The Fairy Ring lies at the end of a beautiful walk from Portelet Harbour in Torteval. It is a short and accessible walk enjoyed by many everyday. On this walk you will pass historical sights as well as stunning seaside views and if you are lucky, you may even spot a seal.
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The Fairy Ring, Guernsey
The Fairy Ring is the perfect place to go in Guernsey on a warm, sunny day either for a walk around the footpaths or for a dip in the sea. In this guide, we will discuss the best time to go to Fairy Ring as well as the following
Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip
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Where to Start the Walk
The walk to the Fairy Ring starts at the Imperial Hotel in Torteval, by Roquaine Bay. Turn left and head along to the dead end area where you will reach a number of 23hour parking spots. There are toilet facilities available here as well as Portelet Beach Kiosk which sells a variety of food and drink and is perfect for an ice cream on a hot day. There is also an outdoor seating area to enjoy the sunshine on a nice day.
Portelet Bay, Torteval
Bus Routes – 61, 91, 93
Next to the kiosk is the small, quaint and slightly hidden solitude of Portelet Bay. This short stretch of sand is still used as an active fishing harbour, maintaining a very traditional Guernsey feeling to the surroundings. There is an old, stone harbour leading out over the water that sits hidden at high tide and is used daily by fishermen to board and dismount their boats.
In addition to this, the dozens of small fishing boats that lie bobbing in the bay make Portelet Bay a peaceful and beautiful place to relax on a sunny day. The sandy cove that lies to the east of the harbour is also the perfect place to enjoy the sun and watch the planes flying overhead.
In terms of facilities, there are a number of options for food and drink in the immediate area, including the Portelet kiosk that sits overlooking the bay, as well as the Imperial Hotel further down the lane. There are also toilets that are free to use at the kiosk and inside the hotel.
Walk to the Fairy Ring
The walk to the Fairy Ring takes around half an hour and the paths are fairly flat and accessible. In fact, it is more of a wide road around the coast meaning that this walk is suitable for wheelchair users or those who wish to walk with a pram. Look to the left on your walk round and you will see a bunker hidden in the ground.
Fort Pezeries
Located at on the south-west coast of the island, Fort Pezeries sits proudly looking over Rocquaine Bay. Since 1680 there has been some sort of fortification built on this part of the island. The fort was abandoned by the British in 1842, surrendering itself to overpowering growth of nature before being restored over 150 years later. There are now has three 18 pounder cannons.
The walk to Fort Pezeries is an enjoyable one along the coast. If you carry on 100m further you will arrive at the Fairy Ring. It is believed locally that this site is linked to fairies and witchcraft however in reality it is far from that. The Fairy Ring was built as a dugout picnic area for those inspecting roads and coastal defences on the island until 1837. It is now enjoyed by many who walk in the area.
Admission: Free
The Fairy Ring
The Fairy Ring, also known locally as, Table des Pions, is a ring of stones around a circular cut out in the grass. This is linked to a local story about fairies, elves and witches, hence the name – The Fairy Ring.
The reality is not quite as exciting, however. The Fairy Ring was actually dug out by island officials to be used as a picnic bench whilst inspecting roads and coastal defences up until 1837.
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.
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. 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.
If you need more inspiration on what to pack for your trip, check out our full packing guides for all-weather conditions over here.
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.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance?
I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered.
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, your complete guide to visiting the Fairy Ring in Guernsey! This is just some of the many great things to do in Guernsey, and we would recommend that you give living on this gem of an island a go.
If you found this guide to the Fairy Ring in Guernsey useful, please let us know in the comments section below. We love chatting you guys about this kind of thing, and sharing our top experiences with everyone else! What site was your favourite? Do you have any places to add that we missed out?
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!
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