← Guernsey Marathon·2 nights

Guernsey's West Coast: The Marathon Route at Walking Pace

Two nights on the coast the marathon ran along, with flat bays, a causeway at low tide and the headland at Pleinmont, all served by the 41 and 42 buses.

Duration2 nights
TransitAbout 30 minutes by bus (routes 41 and 42) or taxi from St Peter Port
DepartsSt Peter Port

After the Guernsey Marathon: The West Coast

The Route: St Peter Port → Cobo → Rocquaine / Pleinmont → Guernsey Airport Logistics: Bus routes 41 and 42 serve the west coast from the town terminus; a taxi is simpler with bags. The airport is on the same side of the island. Marathon Month: April Duration: 2 nights

St Peter Port ──(approx. 30 mins, bus 41/42 or taxi)──> Cobo / Vazon
                                                              │
                        Rocquaine Bay / Pleinmont ◄──(local bus / taxi)
                                                              │
              Guernsey Airport (GCI) ◄──(approx. 20 mins taxi)┘

The Guernsey Marathon runs along the west coast between about 15 and 30 km, mostly at sea level, mostly in a headwind, and mostly without time to look. This itinerary goes back and looks. It is the easiest trip in the set because it needs no boat.

April on the west coast is cool, windy and bright when the weather is kind. The bays face the Atlantic, so the sea is rough and the beaches are empty. Cobo is known for its sunsets, and in mid-April the sun sets in the early evening. Wear a windproof layer, and bring a hat for the headland. Check bus times for the week you travel, because Sunday and holiday service is thinner.

Routes 41 and 42 serve Cobo, Vazon and the west-coast villages from the town terminus; confirm the current timetable and fares at buses.gg. A taxi from St Peter Port takes about 20 to 30 minutes. A hire car gives the most freedom, but the lanes are narrow and the hedges high.

Nights one and two: Cobo and the coast

The bay at Cobo is a wide arc of flat sand with a promenade, and walking along the beach is the recovery plan. Vazon, a little further on, is a longer, flatter beach, and the road behind it is level. Both are easy on the legs.

Rocquaine Bay, at the south-west, has a small castle on a rock, Fort Grey, locally called the Cup and Saucer, which houses a shipwreck museum. Opening hours are seasonal; check before you go. L'Eree, further along, has a shingle bay and a tidal causeway to the small island of Lihou. The causeway is walkable only around low tide and is uneven underfoot, so look at the tide tables and keep to the marked route.

Pleinmont, the headland at the south-west corner, is where the marathon reaches its furthest point from the harbour. German wartime towers and gun positions stand on the cliff, and the footpaths are on grass with some rough ground. It is a place to stand and look at the sea, and not a place to attempt in worn-out legs and wind.

The German Occupation Museum at Forest, on the way back to the airport, covers the five years of occupation from 1940 and is indoors and level. Check its April opening hours before you plan around it.

Where to stay: Cobo Bay Hotel overlooks the bay and is the most straightforward base for the beach and the buses. Fleur du Jardin, a country inn at King's Mills in Castel, is inland and quieter. Rates vary by week; book a refundable room.

Where to eat: The west-coast hotels and pubs serve fish, crab and local dairy, and are used to walkers arriving from the beach. Ask your hotel for the evening's tide and sunset time, then ask for a table with a view.

Getting to Guernsey Airport

Guernsey Airport (GCI) is on the south-west side of the island, about 15 to 20 minutes from Cobo by taxi. The west-coast base makes the airport closer than the town. Book your taxi the night before; the buses may not match your flight.