Plan Your Visit to the Best of Ouaisne Bay
About Ouaisne Bay
Located on the south coast of Jersey, Ouaisne Bay is a picturesque and tranquil spot renowned for its natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere. Nestled between the more popular St. Brelade’s Bay and the headland of Portelet Common, Ouaisne offers a quieter alternative with access to the adjoining beach of St Brelade’s Bay at low tide. With its wide sandy beach, sheltered waters and scenic coastal walks, it is the perfect place to unwind, enjoy a spot of sunbathing or explore the waters. The bay is also home to multiple historical landmarks including a Martello tower and a German war bunker, reflecting Jersey’s layered history. To top it off, its southern location and westerly facing beachfront make it the perfect spot to admire a glorious Jersey sunset. With its blend of natural charm and historical intrigue, Ouaisne Bay is a Jersey gem that is worth exploring.
Ouaisne Bay Historic Sites
Ouaisne Tower
Like many of Jersey’s beaches, Ouaisne Bay is overlooked by a Martello Tower, a historic landmark that highlights the island’s history. This particular tower, painted in red and white, was built during the 18th century as part of a series of Martello Towers making up Jersey’s coastal defense system against French invasion. Known as Ouaisne Tower, it is located in the centre of the beach and is one of the most photographed towers on the island, even featuring on Jersey bank notes.
Ouaisne Beach Wall
The Ouaisne Beach Wall is also an interesting historic site at the beach with German fortifications from the occupation built into it. Built as part of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall of defence during World War II, the concrete wall was built by the Nazis and their forced workers and features a German bunker, Strongpoint Le Grouin, that is one of the best preserved on the island.
Gun Battery
Between the beaches of Ouaisne Bay and St Brelade’s Bay lies a World War II gun battery. A remnant from the German occupation, this battery can be accessed by the cliff path and is one of the many war sites across the island.
La Cotte Cave
On the clifftops of La Cotte that overlook the beach, wanderers exploring the coastal pathway walk above a cave that has evidence of Stone Age activity. Archaeologists discovered the paleolithic site through a fissure in the rock and discovered evidence of human life dating back 250,000 years. With the name ‘La Cotte’ translating to ‘the cave’, the shape of the cave protected it and excavations discovered more that 200,000 stone tools and remains of Jersey’s first natives. While access is almost impossible, it is fascinating to walk by the site of Jersey’s oldest archaeological site which remains one of the most important Ice Age sites in Europe.
Ouaisne Bay Other Points of Interest and Things to Do
The adjoining beach to Ouaisne Bay, at low tide, visitors can wander between the two beaches, enjoying more space and rock pools along the way. One of the island’s most popular sandy beaches, St Brelade’s Bay has a little more to offer than Ouaisne Bay but if you are parked in Ouaisne Car Park, make sure you head back over before high tide.
Ouaisne Bay Shopping, Dining and Nightlife
While Ouaisne Bay was once renowned for its incredible beach parties, shopping, dining and nightlife at Ouaisne Bay is now practically non-existent with the exception of one pub, The Old Smugglers Inn. Open 7 days a week, year-round, the pub serves up traditional pub grub and offers live entertainment on some evenings. Further into the village, you will find a small number of cafes, restaurants and convenience stores but for more options, head to neighbouring St Brelade’s Bay.
Ouaisne Bay Sport and Events
Once a hub of activity, events at Ouaisne Bay are now limited due to the closure of Kismet Cabana. However, there is still plenty to do at St Brelade’s Bay, the adjoining beach at low tide.
Absolute Adventures
While there are no watersport activities or hire facilities at Ouaisne Bay, there are at neighbouring St Brelade’s Bay. Absolute Adventures is based at St Brelade’s Baty, Jersey’s leading adventure and watersports centre offering kayaking, paddleboarding and much more. Whether you hire equipment or book an excursion, there are plenty of ways to explore Jersey waters and take in the beauty of both bays. They also offer inflatable rides and RIB tours for a bit more adrenaline.
Visiting Ouaisne Bay
With the beachfront boasting a stunning coastal positioning on the south coast, Ouaisne Bay benefits from day-round sunshine. You can enjoy great conditions on a sunny day at any time, however, it is recommended to visit close to sunset for the best views with incredible scenery as the sun descends over the horizon.
During the summer months, the beach can get busy, especially with free parking nearby. However, the relaxed vibe here means that even visiting during the peak summer period is enjoyable. At low tide, the beach also opens up into neighbouring St Brelade’s Bay, creating a wider beachfront.
With partial wheelchair access, accessible parking and toilet facilities, the beauty of Ouaisne Bay is open to all at this inclusive beachfront.
At the beach, there are no shops or kiosks, making it important to arrive with all your beach essentials including snacks and drinks. For food throughout the day, The Old Smugglers Inn serves traditional pub grub and is great a dining option during your day at the beach.
Ouaisne Bay Facilities
Parking
Ouaisne Bay has a large, public car park located right next to the beach slipway. Due to free parking and great access to the beach, the car park can quite often be full, especially during peak times. It is recommended to arrive early in the day to secure parking, particularly during the summer season.
Public Transport
There are no bus services that stop directly at the beach, however, LibertyBus Route 12A stops at Ouaisne Junction which is the closest bus stop. From there it is approximately a 15 minute walk along Le Mont du Ouaisne to arrive at the beach. Alternatively, Ouaisne Bay is the adjoining beach to St Brelade’s Bay which is serviced by multiple bus routes from Liberation Station in St Helier.
Toilets
Public toilets are available at the back of the Ouaisne Bay car park including accessible toilets. A full list of public toilets available in Jersey is available at gov.je.
Changing and showers
There are no changing facilities or showers available at Ouaisne Bay.
Accessibility
Ouaisne Bay offers accessibility for all. There is both accessible parking and a drop-off point for closer access to the beach, with partial wheelchair access that includes a ramp to the beach. In the main car park, there are also accessible toilets available.
Lifeguards
There are no lifeguards on duty at Ouaisne Bay. Make sure to consider safe swimming, including staying close to the shore, swimming in groups and checking tide times. With Jersey home to the third-largest tidal range in the world, it is also important to be aware of strong currents. During the summer months, RNLI lifeguards patrol the neighbouring St Brelade’s Beach and can be contacted if assistance is required.
Food and Drink
There are multiple dining options close to Ouaisne Bay. The Old Smugglers Inn is located within close proximity of the beach, open daily and serving traditional pub dishes. There are more restaurants and cafes located further in the village.
Shops
There are no shops or kiosks located close to the beach. However, there are some small convenience stores located in the village less than a mile away.
