Serk - Southern Circular Route of the Island

(S/E) From the square at the entrance to the village of La Collinette, where the horse-drawn carriages wait and opposite the high street, turn left towards Dixcart Bay. At the first T-junction, turn left towards the east and pass through the hamlet.

(1) Continue straight on along the path towards the cliff, which then turns left towards a viewpoint overlooking the tiny harbour of Creux Harbour, as well as a late 18th-century cannon.

(2) Retrace your steps back to the previous junction.

(1) Take the path on the left, heading south towards Derrible Point, then a small path on the left climbs a short distance in a zigzag to Sark Henge.

(3) Turn back and rejoin the coastal path on the left overlooking Derrible Bay. Further on, follow a path on the left leading to Hogs Back: sweeping views over Derrible and Dixcart Bays.

(4) Turn back and rejoin the coastal path you left earlier, following it straight ahead towards the north. At the junction, continue straight ahead on the path which later turns left, heading due south towards Dixcart Bay. Before leaving the wooded area, take the path on the left which descends to Dixcart Beach.

(5) Turn back and continue left along the path you left earlier. Take the coastal path on the left.

(6) Where the path turns right, take the small path on the left which joins the ‘road’ at La Coupée. Before reaching the road, enjoy the view on the left overlooking La Coupée.

(7) Cross La Coupée to enter Petit Sercq and stay on the road until you reach the Hôtel de la Sablonnerie.

(8) At the corner of La Sablonnerie, take the path on the left for 300 m. Pass the gate on the right and continue straight on towards the dolmen, which you reach by going through two gaps in the fence. The main attraction isn’t the dolmen itself, but the view across to Dixcart Bay and the impressive cliffs.

(9) Retrace your steps to the large gate, which will now be on your left, signposting the direction of Venus Pool.
Look to your right for the chimneys of the old silver mine.

(10) Continue heading due south towards Venus Pool. The path then turns north, leading to La Sablonnerie via Anse de Port Gorey (ruins of the old mine below).

(11) The path is a bit steep and poorly signposted. Make sure you’re wearing sturdy footwear to descend to this well-hidden natural pool. (Accessible 2 hours before and after low tide).

(12) Go through the^first gate and exit the field via the next one (always remember to close it properly).

(8) Stay on the main road (going in the opposite direction to the way there) and rejoin the Coupée.

(7) Carry straight on until you reach the junction for the Pilcher Monument.

(13) Take the track on the left and then join the path coming from the village.

(14) Turn left again and head to the monument to enjoy a superb view of Havre Gosselin and the islet of Brecqhou.

(15) Return along the path in the opposite direction to reach the previous crossroads.

(14) Carry on straight ahead and follow this road to reach the Ancien Moulin, the highest point in Sercq at 114 metres above sea level.

(16) Continue along the street which turns left at the entrance to the village. Just after this, you’ll arrive at a small square where the Tourist Office and the prison are located.

(17) Continue along the main street of the island’s capital, Sark’s only shopping street, leading to the square at the entrance to the village of La Collinette (S/E).

This walk takes you along the paths, coastal trails and ‘roads’ of Sark. Don’t be put off by the word ‘road’: there are no cars or scooters here. The roads are unpaved.

Access to the island by boat from Guernsey all year round. Passport required.

The local currency is the Guernsey pound. The pound sterling is also accepted. Please note that if you have any local pounds left over, they will not be accepted in the rest of the United Kingdom.

The local language is English.

Serq is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey but retains its autonomy. The Lord of Serq is appointed by the British Sovereign, just like the Bailiff of Guernsey. The island belongs to the Crown, but not to the United Kingdom. Following a vote, the feudal system gave way to a parliamentary monarchy in 2008.

(3) Sark Henge: 9 standing stones erected in 2015 to mark the^450th anniversary of the establishment of the Lordship of Sark. Of particular interest is the view from the headland at Derrible.

(7) La Coupée: an 80-metre-high rocky ridge separating Sark from Petit-Serck. This passage was so dangerous that in the past children had to cross the isthmus on all fours. After the island’s liberation in May 1945, German prisoners were forced to reinforce it and build guardrails.

(12) Silver mines: mining began in 1835 at Port Gorey, where four shafts were sunk and a railway and jetty were built. A rich vein of silver was struck, but it was very narrow and did not last long.
A brief period of prosperity followed, but there was always a need for funding and new pumps to prevent flooding.
In 1845, the ceiling of a tunnel collapsed and seawater flooded in, drowning ten miners (mostly from Cornwall). The ill-fated venture came to an end.

(15) Pilcher Monument: in memory of Captain Pilcher who, along with his crew, perished in this strait separating Serck and Brecqhou: the Gouliot Passage.

(16) The Old Mill: the highest point on Sark at 114 m. Until 2008 (the transition to a parliamentary monarchy), only the Lord could own a mill, a dovecote and an unspayed female dog.
The Lord was the only person on the island legally authorised to grind grain, and he charged his tenants for the privilege of grinding theirs. The mill was in use until the Second World War.

(17) Prison: rebuilt in the^second half of the 19th century, it is still in use. Its two cells are used very rarely and mainly to sober up a few tourists. The stay may not exceed two days. Beyond that, the prisoner is transferred to Guernsey. Sark has two volunteer police officers: the constable and his assistant.