Fort Grey
A round white tower on a tidal islet, now a museum of the reefs and their wrecks.
Updated 3 September 2026
Fort Grey sits on a rock in Rocquaine Bay, a round white Martello-type tower inside a walled enclosure built in 1804, known locally as the Cup and Saucer for its shape. It now holds a shipwreck museum, which is apt: the Hanois reef offshore has taken a great many ships, and the displays cover the wrecks, the salvage and the lighthouse eventually built to stop them.
The main sights
- The Cup and Saucer - the round tower inside its circular enclosure.
- The shipwreck museum - displays on the reef's wrecks and salvage.
- The Hanois reef - the rocks offshore the museum is about.
- The tidal setting - a fort on a rock in the bay.
When to go
April to October is when the museum is open; it closes for winter. Tide affects the causeway at the highest waters. Late afternoon light on the white tower is best.
Good to know
The museum closes entirely through the winter. It is small and an hour or two covers it. The causeway floods on the biggest tides.
Nearby
Pleinmont is south, and Lihou is north.
What to pack for Fort Grey
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
