Walking

Put your best foot forward and open up new horizons

"Here we had the green or rocky slope on one side of us and on the other the calm sea stretching to the coast of France… Jersey is one labyrinth of delicious roads and lanes."
GEORGE ELIOT (author).

Jersey's natural beauty has changed little George Eliot was inspired to write about it. Walking through the Island's winding, tree dappled country lanes remains a great way to get to the heart of the place. You'll enjoy open fields, woodland, cliffs and headland, small country lanes, trees and hedgerows. Inland wooded valleys contrast with spectacular coastal paths, secluded coves are tucked into the base of cliffs that rise 400 feet from the sea.

Jersey's 45-mile network of 'green lanes' give walkers, cyclists and horse riders priority and speed is limited to 15 miles an hour. All but two parishes have designated green lanes, identifiable by the distinctive road sign.

Alone, or with the helpful and knowledgeable Blue Badge guides, you can meander through a quiet, sun-filled network of highways and byways and stumble upon spectacular coastal vistas, hidden valleys, trickling streams, and ancient monuments.

Moon Walks

Jersey has one of the biggest tides in the world and when it goes out the Island grows by up to a third, uncovering a vast and unique habitat. Low water walks are led by local marine biologist Andrew Syvret, a man with a passion for all things watery, and a easy and friendly way of imparting his considerable knowledge. Less a walk than an experience, the Moon Walk takes you two miles out to sea, following the falling tide through the gutters and gullies of the dramatic low tide landscape. Held when the influence of the moon on our coastal waters is at its strongest, each 'Moon Walk' is a truly unique adventure, offering a wonderful immersion in Jersey's rich marine life and maritime culture.

Wellingtons are essential. Be prepared to get wet to the knee (and sometimes higher!) as you discover intertidal lagoons, saltwater rivers on the beach, sand banks, reefs, wave cut platforms, gullies, boulder fields and tidal flats, surrounded by an incredible array of fascinating animals and plants.

Why not enjoy a night time Moon Walk as the moonlit landscape of Jersey's south east coast is both startlingly beautiful and eerie. This is a very special event and you won't fail to be impressed and delighted.

Moon Walks are strictly limited to a maximum of 25 people and pre-booking is essential. Cost: £10 per adult for each walk, under 16's free.

Contact: Andrew Syvret
Tel + 44 (0) 1534 485201
Email: andrew@seajersey.com

Ghost Walks

Are the deep shadows cast by the full moon just the trees? Look more closely... you're being watched! Explore the unexplained at some of Jersey's most hair raising haunted sites. Your ghoulish spirit guide takes you on creepy crawl through the realm of the dead. The deeper you go into the darkness the harder it is to escape. Tickets: Approx £5.00.

Numbers are limited so booking is essential on these walks, however due to the huge popularity of these walks, Off Island bookings are available by telephone - +44 (0)1534 500777 and On Island bookings are available from 5 days before each event and should be made in person to Jersey Tourism. Telephone bookings can only be accepted for overseas visitors wishing to book in advance.

Round Island Walk

Walking immerses you in the landscape and nowhere is this more evident than in Jersey. During each 2008 walking festival, local Blue Badge guides will be your hosts for a five-day trek that takes in every inch of the coastline - from beach, to spectacular headland, past towers, castles and ancient burial chambers. The full Round Island Walk is 48.1 miles, and covers approximately 9.5 miles a day. You can choose to do the entire five day trek (and receive a certificate of achievement!) or simply join a particular day.

Keen walkers in search of a real challenge may like to have a go at walking around the Island in one fell swoop. Every year Islanders and visitors join together to walk around the Island's 48.1 miles of coastline for charity. This year's Itex Walk took place on 19th June, when more than a thousand people gathered at 3 am to set off eastwards. The walk takes between 12 and 21 hours, depending on your pace and level of fitness. There are thirteen checkpoints around the Island including two refreshment stops for a rest and a drink, and your belongings are transported from checkpoint to checkpoint for you.

The event isn't about completing the course – many bow out gracefully at various points along the route – but about each participant achieving their personal best. Friendships are forged as strangers walk together and share the agony (blisters and aching muscles) and the ecstasy (sun rise over the sparkling sea, bacon butties with a view over the bay towards France). This is a walk you'll remember for the rest of your life.

For further information on the Itex Walk contact:
Tel + 44 (0) 1534 633635.
Website: www.itex.je/walk

Walking in Jersey 2008

What better way to fully appreciate Jersey than to leave the car behind and explore on foot. Cliff paths carpeted with heather and sun-bleached dunes, ancient castles and quite country lanes, spectacular coastal vistas and hidden valleys make the island a walker's dream.

Follow the rugged beauty of Jersey's north coast over headlands to discover secluded fishing villages and hidden coves or head west in search of the elusive Green Lizard. Stroll through the Victorian markets of St Helier or join us on a spine chilling meander through Jersey's ghostly past.

Explore Jersey's 45 mile network of 'Green Lanes', where the pace of life slows, to discover quiet country lanes awash with flowers as you wind through wooded valleys, past wisteria-clad cottages and historic granite farmhouses.

Walking in Jersey is a voyage of discovery whatever your age, whatever your experience, so start exploring and let your adventure begin.

Guided Walking Tours 2008

Discover the various facets of Jersey on foot in a series of escorted walking tours arranged by Jersey Tourism – taking in some of Jersey's unique history and heritage in the company of some of the Island's most experienced Blue Badge tourist guides, these walks and tours are escorted in a leisurely yet informative manner.

Please bring suitable clothing and footwear for your walk. The guides reserve the right to refuse participation to any walker if they are not suitably attired or in the guide's opinion feel they would be unsuitable to undertake the walk.

All persons participating in any aspect of this programme do so at their own risk and neither Jersey Tourism nor their appointed agents and guides can take responsibility for personal injury. Please note that children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. All specified public bus routes are correct at time of printing and based on current information (November 2007). For updated timings and bus routes contact Connex Transport – Tel: +44 (0)1534 877772. Jersey Tourism can accept no responsibility for any subsequent alteration to bus timings and routes shown in this programme.

Walking Tickets

Morning and afternoon walks are priced at £4.00 and evening walks are £5.00 and full day walks are £6.00 per day. Tickets can be purchased from the walking guide before departure or from the Visitor Services Centre at Jersey Tourism. Children under 16 are free.

Please note that the 'Murder, Muck and Mayhem', 'Harbours and Havens' and 'Roses with Roly' walks are marked with an * and are not organised by Jersey Tourism. If tickets are required for these walks, they must be purchased from the organiser/walking guide and are not available from Jersey Tourism.

For those visitors wishing to participate in more than one or two walks why not purchase our weekly walking ticket priced at £10.00. This gives unlimited access to all Jersey Tourism walks and is valid for seven consecutive days from the day of purchase. Weekly walking tickets can be purchased from either your guide at the start of the walk or from Jersey Tourism.

For local residents and regular visitors, Jersey Tourism has produced a £20.00 walking season ticket, offering unlimited access to all Jersey Tourism walks throughout the season.

Season tickets are available from the Visitor Services Centre at Jersey Tourism.

Public Transport

To obtain a copy of the Connex current bus timetable log onto www.mybus.je or pick one up from Jersey Tourism for £0.50.

Explorer Tickets

It is possible to take advantage of the bus service during your stay in Jersey by purchasing an explorer ticket. This will allow you unlimited travel on the public bus service and is an ideal saver if you are planning to use the bus on a regular basis during your stay. These are only available from Connex and cannot be purchased in advance. Tickets are valid for consecutive day travel only. Current prices are as follows:

Should you require further information regarding bus services please call Connex on Tel: +44 (0)1534 877772.

N.B All walks marked with * are not organised by Jersey Tourism and are not covered by Jersey Tourism walking tickets or the weekly / seasonal walking ticket offers.

All information, correct at time of print (November 2007)

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PTGH wish to thank Jersey Tourism for their help in providing the above information.
15/11/07