St Ouen's Bay

St Ouen's Bay, sweeping for some five miles along the wild west coast of Jersey, is the island's grandest and most spectacular beach, a magnificent arc of golden sand backed by rolling dunes and washed by rolling Atlantic surf. Facing the open ocean, it is the heart of Jersey's surfing scene, with schools and surfers riding its consistent waves, and a favourite for walking, kite-flying and watching the sun sink into the sea. Behind the beach lie the protected dunes and wetlands of Les Mielles, rich in wildlife and dotted with historic sites, while old defensive towers punctuate the shore. Big, breezy and beautiful, St Ouen's is a wonderful stretch of coast.

What you actually see

• The sweeping sands - the five-mile arc of golden beach.
• The surf - the consistent Atlantic waves and surf scene.
• The dunes - the protected dunes and wetlands behind.
• The sunsets - the sun sinking into the western sea.

When to go

May to September brings the warmest, sunniest weather for the beach, surfing and dune walks, with long days and glorious sunsets; the surf is often best in autumn, and the beach is bracing and dramatic in any season. Summer is liveliest, spring and autumn quieter.

Honest expectations

St Ouen's faces the open Atlantic, so it is often breezy with strong surf and currents, wonderful for experienced surfers but calling for care when swimming. As Jersey's magnificent five-mile surf beach of golden sand and dunes, prized for waves and sunsets, though, St Ouen's Bay is a genuinely spectacular and beloved stretch of coast.

Nearby

The dunes of Les Mielles, the capital St Helier and the west-coast towers lie nearby.