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PHOTO TOUR These photos may take a few moments to load....please be patient, they are worth the wait. My photos are protected by and can be tracked. All content subject to copyright. All rights reserved. Contact me here |
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St Ouens Bay St Ouens Bay spans the entire depth of the island on our western coast. |
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At the southern end of the bay there is a huge rocky platform, stretching out into the sea, making this a dangerous place for both swimmers and sailors. This area is known as 'La Pulente'. A headland rises above the bay here and if you use the steps to climb to the top, you will find there are stunning views right across St Ouens Beach to the north and, on a clear day, over to the neighbouring islands of Guernsey and Sark. |
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Parts of the bay have dangerous sea currents and lifeguards are on duty during the summer months, patrolling the safe areas (marked out by red flags). St Ouens does, however, produce some good surf and is a popular venue for both boogie boarders and surfers, with international competitions sometimes held here during the summer season. |
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There seems to be a particular etiquette towards the use of the bay and the many boogie boarders tend to congregate in front of Le Braye slipway. Above is a picture of La Rocco tower, which sits just in front of the slipway. This tower is another example of our many fortifications against French invasion and is accessible on foot at low tide. The enormous difference between our high and low tides is very noticeable at St. Ouens. On a particularly high tide, waves can crash right over the sea wall and into the road, and our old sea defences struggle to remain intact. Conversely, at low tide, enormous expanses of firm golden sand are exposed. |
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Moving further north along the bay is this lovely little white 'house' perched on the edge of the sea wall. This is 'Le Don Hilton' - an old guard house dating back to the seventeenth century. The guardhouse is now under the protection of the National Trust. |
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The life guard station is situated near 'El Tico' cafe and the area extending from here to just past Le Don Hilton is the most popular for surfers. There is a strong 'rip tide' in this section and safe areas are shown with red flags - please stay within them. We have a thriving surfing community in the island, the most popular venue being around the old 'Watersplash' nightclub. Anyone wanting to take surfing lessons can do so here from the Jersey Surf School - one of the tutors being the ex South African national team coach, Bill Sharp. |
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It's hard to believe when you look at the beauty of this largely unspoiled bay, backed by some of the best sand dunes in Europe, that until the 1960's the area was used as a bit of a general dumping ground. It is now designated as a conservation area - recognition that the bay and the surrounding dunes and scrubland support some important and rare species of wildlife and flowers, many of which are more usually found in Mediterranean regions. To learn more about the wildlife of St Ouens and the rest of the island, I recommend a visit to 'Kempt Tower' -situated on the ocean side of the road, towards the northern end of the bay. If you care to walk along the beach at low tide, it is in this area that you may come across some ancient peat beds - clear proof that this area was once above sea level. (Read the legend of the sunken manor house here). |
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Sand kiting |
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At the very northern tip of the bay is an area called l'Etacq. A large German bunker stands guard here - but today it serves a more pleasant function, as a 'vivier' for the local fishermen's daily catch. Please pay heed to the signs at this end of the bay. Swimming is extremely dangerous here because of strong currents. |
