Portelet Bay
A sheltered southwestern bay with a tidal island and tower in the middle of it.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
Portelet is a sheltered bay in Jersey's southwestern corner, reached by a long flight of steps from the clifftop, with a small island in the middle of it carrying a round tower of 1808. The island is known as Janvrin's Tomb, after a ship's captain who died of plague offshore in 1721 and was buried there rather than being allowed to land. The bay faces south, which makes it one of the warmer beaches.
What you actually see
- The tidal island - the rock in the middle of the bay with its 1808 tower.
- The Janvrin story - the captain buried on the island after dying of plague offshore.
- The steps - the long descent from the clifftop to the sand.
- The southern aspect - the sheltered warm bay facing away from the north coast.
When to go
May to September is the beach season. The island can be reached on foot at lower tides. The steps are the constraint at any season.
Honest expectations
The stairway down is long and the climb back is hard work. There are no facilities on the beach itself. The bay is small and fills on fine days.
Nearby
Beauport Beach is northwest, and St Brelade's Bay is north.
What to pack for Portelet Bay
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.