Seymour Hotels Centenary Magazine SPREADS - Flipbook - Page 51
DISCOVER JERSEY'S TRAILS AND TALES
Discover
Jersey’s Trails
and Tales
Explore the woods and
pathways of Egypt, where
a ruined house lies in the
tree-lined banks (clue: look
for a fireplace) and the
secluded cove beneath, where
a secret landing of British
soldiers during the German
Occupation took place.
Find a memorial to a fallen
British Commander alongside
the intriguingly named
Wolf’s Lair.
Head to La Corbière
Lighthouse - the first to
be built in concrete - and
wonder at how they managed
to build it, contending with
the wind and tide each day.
Wander down the causeway
at low tide to marvel at the
imposing lighthouse up close.
But keep an eye on the tide.
If you hear the claxon sound,
you have just ten minutes to
retreat to land and safety.
Tales of smugglers, pirates,
Occupation escapes and French
invasions are only a small selection
of the stories that can be discovered
on the variety of walks hidden
within Jersey’s landscape.
Explore them at your own pace with
the help of self-guided walk guides
on www.jersey.com.
Or, if you want to hear some of
the stories behind the walks, contact
a local blue badge guide.
From the rugged coastal headlands, covered
in gorse bushes and wildflowers, to the twisty
country lanes with fields extending on either
side of you, to the endless stretches of beach and
dramatic reefs, there is no doubt that Jersey has
the perfect view for everyone.
Here are a few ideas to pique
your interest and imagination.
L
anes, walks and cliff-paths
provide the opportunity of new
adventures around every corner
for those who have packed the right
shoes. Each walk often has a story
steeped in history to be enjoyed right
alongside the views, with myths and
legends aplenty. Breathe in the fresh
salty air and listen to the bird song that
surrounds you as you explore. Come
face to face with a beautiful Jersey Cow
and watch the sun blaze and transform
the sky into a myriad of colours as it
rises and sets. Just nine miles long by
five miles wide, Jersey is small enough
to thoroughly explore during your
stay and big enough to never leave you
feeling bored. Plus, there are plenty
of delicious pitstops you can make
along the way, to keep your energy
levels high.
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Visit the charming Gorey
Village and Pier to see some
beautiful golden sands and
a medieval castle proudly
guarding the East coast.
Enter Mont Orgueil Castle
to learn more about Jersey’s
rich history, including our
encounter with witches.
Or why not venture up
a steep hill alongside the
rolling côtils, where Jersey
Royal potatoes are planted
and harvested, to find
one of Jersey’s dolmens?
The standing stones mark
an old passage grave and
certainly hold a great many
stories and perhaps a few
legends of faeries.
Fancy a woodland wander?
On the north east coast of
the Island discover the secrets
of St Catherine’s Woods and
the hidden German reservoir.
Follow the pathways through
the woods and enjoy seeing
the wonderful wildlife, birds,
plants and trees that abound
in these woods. Finish your
walk with a delicious Jersey
cream tea or refreshing ice
cream at St. Catherine’s
Breakwater. While you’re
there, see if you can discover
the story of the harbour that
failed. On a clear day, from
here you can see the sun
glinting off the windows of
houses in nearby France, just
fourteen miles away, with the
delightful Les Écréhous, a reef
populated with fishermans’
cottages, halfway between
our Island and France.
Visit the charming
St. Brelade’s Bay – today
an award-winning beach
and gardens popular with
locals and tourists alike. But
this place has a history of
smugglers and pirates, of
faery folk and myth. Marvel
at La Cotte de St Brelade at
Ouaisné, arguably the most
important Neolithic site in
Europe, then walk across the
beach and wander around
the ancient church and
Fisherman’s Chapel. Find the
cottage where two World
War II heroines lived and
discover dramatic views from
the footpath and cliff path to
the stunning Beauport Bay
and on to La Corbière.
Head from Sorel Point
to Devil’s Hole, to see a
breathtaking view of Jersey’s
rugged coastline. Explore
secret coves and come face to
face with the cloven-hoofed
devil as he stands in a pond. If
you dare, stroll to the bottom
of the path and see the large
hole that cuts through the
rockface. Is it this cavern,
where terrible crashes and
screams sound during a
storm at high tide, which
gives this place its name? Or
is there another story to be
told? What secrets does this
location hold?
Meander through the village
of St. Aubin on a circular
walk. It’s easy to imagine the
horse-drawn excursions of a
century ago, the rumble of
trains, and old sailing ships in
the harbour with sea-captains
and sailors swaggering on
the harbourside as you stroll
along the 18th century wharf
known as the Bulwarks.
Follow the road to Ghost
Hill and return via the old
High Street. It’s easy to get
lost among the beautiful
old properties that dot the
cobbled street. Spooky stories
of the Haunted House on
the Hill disturb the peaceful
village here. Keep an eye out
for a charming sign that reads
‘On this day, at this place,
nothing happened.’
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