5 unique ways to discover Jersey’s coastline

There are plenty of ways for visitors to channel their inner seafarer in Jersey, from kayaking, surfing, swimming or simply enjoying the coast on foot. Jersey is the closest Channel Island to France and is small in size, with only nine miles of land east to west and five miles north to south. Yet, its coastal circumference is 43 miles, making it feel like there are more beaches than land. The expanse of Jersey’s coastline is particularly felt when the tide goes out, almost doubling the island’s size twice a day. Whether visitors are seeking adventure, relaxation or exploration, here are five ways to enjoy the island's coastal reaches. 

1. Take the plunge

With over 30 beaches and bays — from rocky coves in the north to sweeping sandy beaches in the south — visitors would have to stay on the island for a very long time to swim in all locations. However, a swim has to be planned around the tides as Jersey has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world, and when it’s out, it completely disappears from view. If the tide is high in the morning, visitors can head east to sandy Grouville or pebbly Archirondel for a swim. If the tide is high in the evening, a paddle at St Brelade or St Ouen offers the chance to see a spectacular sunset.

Cold-water swimming is popular on the island, with many claiming it increases their mental and physical wellbeing. There are plenty of swimming clubs on the island that visitors can join such as the Jersey-based group Dips and Chips, an inspiring female collective that takes to the sea year-round, no matter the weather. Its members share a real sense of camaraderie as they enjoy an invigorating cold-water paddle before catching up afterwards over a warm coffee. Booking a communal session at Sauna Society, a woodfired sauna on St Catherine’s Bay, is another excellent experience for those looking to feel rejuvenated. Visitors get 50 minutes to cycle between a hot sauna, a cold plunge shower or even a refreshing dip in the sea.

2. Tour the island by boat

Whether visitors feel like speeding along the coast in a fast rigid-inflatable boat (RIB) or slowly sailing from bay to bay, a boat tour of Jersey’s coast allows people to see the island from a new perspective. With Jersey Seafaris, a one-hour south coast tour or a one-and-a-half north-coast tour can be booked on its 12-passenger RIB. The tours are packed with local history and information about the island, and visitors may be lucky enough to spot dolphins playfully racing alongside the boat.

For those looking for a more laid-back experience, a sunset cruise on the Jersey Duchess is just as enjoyable. The boat travels along the southwest coast to Corbière Lighthouse as the setting sun casts a golden glow over the water. Those looking to splash out can charter Longueville Manor’s luxury yacht Fizz Too, which comes with a seafood lunch, Champagne and a personal steward.

3. Paddle along the coast

Standup paddleboarding (SUP) has become a hugely popular sport in Jersey, with many locals taking to the water to unwind after a day in the office. If visitors want to join them, they can hire an inflatable paddleboard from Windmadness, Absolute Adventures or Jono Watersports in St Brelade’s Bay or from Jersey Adventures at Archirondel. For beginners, a one-hour lesson can be booked with Absolute Adventures, or a SUP yoga session can be booked with Windmadness for the more advanced. For a real taste of island life, visitors can join a SUP evening tour from St Brelade’s Bay to the Portelet Bay Cafe, where they can stop to enjoy a pizza on the beach.

If sitting seems more appealing, visitors can try a kayak tour instead. Jersey Adventures has an exhilarating east coast tour from Archirondel to Mont Orgueil Castle and back. Jersey Kayak Adventures and Kayak Nomad also offers sea kayak tours at varying locations around the island, with the departure point confirmed by text the night before.

4. Unwind on the clifftops

With the heady scent of gorse in the air and the sun bouncing off the granite cliffs, creating twinkles in the sea below, a walk along Jersey’s coastal path is a beautiful experience. Visitors can join the path from one of the northern bays — Rozel or Bouley Bay — and continue to weave around the cliffs or explore one of five self-guided walks on the Visit Jersey website. A tea break is never more than a 40-minute walk away, and the day can be punctuated with refreshing dips in the sea. Jersey is an aspiring UNESCO Geopark, and among the activities the Geopark team organise are wellness sessions at L’Etacquerel Fort on the north coast, where groups can enjoy a yoga class whilst admiring a stunning cliff-top view.

5. Surf the island’s best waves

Whatever the weather, whatever the season, if there is surf in St Ouen’s Bay (and there usually is), then local surfers will be out catching a wave. The first Jersey Surf Club was set up in 1923, making it among the first in Europe, and the island went on to become a hugely popular surf spot in the 1960s, partly fuelled by local board manufacturing. Photographs that line the walls at surfers’ hang-out, the Watersplash show St Ouen’s Bay packed with surfers gathering to compete in the European surf championships in the late 1960s.

Next to the Watersplash, the sea has some of the cleanest breaks on the island, and there are good spots further down the bay, too, at Le Braye and Secrets. The north-coast beaches, such as Grève de Lecq and Plémont, also provide reputable conditions. Jersey has several surf schools for those looking to learn to surf or improve their skills. The Splash Surf Centre, Jersey Surf School, and Laneez Surf School all offer lessons from basic to advanced levels and summer camps for kids.