Guernsey is a small island nestled between the UK and France that is blessed with absolutely stunning beaches. Hidden along the south-east coast of the island you will find dozens of secluded and completely isolated beaches and bays that are perfect for exploring on a sunny day.
One of the best-hidden beaches in Guernsey is Le Jaonnet Bay. In this post, we share the reasons why this cove is so incredible and why it must not be missed on your next trip to Guernsey. When it comes to beautiful beaches, Le Jaonnet Bay really is spectacular and well worth the hike down if you can make it, don’t let that put you off.
Plan your weekend break to Guernsey with this detailed two-day itinerary
Save this image to your Guernsey Pinterest board for later!
Included in this guide are all of the following points, details of which will be discussed later in the article.
- What is Le Jaonnet Bay?
- Where is Le Jaonnet Bay?
- How to get to Le Jaonnet Bay?
- Why Should I go to Le Jaonnet Bay?
- When Should I go to Le Jaonnet Bay?
- Preparing for your trip to Guernsey
Le Jaonnet Bay Coastal Walk in Guernsey – WHAT, WHERE and WHY..
What is Le Jaonnet Bay?
Le Jaonnet Bay is a deep cove sitting nearby the parish of St Martins, a short but tough walk around 800m along the cliff from Icart point. This bay is a lot harder to reach than many others in Guernsey therefore a lot fewer people will take the time to go there. It is, in our opinion, therefore one of the best beaches in Guernsey.
Where is Le Jaonnet Bay?
Le Jaonnet Bay is located on the south coast of Guernsey, just outside of St Martins. The bay lies between Icart and Petit Bot bay. This small cove is accessible by parking at Icart and walking 10 minutes around the cliff. It is quite an effort to get down to as after the walk you will then need to walk down 218 steps followed by a climb down a steep ladder to access the beach.
It will then be a bit of a scramble over some rocks until you reach the beach. Make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes. There is a bench with a great view along the way if you feel you need a sit-down.
There are no facilities at the beach and the nearest toilets are at Icart car park.
How to Get to Le Jaonnet Bay?
From St Martins, head down Route des Coutures towards Saints Bay Hotel. When you reach La Barbarie Hotel, turn right along Icart road. When you pass Saints Bay Hotel on your right, continue straight until you reach Icart car park. When you arrive you will be faced with incredible views over the towering cliffs above the sea.
You may start to wonder how you will make it down onto a beach from this height and let me tell you, this is not one for the faint-hearted!
Follow the cliff path to the right and enjoy the views and the bramble berries as you stroll along the fairly flat cliff path. When you reach a junction you will see stones carved with Le Jaonnet Bay. Turn left after the small wooden bridge and then the hike down begins.
The whole way down you will be blown away by how incredible the sea views are. Follow the steps down and you will reach a ladder that you will need to climb down to access the beach.
Why Should I go to Le Jaonnet Bay?
Le Jaonnet Bay is one of the most beautiful and hidden beaches in Guernsey. The accessibility of the bay brings fewer visitors, therefore you may be lucky enough to have the whole beach to yourself. If you are working on your tan lines then you’re in luck as this beach is also a naturist beach.
We love visiting at sunrise and sunset as the golden colours are beautiful. Brave the sea and go for a refreshing dip on this beautiful beach to cool down.
When Should I go to Le Jaonnet Bay?
The best time to visit Le Jaonnet Bay is during low tide. The soft, white sand awaits you at the bottom of the ladder where you can relax in peace and listen to the waves crash around you. When the tide is high, the beach is inaccessible as the water may rise higher than the ladder and the sand will become completely covered.
During the summer months is the best time to visit Le Jaonnet Bay as you can enjoy the warm weather on the beach and the walk down is a lot more pleasant.
Before You Leave for Guernsey
Before you leave on your trip to the beautiful island of Guernsey, there are a number of things you will need to organise to ensure a smooth and stress-free trip. These include what to pack, where to stay and what is the best travel insurance for Guernsey.
How to Get to Guernsey
Given that Guernsey is an island, you really have two choices of transport for getting there: plane or boat. Both of these transport methods are available from the UK, France and from the neighbouring Channel Islands.
Ferry to Guernsey
Condor is the best option for ferries to and from the Channel Islands from the mainland. Leaving from the mainland UK ports of Poole and Portsmouth, the French port of St Malo and the Channel Islands port of Jersey, there are two main ferries that will bring you to Guernsey.
The faster boat, known as the Liberation, takes 3 hours to get from Poole to Guernsey, while the slower boat, known as the Clipper, takes 7 hours from Portsmouth. From St Malo, it will take you just under 2 hours aboard the Rapide to reach Guernsey.
Browse all of Condor’s ferries and routes on their website here.
Fly to Guernsey
Flying to Guernsey can be done from multiple airports across the UK with the Channel Islands airline, Aurigny. This is the quickest and easiest way to get to the island if you are only coming for a short period of time.
You can browse all of the available flights and routes on the Aurigny website here.
What to Pack for Guernsey
What you need to pack for Guernsey will rely highly on when you make your trip to the Channel Islands. During the Spring and Autumn months, temperatures and weather patterns vary wildly between beautiful sunny skies and storming gales.
The temperatures generally vary from 10 oC to 25 oC during these months, with a mixture between cold, northerly winds and warmer southerlies. There is a small amount of rain, with maybe 1 in 7 days receiving rainfall, which makes it perfect for days out exploring the beautiful island.
During the Summer months in Guernsey, temperatures tend to range from 20oC to 30oC, with some days topping 35oC. Summer days in Guernsey are perfect for the beach, with many locals and travellers alike sending their day soaking up the sun and playing in the sea.
If you need more inspiration on what to pack for your trip, check out our full packing guides for all-weather conditions over here.
When it comes to toiletries, we recommend that you don’t forget to pack sunscreen. The sun in Guernsey can be strong, especially in the summer months.,
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you will see in Guernsey, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
You can read what else we keep in our camera bag over here.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7 Mirrorless Camera
Main Lense – Sony F3.5-5.6 28mm-70mm
Camera Stand – Neewer Portable 177cm
Vlogging Camera – Sony HX90v
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 8 Black
Drone Camera – DJI Spark
Camera Bag – Yahan Camera Bag
What is the Best Travel Insurance for Guernsey
Regardless of what type of trip you are heading on, one thing that is essential for everybody is good to travel insurance. Accidents can happen anywhere and at anytime and unexpected hospital bills will ruin a holiday. Remove the stress from your next adventure and get covered for the worst.
World Nomads Travel Insurance provides budget reliable travel insurance that will keep you covered for any level of adventure.
You can get your quote before you leave on your trip right here.
Where to Stay in Guernsey
When it comes to accommodation on Guernsey, you are simply spoiled for choice with a huge range of hotels, B&Bs and even campsites to choose from. No matter what your preferred level of luxury is, there is the perfect place for you.
Luxury – Spend your time on Guernsey in true luxury at the Old Government House Spa and Hotel in St Peter Port. This hotel has beautiful views over the harbour of Guernsey’s capital, as well as access to a luxurious spa, an outdoor terrace and a heated, outdoor pool.
Book your stay at the Old Government House Spa and Hotel here.
Mid-range – If you would like a taste of luxury at an affordable price, then the Auberge du Val Hotel is perfect for you. This 19th-century farmhouse sits on the west coast of the island and offers cosy, ensuite rooms, complete with tea, coffee and tv. The hotel is just a short walk from the beautiful nature reserves in St Saviour, perfect for a romantic trip away for the weekend.
Book your stay at the Auberge du Val Hotel here.
Budget – Situated just 2-miles from Guernsey airport in the heart of St Martins, the Carlton Inn is the best value hotel in Guernsey. With free parking and wifi, as well as access to the Wicked Wolf pub that sits in the same building.
Book your stay at the Carlton Inn here.
Camping – If you are up for a more adventurous stay on Guernsey, Fauxquets Valley Campsite offer a range of glamping safari tents, glamping pods and sites for your own tent if you bring one. Visit their website for a full price list of tents and campsites.
So there you have it, a complete guide to Petit Port in Guernsey! This is just one of the many beautiful beaches and cliff views along the southern coast of the island, so make sure you read our other Guernsey guide to discover even more of them.
If you enjoyed your trip to Guernsey, let us know what your favourite sight on this amazing island was in the comments section below. We love chatting you guys about this kind of thing, so let’s share our top experiences with everyone else! What beach was your favourite? Did you try any of the kiosks? How good is a Guernsey sunset?!
Also, make sure you share this article with your family and friends to show them how beautiful the Channel Islands can be. Sharing is caring and we want to inspire as many people as we can to visit this unbelievable part of the world.
If you are planning a trip to Guernsey soon then check out our other Channel Islands content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from Guernsey and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers on our social channels!
Now Read:
- Things to do in Guernsey – A Guernsey Guide
- Sunset Spots in Guernsey – Best Places to Watch the Sunset
- Eating Out in Guernsey – Best Restaurants in Guernsey
This article may contain affiliate links that provide us with a small income. For more information read our Affiliate page.
Save this to your Guernsey Pinterest board for later
