The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 7.7 miles (6.6km)
Time to walk: Roughly 3 hours at a stroll with stops
Difficulty: Easy, either on hard surfaces or, if the tide’s out, the beach between St Helier & St Aubin
Dog Friendly?: Maybe on lead until St Aubin & then off lead for the 2nd stage, but be careful as the track crosses roads so hold your pooch back
Parking: Public car parks in St Helier
Public toilets: Public toilets / cafes etc along the route
Map of the route:
This is the second of two walks we did when visiting the wonderful island of Jersey in the early spring of 2026 & what wonderful weather we had
The first is our stroll around the capital, St Helier which takes in a lot of the history of the island & can be found at this link
This second walk crosses the island from St Helier around the bay to St Aubin & then picks up the old railway link to finish at the stunning, most westerly point which is the lighthouse of La Corbiere
It’s a walk that you can do in a few hours or, as we did, take your time & make it a day out on the beach & searching for the beautiful red squirrels amongst the trees on the second half of the walk
The return journey is on the coastal bus from La Corbiere
Let’s Walk!
1. Like our Walk around the town of St Helier, this one also starts in Liberation Square & crosses the road towards the harbour…
Bear right passing some very nice boats
2. At the new flats bear left keeping the harbour on your left…
…& then at the monument walk up the steps & continue straight ahead through the flats
3. Walk through the flats & across the road to arrive at the ‘Freedom Tree’…
The Freedom Tree remembers the island’s liberation & represents fresh growth & continuity, directing Jersey away from the past, whilst acknowledging its power & influence
Unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II, on the 60th anniversary of the Liberation, the bronze sculpture carries thirty oak leaves & twelve acorns, one for each of the parishes of Jersey. It stands in a strategic position, with a view that encompasses Elizabeth Castle to the south & West Park to the north, both landmarks of the heady days of liberation
4. To your left’s Elizabeth Castle…
If the tide’s out why not walk along the causeway to explore it as we did. Construction started in the 16th century when the port of St Helier was vulnerable to attack by ships armed with cannons. It’s named after Elizabeth I around the time the castle was built
During the Seven Years’ War, French prisoners were kept at the island. A two-story barracks hospital building was constructed in the early 19th century &, during World War II, the Germans modernised the castle with guns, bunkers & battlements. After the Liberation, the castle was repaired & was eventually re-opened to the public
5. But to continue the walk turn right from the Freedom Tree & follow the wall around the bay…
From now on you simply follow the Promenade to St Aubin or, if the tide’s out, you have the option of walking on the sand. Some of the views back out to Elizabeth Castle are simply stunning
6. Continue along the Promenade passing lots of very attractive properties including some art-deco ones…
Look out for Third Tower (Beaumont)…
This tower was built on the site of the boulevards adjoining Vaull Battery & was well armed. In 1797 it was manned by a sergeant, corporal & ten men of the Invalids & in 1803 by a corporal & six men of the 3rd Royal Garrison Battalion
It had a magazine for 20 barrels of powder. It was sold, with the land it’s situated on by Beaumont Railway Station on 26 July 1922 for £300. During World War II the tower was armed with a French Hotchkiss anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the roof
7. Continue along the Promenade or, like when we did this walk, why would you not get your shoes & socks off & walk on the wonderful beach…
As you approach the town of At Aubin, if you’re walking on the beach, it’s best to get up on the Promenade before reaching the harbour passing a lovely statue
8. St. Aubin was originally a fishing village & the historic economic centre of the island. The Jersey Railway terminated in the town & we’ll pick up ‘The Railway Walk’ for the second part of this walk, following the route to La Corbière
Its name refers to Saint Aubin, the 6th Century C.E. Bishop of Angers & may reflect the name of a long-disappeared chapel. At the beginning of the 17th century, there was no quay or road to St Aubin. At this time all the homes in the town were on the hillsides or up Mont les Vaux. In 1648, the States ordered the construction of a pier
St. Aubin was historically the centre for international trade, particularly during the Newfoundland cod fishery. This is because it was the only large port on the island
9. Look across to see St. Aubin’s Fort which lies in the bay. Like Elizabeth Castle, this fort is accessible on foot, at a low tide, via a causeway that runs from the road just in front of the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club
The fort features a tower keep that is surrounded by granite walls & ramparts. During the German occupation of the Channel Islands, the German forces added bunkers & other features to the fort
10. After maybe stopping for a coffee it’s time to continue the walk by heading up the hill in the picture below – there is a sign showing you this is ‘The Railway Walk’
It’s a 4 mile walk along the old railway track, much of it tree-lined & very peaceful. Cross the road & pass under the splendid road bridge
11. This track really is wonderful & you might realise you’re actually climbing quite steadily…
Cross another road at the pelican & continue ahead
12. There’s a cafe on the left should you wish to stop, but they don’t really do just a cuppa & cake – more of a full meal. Pass under another bridge…
Eventually you’ll pass a massive sports complex on your right. When we did this walk there was an important hockey tournament taking place between Jersey & Guernsey
13. This tall-tree lined section of the walk is simply stunning…
And it was here that we saw some beautiful, playful red squirrels so keep your eyes peeled. On your right’s Jersey Golf club which has magnificent views across to Guernsey
14. Carefully cross another road & keep walking straight ahead…
There’s lots of ‘covered’ fields all over the island & the reason, at this time of year, is they’re trying to force early Jersey Royal potatoes. They don’t taste like they used to mind when they were grown covered with seaweed
15. Cross another road & you know you’re getting towards the end of this wonderful walk as there are more views of the sea…
There’s some great signs to make sure you keep to the footpath…
…& some others which tell you to keep out of the fabulous properties
16. Just past the gate on your right’s a large flat rock…
This is really interesting a a noticeboard tells you that…
“According to folklore, La Table des Marthes was used as a place for signing legal contracts.
In 850 archaeologists suggested that the slab was resting up on two pillars of rubble. Burn marks visible in the interior show that people lit fires here thousands of years ago. Remains of this dolmen were discovered in 1850 & probably destroyed in 1899 when the railway was extended from La Moye to La Corbiere. The railway was last used during the German occupation of Jersey from 1940 to 1945″
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17. Opposite are the old platform & Station House which has now been converted into a modern glass extension…
So here we are in La Corbiere & the ‘end of the line’ but there’s now a treat in store. Walk around the other side of the building where you’ll find a bus stop which is where you’ll catch Bus No.22 back to St Helier
However for now, walk down the road
And…what a view to finish this lovely walk…La Corbiere lighthouse perched on rocks with the huge Atlantic ‘rollers’ coming in around it
18. We recommend walking down the road for a closer view & also along the beautiful coastline…
This is the extreme south-western point of Jersey. The name means “a place where crows gather”, deriving from the word ‘corbîn’ meaning crow.
However, seagulls have long since displaced the crows from their coastal nesting sites
The rocks & extreme tidal variation around this stretch of Jersey’s coast have been treacherous for navigation & La Corbière has been the scene of many shipwrecks, including that of the mail packet “Express” on 20 September 1859
The lighthouse is one of the most photographed landmarks in Jersey & provides an ideal viewing point for sunsets. It’s situated on a rock that is a tidal island. A causeway links the lighthouse to shore at low tide. There is an alarm to warn visitors to clear the causeway as the tide rises. A plaque adjacent to the causeway commemorates Peter Edwin Larbalestier, assistant keeper of the lighthouse, who was drowned on 28 May 1946, while trying to rescue a visitor cut off by the incoming tide
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The lighthouse tower is 62 feet high & the lamp was lit on 24 April 1874, for the first time. It was the first lighthouse in the British Isles to be built of concrete & its beam has a reach of 18 nautical miles (33 km). It was automated in 1976
19. Look to your left to see a tower on the cliff…
This is a range-finding tower that the German occupying forces built during the World War II. At that time they camouflaged it with paint to give it an appearance similar to an 18th century granite round tower
The tower has 7 floors, including the top floor, which was an originally the flat roof. The top floor is now enclosed with a new roof & glazing. In 1976 the States’ Harbours & Ports Committee added a glassed-in control room where a duty officer could monitor the radio communications of vessels in the English Channel
This lasted until 2004 when Jersey Heritage turned it into a self-catering accommodation with full facilities that you can rent as holiday accommodation. This is the only German tower in the Channel Islands that is now a self-catering apartment!
20. So that’s the end of a wonderful walk on what was a beautiful, warm Spring day & all good walks must end with a treat…
Walk back up towards the station & turn right into La Corbiere Phare restaurant & bar. If the weather is as glorious as when we did this walk why not buy something refreshing & grab one of the outside tables & just take in what a fabulous place this is & walk this has been
If you visit Jersey…
Go Walk!