Walking Trails around Sark The island is laced with many lovely walking trails that lead through woods, over headlands, down to bays and around quaint village lanes. Many routes can be easily joined together to walk the entire coastal circuit of Sark! Northeast Route East Route North Route Northwest Route Southwest Route West Route South Route Southeast Route YOU MAY ALSO LIKE... SHOPS AND ACTIVITIES FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES OUR EVENTS CALENDAR

West Route Starts at Visitor Centre Ends at Visitor Centre Highlights are Historical sites and Gouliot Headland (RAMSAR) . The Route Spectacular views & fascinating history! Begin your walk at the Visitor Centre . Head west along the main road, passing the historical sites of Le Manoir and the Mill. Go straight through the Vaurocque crossroad , passing Beauregard duck pond , and take a right at the fork. Follow the trail out to Gouliot Headland . Through the gate, veer left and head down to the end of the headland. Walk back up through the valley and follow the trail to the left. Enjoy a rest stop at the first bench or at the second bench further along. At the second bench, head through the metal gate. Follow this trail through the field and another gate, passing the trail down to Port a La Jument bay. Continue along the path around and up to the main road, coming out opposite the cemetery of the Methodist Chapel . Walk along Rue des Sermons passing the Playground and Millennium Sports Field . Turn right at Clos A Jaon crossroad , passing the historical buildings of Chief Pleas and St. Peter’s Church , to end back at the Visitor Centre . ​ *Warning: This walking route runs near to a cliff edge at some points. Distance 3.6 km Incline Fair Approx. Time 1 hour 15 min

Natural Attractions Gouliot Headland RAMSAR The Headland gained it's RAMSAR status in 2007 and is recognised worldwide for its unique animal and plant life, particularly in the Gouliot Caves, which boast a colourful patchwork of marine life including sponges, anemones and corals. ​ The headland above the caves is a blanket of bluebells and primroses in Spring and lush green ferns in Summer. Botanists may also spot white bluebells and the rare sand crocus. Walking on the headland is a delight. Whether it ' s picnicking on a bench, watching the sunset over the panoramic sea view or saying hello to the resident sheep and goats that graze the area. Venus Pool ​ Venus Pool is a natural sea pool tucked away under a rocky bluff in Little Sark. This somewhat enigmatic emerald pool only appears 2 hours before and after low tide, before it is engulfed by the sea once more. ​ The water is very clear, displaying the wonderful array of colourful seaweeds lining its walls and the hues of light and dark rocks along the bottom. ​ Venus Pool is a delightful bathing spot, with panora mic sea views and large flat rocks surrounding it for a much needed post swim sunbathe and picnic. ​ Dixcart Valley An oasis at the heart of the island, Dixcart Valley is a lush woodland with tall trees, fern covered banks and a babbling stream that meets the sea at Dixcart Bay. ​ In Spring the Valley is blanketed in bluebells and white wild garlic. Under the Summer sun, the walk through the Valley offers cool and refreshing shade, with gorgeously dappled sunlight through the trees. ​ There are several trails that run through Dixcart Valley, leading north and south along the coast as well as down to Dixcart bay itself. The walk is gentle and offers the Islan d's easiest beach access. L'Eperquerie This area at the very north of the island encompasses several different natural attractions. At the top you will find L'Eper querie Common, a large open headland with spectacular panoramic sea views across to Herm, Guernsey and even Alderney. ​ At the end of the Common stand the Manlet Half Tower and Buddhist Rock Carving, whilst below lies L'Eperquerie Beach and Pool, Les Fontaines Bay. ​ Various trails circle around and through this area, with several benches dotted along the way to take in the many magnificent views. Port Du Moulin Woods These ancient woods below La Seigneurie are both beautiful and historically interesting, as they housed the site of the island's medieval monastery. ​ The trail, lined with colourful wild flowers, gently zigzags through the woods, alongside the babbling stream that appears as a small waterfall above Port du Moulin Bay. ​ The woodland trail also leads to Window in the Rock and the lookout perched atop Tintageu bluff. Happy Valley Happy Valley is tucked away in the West of the island, with a single entry and exit path leading off from the road to Pilcher Monument. ​ The Valley sits above Port es Sais, a sandy bay only accessible by boat. Shingle from the beach used to be winched up the cliff and the old machi nery still sits like a time warp at the bottom of the valley. ​ Happy Valley owes its name to the many happy hours spent by locals here who use the smooth sloping valley sides for yak sledding. Bluebell Woods Named after the beautiful displays of bluebells to be found here each year, this stretch of woods spans all along the north side of Harbour Hill. ​ The trails through the woods lead into open fields and meadows with lovely panoramic sea views towards France and beyond that into the quaint back lanes of the village area. Hog's Back Hog's Back, named after the shape of the headland as seen from the sea, cradles Dixcart Bay on one side and Derrible Bay on the other, with fantastic views of both from the cannon perch. ​ During the second world war, commando troops famously scaled the Hog's Back headland in a raid that changed the course of history. Today, a memorial plaque stands poignantly on the cliff edge. ​ In Autumn the path to Hog's Back offers great blackberry and sloe picking for home made gin! La Coupée and Little Sark This striking isthmus of land connecting Big and Little Sark is probably the island's most famed attraction. With steep steps leading down to Grande Greve Bay on one side and a sheer drop on the other, the crossing and the views are truly breathtaking. ​ Having crossed La Coupée into Little Sark the road winds its way down to the south facing headlands. There are many caves, creeks and pools along Little Sark's stretch of coastline, as well as land based attractions such as the Dolmen and Silver Mines ruins. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE... DARK SKY ISLAND & OBSERVATORY SELF-GUIDED WALKS OUR ISLAND WILDLIFE

Northwe st Route Starts at Clos A Jaon crossroad Ends at Clos A Jaon crossroad Highlights are Window in the Rock & Port du Moulin woods. The Route Farms, Forest and Fabulous Views! Begin your walk at Clos A Joan crossroad. Take the left road due west and after passing the sports field go through the gate on the right. Follow this path through the fields and take a left at the next fork. Follow the road out to the end, it will veer right and then left, taking you past greenhouses and a pig enclosure. When the trail meets another path go into the field on your left for a rest sto p with fabulous views out to sea and towards Guernsey. Exit the field and continue straight along the path, turning left before the cobbled road of La Moinerie Hotel . Follow this path over the fallen tree and down into Port du Moulin woods until you come to a clearing with a cross over to the other side of the stream. From here you can head left to reach Window in the Rock . ​ After taking in the picturesque view from Window in the Rock , return by taking the left hand path back up through th e woods. At the very top of this trail turn right and follow the path to meet the main road. Turn right and head back to Clos A Joan . Distance 3 km Incline Fair/Moderate Approx. Time 1 hr

Air Travel Travel to Guernsey and Jersey by air and onward to Sark by ferry. UK to Guernsey Aurigny Airline Aurigny is Guernsey's airline. They run a regular service between Guernsey, Alderney and the UK, as well as a limited service between Guernsey and some European destinations. ​ Aurigny's UK destinations include London Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Exeter, Leeds, Manchester and Southampton. See their website for a full route schedule. ​ The journey between Gatwick and Guernsey takes approximately 50 minutes. ​ aurigny.com / +44 (0) 1481 267267 UK to Guernsey & Jersey Blue Islands Airline Blue Islands operate between Guernsey, Jersey and the UK, as well as some European destinations. Blue Islands' UK destinations include Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Exeter, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle Norwich and Southampton. Visit their website for a full route schedule. ​ The journey between Southampton and Guernsey takes approximately 50 minutes. ​ blueislands.com / +44 (0) 1234 589 200 YOU MAY ALSO LIKE... INTERACTIVE ISLAND MAP GET AROUND ON SARK ISLAND HOPPING FROM SARK

< Home Methodist Chapel The Chapel that ran a mile. Sark's first Methodist Chapel was built in 1796 at La Ville Roussel (pictured). The working people of Sark had turned to the Methodists for moral leadership as they had become discontented with the feudal system and the Seigneural hold over the Church. However, by the 1920s the then owner of La Ville Roussel wished for the Chapel to be moved to a different location as the loud singing on a Sunday morning was too disruptive. With permission from the English Crown, the land owner gifted a plot at the opposite end of the Island to the Methodists. In 1926 the Chapel was moved just under a mile to where it sits today.

Climate on Sar k The best of all seasons Sark, along with the other Channel Islands, enjoys a temperate year round climate. The Summer months are warm and on average experience more sun than England. The Winters are mild in temperature but often wet and windy. ​ The best time to visit Sark is from April to October, the main Summer months being June to September. Whatever time of year, Sark's beauty is boundless. ​ Scroll down for our monthly climate chart or use these current forecast links. FORECAST RAIN RADAR Monthly Climate Averages YOU MAY ALSO LIKE... GUIDE TO BAYS AND BEACHES SELF GUIDED WALKS GUIDED WILD FLOWER WALKS

Our Coast Below the plateau Sark being a plateau island, to reach the shore one must be prepared for a bit of an expedition. Most of the beaches involve a combination of winding paths and sometimes steep steps that must be approached with caution and care. The reward is the luxury of crowdless, litter-free pristine bays with seldom more than a handful of people on them. It's a price worth paying, trust us! ​ From big sandy bays to pebbly coves, enchanting rock pools & turquoise creeks, Sark's beaches and bays are varied & unique. The water is clear and clean and wonderful for sea swimming. Indeed, many islanders swear by year round cold water swimming for health and well-being. Large Tidal Ranges The Channel Islands have some of the largest tidal ranges in the world. On a Spring tide the difference between low and high tide can be as much as 10m, compared to only 2-5m experienced by English coasts. This expansive tidal range exposes a whole new world on the shores of Sark every six hours. Rocky outcrops become large sandy bays, small sea caves become enormous walk through chambers and natural pools appear and disappear as if by magic. No two beach excursions will be the same! Enchanting as the tides are, they can also be dangerous, cutting people off from beach access steps or gushing through caves with currents of up to 10 knots. All visitors are advised to check tide times and familiarise themselves with local information before venturing down to a bay or swimming. Just the right spot Having assessed the tide, the next step in picking the best beach to visit on any given day is to check the weather, in particular the wind direction. One of the most fortunate things about living on a small island is that you can always go to a bay on the lee side and escape the prevailing wind. ​ Sark has bays and swimming spots that encircle the whole island, so there is always a sheltered spot to be found. Use our Beach Guide to help you! BEACH GUIDE TIDE TIMES YOU MAY ALSO LIKE... DARK SKY ISLAND & OBSERVATORY SARK ISLAND FLORA OUR ISLAND WILDLIFE

Southeast Route Starts at Visitor Centre Ends at Visitor Centre Highlights are Dixcart Valley, La Coupée & Historical Sites. The Route Where lush green foliage meets the sea! Begin your walk at the Visitor Centre , heading down the meadow path opposite Le Manoir . Take the left hand trail just before Stocks Hotel and follow the path through the valley towards Dixcart Bay . Just before reaching the bay, take the right hand trail leading up and around the cliff. Continue following this cliff path until you have a large house on your right. Veer left and left again to cut through the cow field and over the stile at the far end. Follow this trail all the way along to reach La Coupée . Circle back along the main road, heading north, passing Caragh Chocolates on your left. Turn right at Vaurocque crossroad and follow the main road back past the Mill to the Visitor Centre . ​ *Warning: This walking route runs near to a cliff edge at some points. Distance 4 km Incline Moderate/Steep Approx. Time 1 hour 30 mins

Northeast Route Starts at The Harbours Ends at The Avenue Highlights are The Lighthouse, Coastal Views & Quaint Lanes. The Route Great for having just arrived off the boat! Begin at the bottom of Harbour Hill and take the first right hand cliff path heading north. Where the path rejoins the main road (near Chill Inn Homestay), take a right and follow the lanes towards Point Robert Lighthouse . Enjoy a rest stop and take in the views at the lookout point above the Lighthouse, then cut across La Valette campsite fields, heading towards Greve de la Ville bay. For another rest stop and a beautiful view over the bay and moored boats below, wander half way down Greve de la Ville path as far as the first picnic bench. Head back towards the Avenue by taking a right at the top of Greve de La Ville path and a left when the lane meets the main road of Rue Lucas , ending up at La Collinette crossroads at the start of the Avenue . Distance 3 km Incline Moderate Approx. Time 1 hr

Visiting Boats With visitor moorings at two locations, Sark welcomes many visiting yachts and motor boats each year. Experiencing the island from the water is a delight. Here's some information to help you prepare. Visitor Moorings at Havre Gosselin Visitor moorings are available in Havre Gosselin on the west coast of the Island. They are marked with yellow buoys and operate on a first come first served basis. A fee of £20 per 24hrs, or part thereof, is payable at the Visitor Centre or through the Sum Up QR code below. ​ Havre Gosselin has landing steps and a ladder for low tide. From Pilcher Monument at the top of the headland it is approx. a 15min walk to the Avenue. The moorings are substantial and are checked annually but visitors use them at their own risk. Visitor Moorings at Gréve de la Ville Visitor moorings are available in Gréve de la Ville on the East coast of the Island. They are marked with yellow buoys and operate on a first come first served basis. A fee of £20 per 24hrs, or part thereof, is payable at the Visitor Centre or through the Sum Up QR code below. ​ Gréve de la Ville has landing steps and beach access at low tide. The path leads to the outskirts of the village and from there is only a 5min walk to the Avenue. The moorings are substantial and are checked annually but visitors use them at their own risk. Pay for your visit or mooring here. Scan the Sum Up QR code and follow instructions to enter your payment amount. Moorings cost £20 per 24hrs, or part thereof. Maseline Harbour Maseline is a commercial harbour, also used for emergency evacuation. Visiting boats are welcome to use Maseline to drop-off or pick-up passengers but only when the jetty is not being used by commercial or emergency vessels. For safety and practical reasons, boats may not tie up or stay alongside the jetty at any time, day or night. Moorings in Maseline are all private but Visitor Moorings can be found around the corner in Gréve de la Ville. Creux Harbour Creux is a working harbour, primarily used by fishing boats and sometimes for commercial or emergency vessels. As such, visiting boats are welcome to moor against the wall but must leave the steps and slip way clear at all times. ​ Creux is a drying harbour. If you are leaving your boat unattended at any time please contact the Harbourmaster. There is no charge to use the toilets at Creux but the showers incur a small charge. Both are located through the tunnel. The Harbour Café is open most days in the S ummer. The moorings outside Creux are all private. Planning to visit Sark by private boat? Get in touch with the Sark Harbourmaster for further information. CONTACT YOU MAY ALSO LIKE... TRAVELLING TO SARK BY SEA SEE & DO AROUND SARK ISLAND HOPPING FROM SARK

Historical Bu ildings & Sites Creux Harbour T he original entrance to the bay was blasted through the rock in 1588 and still remains today. The main entrance, along with the protective harbour wall, was not built until 1866. Creux Harbour allowed easy access to Jersey which was important in the 16th century as Sark's first Seigneur originated from St Ouen in Jersey. ​ Today the harbour is mainly used by local fishermen & visiting boats. It is also a much loved swimming spot at high tide in the big natural pool. La Coupee La Coupee is an Isthmus of sedimentary rock connecting Big Sark & Little Sark. Until 1900 there were no railings and on windy days the school children would crawl over on their hands and knees. ​ During the Occupation the residents of Little Sark were sent to live on Big Sark so that the land could be planted with potatoes. People were allowed to return each day only to attend the crops and animals. ​ Following Sark's Liberation the captured German Prisoners of War were order ed to rebuild La Coupee, erecting the concr ete supports and handrails that we s ee today. The reconstruction took around 6 months. ​ La Seigneurie House La Seigneurie house dates from 1675 and has been home to two of Sark’s three Seigneurial families: the Le Pelleys (from 1730) and the Collings (from 1852), the latter being ancestors of the current Seigneur. ​ Over the centuries and under the whims of successive Seigneurs, La Seigneurie e volved into the house we see today. The result is a building of great character, with at least two ways to most rooms and no less than sixteen flights of stairs, excluding those to the tower! ​ Beside the residence there are two stone outbuildings, one of which is called the Chapel, and a dovecot erected by Dame Le Pelley in 1733 to house her pigeons. The Watchtower is Victorian, erected to allow for signalling between Sark and Guernsey. Le Manoir Helier DeCarteret found the ruins of this property when he landed on Sark in 1563. He rebuilt the house and carved his coat of arms into the stone, establishing Le Manoir as the original Seigneurie. Le Manoir remained as residence of the Seigneur until 1730 when Su san Le Pelley became Dame. Susan chose to remain in her residence at Le Perronerie, within the grounds of what is today La Seigneurie, and gifted Le Manoir to the Minister. It continued to be used as a vicarage until the 1930's when it was purchased as a private residence. Mantlet Half Tower Fro m the time of Helier DeCarteret in 1565 until 1880, Sark had its own militia. The militia consisted of ordinary citizens who were obliged to enrol for military duty on behalf of the English Crown. The Mantlet Half Tower was built around 1800 as a shelter for the person who set out the targets during shooting practice on L'Epercquerie Common. The shooters stood where the bike park is today, about 400m from the Manlet. ​ In the late 1990s the tower was struck by lightening and badly damaged but has since been rebuilt. Window in the Rock In 1853 Rev. William T. Collings became Seigneur of Sark, h is mother, Marie, having only been Seigneur for less than a year before her death. ​ Collings was keen o n improving the welfare of the community and sought to encourage the newly developed industry of tourism. To this end he had a window cut into the cliff, framing the view of Port Du Moulin Bay Arch and Les Autlets. By the 1870s, Sark had around 5k visitors a year. The Prison The original Sark Prison stood near to where St. Peter's Church is today. Over time it became dilapidated and by 1832 the Arsenal was being used as an interim prison, despite being entirely unfit for purpose. The little barrel-roofed two-celled prison we know today was eventually built in 1856 and is one of the world’s smallest prisons still in use. Judicial powers granted to Sark in 1583 allow a prisoner to be held for a maximum of two days. If the crime is severe enough to warrant further punishment the offender will be sent to Guernsey prison. Visitor Centre & Heritage Room The Visitor Centre was originally built as a Girls' School in 1841 by Seigneur Ernest Le Pelley . It was part of a project, envisaged by his brother, Pierre Le Pelley lll and Rev Cachemaille, whereby surplus money being generated by the new silver mining venture would be used to benefit Sark’s community. When foundations were dug it was discovered that this was in fact the site of the Island’s first cemetery. The Girls' School eventually became the co-ed Infant & Junior School until 2005 when the new school opened and it was turned into the Tourism Centre & Societe Sercquaise Heritage Room. Chief Pleas Building The Chief Pleas building was originally the B oys' School and later became the co-ed Senior School. Today the building houses Sark's court room and Parliament, Chief Pleas, which sat f or the first time in 1579, consisting of the Seigneur and the Tenants. Until the 1920s only the Tenants and the Seigneur had a seat in Chief Pleas. Residents appealed to the Lieutenant Governor in Guernsey and finally in 1954 12 People’s Deputies were elected. Sark remained the last feudal state in existence in Europe until 2008 when the Island changed its constitution to form a new democracy. The Mill Until the 20th century Sark’s economy was based on agriculture and a reli able mill was essential to sustain the original settlers. In 1571 Helier DeCarteret built this windmill, carving his coat of arms on the north lintel to signify the Seigneur’s right to a monopoly over the milling of grain. This may be the earliest date on a vernacular building in the Channel Islands. The Mill sits on Sark’s highest ground, at 110m above sea level where the wind blows freely. It has survived well, despite a fire in 1797 by locals protesting the Seigneur’s monopoly and decapitation by the German forces in 1940 to make a lookout platform. Restoration began in 1951 and was led by the artist Arthur Bradbury. Further restoration in the late 90s was needed to save the mill from further dilapidation. L'Eperquerie L'Eper querie Common was used by the Monks on Sark between the 6th and 14th centuries to dry fish and conger eels on wooden stakes. The old Norman French word for stake was ‘perques’, thus giving the area the name it still bears today. L'Eperquerie Landing was the main port until Creux Harbour was opened in 1588. The Landing was vulnerable to invasion from the French and as such the headland was fortified. Remains of the fort walls, square bastion, archway and guardhouse still remain. ​ At the time of the Occupation a family of 10 is said to have been living in the old guardhouse, La Garde. The Silver Mine Ruins ​ In 1834 Seigneur Pierre Le Pelley lll granted a 21 year mining concession for Sark. Mining began in 1835, mostly at Port Gorey where four shafts were sunk and a railway and jetty built. A rich seam of silver was struck but it was very narrow and did not last long. In 1839 Pierre drowned at sea and his brother Ernest took over as Seigneur. A brief period of prosperity followed but there was an ever-present need for more money and new pumps to prevent flooding. In 1845 a gallery ceiling collapsed and seawater flooded in, drowning ten miners. Legend has it that on the same day a ship loaded with Sark Silver was wrecked off the coast of Guernsey and all cargo lost. The ill-fated enterprise then came to an end, as did 120 years of Le Pelley Seigneurship when the family lost the Fiefdom of Sark as a result of the mining debts. St. Peter's Church ​ During the Napoleonic Wars, popular hostility and the rise of Methodism had undermined the authority of the Seigneur and his Mi nisters. A Sark Parish Church was conceived as a means of re-establishing the authority of Anglicanism in Sark. The Church was built in 1820 on what was once the site of a wooden tower housing the ‘Island Bell’, which now hangs at the Chief Pleas building. Funding came partly from the 40 Tenemant landowners who subscribed to the family pews, still in existence today. ​ Seigneur Reverend W. T. Collings had a keen interest in contemporary Gothic architecture and in 1877 he re-designed the east end with an ornate chancel and clock tower. The pulpit was installed in 1883 in memory of Reverend J.L.V. Cachemaille. Pilcher Monument On a stormy October evening in 1868 Agnew Giffard, his brother Walter, Russell Renouf, Dr. Gatehouse and J.G. Pilcher all set off for Guernsey from Havre Gosselin. They were warned it was too dangerous but tragically they did not take heed. The wreck of the gig was found seven miles from Dielette on the Normandy coast. Agnew's body came ashore in Havre Gosselin, Walter’s body was found in a small cave at the L'Eperquerie, Russell’s body was found in the Gouliot caves and two months later Pilcher’s body came ashore at Niton, Isle of Wight. The Doctor’s body was never found. The granite monument above Havre Gosselin was erected by Pilcher’s widow with an inscription warning others of the mighty power of the sea. Little Sark Dolmen The Little Sark Dolmen is a magnificent Megalithic stone structure over 3,000 years old, thought to be a sort of burial chamber. ​ More recent thinking suggests that dolmen sites were part of religious centres, brin g ing together scattered farms or settlements as a clan or family. Owing to the many burial sites found on Sark it is thought that the island as a whole was once a place of significant religious importance. Methodist Chapel ​ Sark's first Methodist Chapel was built in 1796 at La Ville Roussel. The working people of Sark had turned to the Methodists for moral leadership as they had become discontented with the feudal system and the Seigneural hold over the Church. However, by the 1920s the then owner of La Ville Roussel wished for the Chapel to be moved to a different location as the loud singing on a Sunday morning was too disruptive. ​ With permission from the English Crown, the land owner gifted a plot at the opposite end of the Island to the Methodists. In 1926 the Chapel was moved just under a mile to where it sits today. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE... SARK ARCHAEOLOGY ART AND LANGUAGE MONKS, PIRATES AND FOLKLORE