A wide, sheltered bay on Guernsey’s north-west coast, with easy access beside Grande Havre Kiosk near Vale Church. Popular with families, swimmers and paddleboarders, the beach opens onto a broad expanse of sand as the tide falls.
These predictions use St Peter Port, Guernsey’s standard reference port. Local timing and conditions at Grand Havre can vary slightly with weather and coastal geography. Times are shown in local Guernsey time.
Grand Havre is a wide, sheltered bay on Guernsey’s north-west coast, with several stretches of shore between Vale Church and Rousse. This page points to the Vale Church end of the bay, beside Grande Havre Kiosk, where easy access, parking and public toilets make it especially popular with families, swimmers and paddleboarders.
As the tide falls, the sea retreats across a broad sandy foreshore, exposing scattered rocks, shallow pools and channels. There is plenty of room for walking and playing at lower water, although reaching the sea can involve a considerable walk across the sand.
The bay curves around towards Rousse, where there is another kiosk, public toilets, a pier and the Peninsula Hotel.
Small boats and moorings are found within the bay. Swimmers and paddleboarders should watch for boat movements, keep clear of vessels and mooring lines, and remember that the relatively sheltered setting does not guarantee calm or safe conditions. There is no lifeguard.
Grand Havre formed the western entrance to the Braye du Valle, the tidal channel that once separated the Clos du Valle from the rest of Guernsey.
Grand Havre changes substantially with the tide. At lower water, a broad area of sand, rocks and shallow channels is exposed, providing the most space for walking and rockpooling. The water can be a long distance from the beach access at low tide.
As the tide rises, the sea moves closer to the sea wall and access points, reducing the amount of exposed sand. Middle to higher tide can mean a shorter carry for paddleboarders and less distance to reach deeper water, but rocks, moorings and other submerged obstacles may become harder to see.
The bay is relatively sheltered, but wind strength and direction can still change conditions quickly. Paddleboarders should check the forecast, remain within comfortable reach of shore and use appropriate safety equipment. An offshore wind can make returning difficult, while a falling tide may leave a long walk back across wet sand.
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North-westTides. Tide predictions are forecasts. Actual sea level is affected by atmospheric pressure, wind and waves. Always observe the sea and your surroundings.
Swimming. Sea swimming carries risks: currents, waves, rocks, submerged structures, boats and cold water. This page is for planning and does not confirm conditions are safe. Do not assume the beach is lifeguarded.
Facilities. Facilities and café opening hours change seasonally. Check directly before making a journey specifically to use them.
Guernsey