a turning off left. About 100 metres after this pass "Le Pre" on your right, then after the concrete wall turn right down the path (signed: riding of motorcycles and horses prohibited).
When you reach a metalled lane, turn left for 75 metres, then right along another green track. We are now on part of walk R8. At a second metalled lane turn left for 25 paces, then right down a third green path.
Arrive at the main Pleinmont road alongside a house and at a bus stop (routes 7 and 7A). Cross over into the lane almost opposite. La Prevote Watch Tower appears ahead. After a right hand bend reach a fork where there is an animal water trough. There are two options here.
You can if you wish fork left (Rue de la Prevote) to reach La Prevote Watch House, and pick up the cliff path heading right (west) along the cliffs which leaves the road a few paces before you get to the parking area (signed: Pleinmont Point on a granite block). If you do this you will have one extra valley to cross.
I sometimes go that way, but usually prefer to fork right here (Le Coemi), which is the route included in my timings. After a couple of gentle bends the road straightens and then passes two cypress trees on the left. Just by these trees turn left down the path signed on a granite block "NT - To cliff path". Reach the main cliff path and turn right.
When you reach a seat you can see along the cliffs as far as Mont Herault Watch House, with the WWII German direction and range finding tower at L'Angle beyond. On a clear day you may be able to spot Les Roches Douvres with their large lighthouse on the horizon to your left (something like 200 to 210 degrees magnetic if you have a compass). Sticking out of trees on the horizon ahead you can glimpse the top of Torteval Church spire.
I will describe the approach to our return path quite carefully, as it is easy to miss. The cliff path now arrives at a valley crossing. In fact there is a first deeper valley, followed by a second shallower valley. After crossing this first valley the path ascends up steps to the left of the remains of a granite wall, then descends into the second shallower valley. Coming out of this second valley it turns right above a rocky buttress and ascends again up steps. About 20 to 25 paces after the last step, the path we want heads up and back sharp right.
This is a grassy path between gorse bushes which is initially over National Trust land. It winds up the very broad, gentle shoulder to reach a small oblong grassy area at the far end of which there is a bungalow and garden behind a hedge. This is now private land, but access to the road is allowed by kind permission of the land owner. Continue over the grass in the direction of the bungalow, but after a few paces go right through the gap to continue up a track. Go through a metal gate to regain the main Pleinmont Road and bus route (buses 7 and 7A).
Turn right and walk 50 metres along this road (care needed because of traffic), then turn left into Rue des Mares. Ignore a left turning, then 50 metres after a right hand bend turn left where there are some mature pine trees (as well as a few other types).
After a right hand bend, turn left at a T junction by a cottage. Ignore a turning off left, following the road around to the right. The mobile phone mast in St Peters Village comes into view ahead. After a left bend the road straightens out and runs gently downhill. Ignore a turning off right, and go straight ahead into the road signed "Unsuitable for vehicles over 6 ft wide". The tower of St Peter's Church comes into view ahead, and then at left.
At a T junction turn right, then after a dip in the road we regain our outward route and arrive back at the start. (1 hr 15 mins.).
Just after you reach the gravel drive that runs along the grassy area towards the war memorial, you will find a gate where there is a notice stating that a walk (through the wilder parts of the land adjacent to the church and rectory) is open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 6 pm. This is a very pleasant walk through a private and hitherto little known valley, which has been constructed in 2009 by the rector and, I believe, a number of volunteer helpers. If you are here at the right time this short walk should not be missed, and it makes an excellent finish to the walk we have just done. At the end you will exit just down the road on the other side of the church.