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The car was left parked in Granville. The crossing to Chausey is by boat with a specialist operator or by private pleasure craft.
(S/E) From the wooden jetty on stilts, jutting out into the Sund, head for the mainland, leave the Grande Cale on your right and follow the small road up to the first houses. Head east straight away, towards the old fort (construction began in 1859 on the orders of Napoleon III, completed in 1866).
(1) Walk round it to the north-east, make a return trip through the fort’s entrance, then pass the pyramid-shaped tower – known as the Lambert Tower (which serves as a navigational mark for sailors) – on your left, and follow the path to the lighthouse (built in 1847).
In front of the entrance to the lighthouse grounds, take a very good path on the left, which passes between the houses and runs along the seafront to the south. This south-western part of the island belongs to the French State, which has permanently allocated it to the Conservatoire du Littoral.
Walk past the old fort to the west and reach Port-Marie beach. At low tide, the seabed is exposed for a great distance.
It is one of only two beaches where swimming is permitted and the only one that is lifeguarded from 15 June to 15 September.
Continue along the path which skirts the beach to the north.
Make your way to the Pointe de Bretagne, staying strictly on the only authorised path, without cutting across or straying onto the numerous tracks to the left and right, where the thick scrub of broom and other thorny plants prevents you from approaching the southern shore outside these tracks... Pass the ‘Stèle’ monument on your right and continue along the path on the island’s western shore. Keep the imposing Château-Renault building in your sights.
(2) Walk alongside this château on the sea side, leaving its granite-carved swimming pool on your right and passing along the south-west-facing Port Homard beach. Then head north to reach the Grande Grève beach, which faces due west, where fishing vessels used to run aground to have their hulls maintained, depending on the direction of the wind.
This is the second beach authorised for swimming, but it is unsupervised.
Retrace your steps from the beach and head due east back towards the start. This will take you to the village of Les Blainvillais. Here you’ll find numerous fishermen’s cottages (or old houses), the old farm and a holiday centre. The charming cove of Les Blainvillais opens out onto the Sund; it’s a picturesque spot. You can make a detour to the north-eastern cove which flows into the channel and even walk along it at low tide.
(3) Continue round the island heading south-east, making sure not to miss the island’s chapel and its small dolmen, which was uncovered some twenty years ago by Father Delaby, the last resident parish priest on the island.
(4) A little further on, on the right, on a large lawn, walk around the typical, well-restored houses (not yet off-limits). After this lovely walk, return to the starting point of the route (S/E).
You can also choose to return to Port Marie Beach whilst waiting for the ferry, by taking the short path heading south-south-west.
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Association / Club / Walk leader
