Castle Cornet combines views of St Peter Port and the neighbouring islands with several historical attractions. The site is just a short walk from the centre of St Peter Port. If you want to get to know Guernsey through its culture and landscape, this is a great place to start: views, museums and self-guided trails are all in one place.
Castle Cornet: museums and trails around the castle grounds
Castle Cornet is home to the Story of Castle Cornet, the 201 Squadron (RAF) Museum, the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry Museum and the Royal Guernsey Militia Museum. The four museums offer different points of interest, while panoramic views extend beyond the castle to St Peter Port and the neighbouring islands. A walk around the site thus combines the experience of the town with a sense of its island setting.
The grounds also feature self-guided trails for children and a dress-up area. These activities are specifically aimed at children; alongside the museums and viewpoints, they offer a separate way to engage with Castle Cornet. Depending on whether you are most interested in the museums, views of the surroundings or trails for children, the castle offers different perspectives.
Bays, beaches and swimming spots
Guernsey’s coastline features a variety of shores. Ladies Bay lies in the north-east corner of the island, on the edge of L’Ancresse Common, and is a family-friendly beach. Cobo Bay is a white-sand beach. Rocquaine Bay, by contrast, is a pebble beach, while Fermain Bay is a pebble cove on the rugged east coast. At Saints Bay, a sandy stretch of beach meets a pebble bank at the top of the beach; cliffs surround the bay. These descriptions make the differences between beaches, bays and shorelines clear, so that not every coastal spot feels the same.
Swimming spots on Guernsey include Port Soif and the Lihou Venus Pool. The Horseshoe Pool at La Vallette has a distinctive design: the pool is U-shaped and provides access for swimming in the sheltered bay. As well as the swimming spots mentioned above, visitors can choose a purpose-built bathing pool with a connection to the bay as a specific coastal feature.
Island trails and stories from the Occupation
Across Guernsey’s five islands, scenic routes range from easy walking paths to more challenging cliff paths, with views along the way. In the wider Guernsey travel area, the Walking Festivals take place on the islands every spring and autumn. Each lasts two weeks. Check the dates for the relevant year before planning. For walks, the routes offered by the Guernsey Guild of Accredited Guides may also be of interest: the Guild offers guided routes on the islands throughout the year, covering themes such as the Occupation, St Peter Port, literature and art. If you plan to join a guided route, check its current availability with the provider.
Signposts and the VisitGuernsey app also guide you along walking, cycling or driving routes to places associated with stories from Guernsey’s German Occupation. The different types of route offer a way to explore these places using different means of transport; app features may change, so it is worth checking the latest information before planning. On Lihou, the house is a reminder of the Occupation: it was shelled during the German occupation of the Channel Islands in the Second World War and now serves as group accommodation. If you plan to stay there, check current availability directly.
Water sports and more to explore
Water-based activities across the islands of Guernsey include stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, wildlife boat trips and fishing trips. They add activities on the water to the swimming spots. On land, the options range from walking paths to more challenging cliff paths; on the water, paddling, boat trips and fishing trips cater to different interests. This lets you plan your exploration around what appeals to you most, without reducing the coast to just one way of experiencing it.
Discover more destinations: St Martin Guernsey, Saint Peter, Carmel, Braye, Saint Sampson, Kings Mills, Saint Anne, Chile.
