Four historic intertidal bathing areas on the St Peter Port waterfront, free to use throughout the year.
These predictions use St Peter Port, Guernsey’s standard reference port. Local timing and conditions at La Vallette Bathing Pools can vary slightly with weather and coastal geography. Times are shown in local Guernsey time.
Beta feature. The pools hold water while their walls stand clear of the sea; near high water the sea washes over them. Times are a guide only — not a sea-safety assessment. If one looks wrong, please get in touch.
Near high water the sea covers the surrounds and railings, which become unseen obstructions. A pool is not “safe” simply because the tide is below its walls.
La Vallette has four historic bathing areas: the Ladies’, Gents’, Children’s and Horseshoe pools. The original names remain, but all four are mixed and open to everyone. The Horseshoe bathing area was built in 1844; the Ladies’ and Gents’ pools followed in the 1870s, with the Children’s Pool added around 20 years later. The three enclosed pools retain seawater as the tide falls, while the open-sided Horseshoe behaves differently and provides access towards the bay.
The pools are free to use throughout the year. Facilities include changing rooms, toilets, free cold freshwater showers, hot showers available for a charge, a café and a defibrillator, and the café and indoor facilities have their own opening hours. Access to the Children’s, Horseshoe and Gents’ pools involves steps. A ramped route serves the Ladies’ Pool, but it is steep in places and should not be assumed to be independently manageable by every visitor. Surrounds vary in level and can be slippery when wet, and a RADAR-key adapted toilet is available, although internal turning and transfer space are limited. The Children’s Pool is shallower than the other enclosed pools, but children still require close supervision around water, steps and wet surfaces. Do not assume the pools are lifeguarded or continuously supervised. Individual pools also close periodically for cleaning and maintenance, so check the latest official closure schedule before travelling to use one pool.
The enclosed pools are refilled by the sea as the tide rises and retain water after it falls. On larger tides, water and waves can cover the pool surrounds, steps and railings, which then become unseen obstructions. The covering heights below are estimates of when overtopping begins, not pool depth or safety limits: wind, waves and atmospheric pressure can change when covering starts, and waves can overtop the walls below the estimated height. A pool is not necessarily safe simply because the predicted tide remains below its estimated covering height. Never assume there is sufficient depth for jumping or diving.
No community photos of La Vallette Bathing Pools yet. Be the first to add one and help build a picture of the beach at every state of the tide.
Add your photoTides. 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