Walking St Helier's Liberation Trail

St Helier is compact enough to walk in a couple of hours, and the best coastal walks start from a short bus ride. LibertyBus runs from Liberation Station on the Esplanade, and libertybus.je has the timetables. Jersey’s tides are large, with a range of over 10 m on spring tides, so any walk on sand, reef or causeway needs a tide check first.

The Liberation Trail (about 2 hours, self-guided)

  1. Liberation Square. Philip Jackson’s Liberation Sculpture commemorates 9 May 1945, when British forces freed the occupied island.
  2. The Pomme d’Or Hotel on the Weighbridge. The Union Jack was unfurled from its balcony on Liberation Day.
  3. The Weighbridge. Victorian dock buildings and the Ariadne steam clock, a replica from 1997.
  4. Royal Square. The site of the 1781 Battle of Jersey, with granite paving, the statue of George II and musket-ball scars on The Peirson pub.
  5. Town Church. St Helier Parish Church was founded in the 11th century on early Christian foundations, and its exterior has memorial markers and weathered granite gargoyles.
  6. King Street and Charing Cross. A pedestrian shopping street with Victorian bow-windowed shopfronts.
  7. Central Market. Finish with local produce beside the Victorian fountain. The market is open Monday to Saturday.

The Railway Walk

The path from St Aubin to La Corbiere follows the old Jersey Railway line, which ran from 1870 to 1936. It is traffic-free, with a crushed-stone surface and gentle gradients, and it covers about 4 miles (6.5 km) each way. Take LibertyBus route 12 or 15 from Liberation Station to St Aubin, about 15 minutes. The route climbs through wooded valleys and pines and across open heathland to the headland at La Corbiere, where route 12A runs back to town. Corbiere Lighthouse stands on a tidal rock reached by a causeway of about 300 m, which takes about 10 minutes to cross. A siren warns that the sea is about to cover it, and if it sounds, walk back at once.

North coast cliff path

The north coast path from Bonne Nuit Bay towards Devil’s Hole and Greve de Lecq runs along granite cliffs 200 to 300 feet above the sea, through heather and gorse. The terrain is demanding, with steep steps and gradients, so wear sturdy footwear. The National Trust for Jersey looks after parts of this coast. Check libertybus.je for the route to the trailhead.

The Elizabeth Castle causeway

A paved causeway of about 1.1 km links Westpark Slip to the castle gate and is walkable at low tide only. Allow at least 15 minutes each way. Check the Ports of Jersey causeway access calculator at ports.je and ask at the ferry kiosk on 01534 634048. Do not start if the tide has begun to flood. If you are cut off, use the Castle Ferry back to Westpark Slip, or dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Guided walks

Jersey Uncovered offers scheduled walks led by accredited Blue Badge and Green Badge guides through St Helier and the country parishes. See Jersey Uncovered for dates. Jersey Walk Adventures leads guided walks across the seabed at low tide to Seymour Tower and Icho Tower. These crossings are guided only and are never safe to attempt alone, since the tide rises faster than an adult can run. More details are at Jersey Walk Adventures . To compare walking tours, search GetYourGuide walking tours in St Helier .

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