Rousse Tower

Fifteen loophole towers were built around Guernsey's coast in 1778-79, squat round granite structures with firing slits and a doorway well above ground, and Rousse on the north coast is the one restored and left open, with an interpretation display inside explaining how the chain worked. It stands on a headland with a small harbour beside it and the whole north coast in view. The towers were built in a hurry when invasion was expected, and the money came from the island's own parishes rather than from London.

What to look for

• The loophole tower - a 1770s granite tower with its raised doorway.
• The interior display - the interpretation of the island's tower chain.
• The headland position - the tower on its point with the harbour beside.
• The tower chain - one of fifteen built around the coast.

When to go

Year round; the tower is open through the day. Summer evenings are best on the headland. Winter winds here are strong.

Practical notes

The tower is small and a single room; an hour is generous. The other fourteen towers are closed. There are no facilities beyond parking.

Nearby

Vale Castle is east, and Cobo Bay is southwest.

Key facts