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Intertidal Walks
Welcome to Intertidal Walks, a page dedicated to guided walking tours on the seabed of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, which is revealed as the tide recedes. Scroll down for details about me, the walks I offer and upcoming events, with booking options, the cancellation and refund policy, privacy notice and contact information.
A large coastal area of the island, and several offshore reefs have been protected under the RAMSAR convention, which recognises wetlands of international importance. There are currently four protected sites around Jersey; Les Ecrehous and Les Dirouilles, Les Minquiers, La Pierres de Lecq reefs and the south east coast from La Collette, St Helier to Gorey, St Martin.
Located in the shallow waters of the Bay of St Malo, 136 km (85 miles) from the south coast of England, 22 km (14 miles) from the French coast, and with a southerly aspect, seabed exposed around the Jersey, 120 km2 (45.5 miles2), almost doubles the land area of the island on the lowest tides. Ranked 3rd amongst the largest tidal ranges in the world at around 12 m (almost 40 ft) on the biggest Spring or King tides, behind some spots along the Bristol Channel, England at around 15 m (almost 50 ft), and the Bay of Fundy in Canada at 16 m (53 ft), the shallow seas of the rocky shore provide a habitat that can support a richly diverse marine ecology, and as the tide recedes, a starkly rough and alien landscape is revealed.
About Me
I am a wondering wanderer with a keen interest in the natural world who spent much of my childhood exploring the beaches and rocky shore of the island. Intertidal Walks has evolved from pottering at low tide in my spare time, capturing images of the incredible biodiversity that lives there, to taking interested friends and now the general public through organised events. I am Lou Wagstaffe, and I will be your guide.
All the content and images on this page are mine, unless specified, and are subject to copyright.
Protection of Flora and Fauna
The intertidal zone is a diverse and fragile environment, we all have a duty of care to protect this unique habitat and limit the damage or disturbance we cause, or allow to be caused by our actions or the actions of others. My aim is to educate and inspire others to be as passionate as I am, and to respect and protect this wonderful and very special place.
I am an accredited operator under the WiSe scheme, which is a UK wide training scheme for minimising disturbance to marine wildlife, and there are some basic guidelines we can all follow whenever we set foot onto the beach and further into the intertidal zone.
Seashore Code
Walk with care and watch where you place your feet; be gentle with any creatures that you find, and handle them only with wet hands; slowly lift and replace any rocks or seaweed turned while exploring; to be quiet and not approach or disturb any sea birds or marine wildlife, and keep dogs under control; don’t litter and where possible remove any found for appropriate disposal onshore.
The Walks
I offer a range of day and night walks and give details of what is on offer, with required level of fitness, approximate duration, and estimated distance. For safety reasons some of the walks are restricted to adults only, and no dogs are permitted.
The intertidal zone is just that, and not a place to be underestimated. The area exposed between the tides, can quickly become a treacherous place to be if one is surrounded by the incoming tide. For this reason, walks typically follow the tide out, and return shortly after the tide has turned.
Spring tides are not named for the time of year, but for the speed at which they come in, and many unwary or inexperienced people have found themselves cut off by the tide, necessitating rescue. That said, the intertidal zone is a wild and beautiful place to spend time, and a guided walk is a great way to experience it safely.
Following is the list of walks planned for the next year, and subject to unforeseen circumstances, details of upcoming walks will be published through Eventbrite and on my Facebook and Instagram pages.
Wellies (Standard fit UK3 – 12/EU36 – 47) and waterproofs (Adult S – XXL) are available free of charge for use during the walks, and must be reserved when bookings are made to ensure that they are ready for you at the venue.
Private walks may be possible on alternative dates, depending on your requirements and tides. These can be booked directly with me, and are subject to minimum numbers.
Upcoming Events
Day Walks 2026
The following walks vary in distance and duration and may be age restricted for safety reasons (minimum ages of children vary depending on distance, tide and terrain). We will be walking over sand and gravel, rough and uneven, possibly slippery surfaces and through shallow pools, so be prepared to get your feet wet if you aren’t wearing wellies.
Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. Bring a snack and hydrating liquid if the weather is warm. Rain alone is unlikely to cause a walk to be cancelled.
Costs per person are variable, depending on the walk, and details are given below.
No dogs are permitted.
Private walks, subject to availability, may sometimes be arranged. Contact me directly to discuss your requirements.
More than 2km offshore.
2026 Dates:
May 2, 16 and 30
June 6, 7 and 13
July 3, 4 and 18
August 15, 16, 28, 29 and 30
September 25 and 26
October 30 and 31
November 13 and 14
December 27
Start and finish at Seymour slip
Distance 4 – 6 km
Duration approx. 3 hrs
2026 Prices: £30.00 pp Adults and children 16 yrs or over; £15.00 pp Children 12 – 15 yrs
Private walks, subject to my availability and tides, may sometimes be arranged – minimum 2 persons (£95) and additional as above. Contact me directly to discuss your requirements.
Walk through the rocky intertidal to the iconic landmark of Seymour Tower, take in the spectacular view from the raised platform and ponder on the lunar-like landscape exposed by one of the largest tidal ranges in the world.
Accessible only at the lowest tides
2026 Date:
Not available
Start and finish at Green Island slip
Distance 5 – 6 km
Duration 3.5 – 4 hr
Price: £35.00 Adults and children 16 yrs and over
Private walks, subject to availability and tides, may sometimes be arranged – minimum 2 persons (£105) and additional as above. Contact me directly to discuss your requirements.
This walk is not suitable for young children. A good level of fitness and an ability to keep up a good walking pace over several hours is required. Be prepared to get your feet wet, including the possibility of wading through knee deep water.
Accessible on foot for short periods during the lowest tides of the year, Icho Tower is iconic landmark in the seascape of the south east coast. Walk out to it along the exposed seafloor and marvel at the courage of the brave masons who weathered storms and isolation during the building of this isolated structure.
Accessible only at the lowest tides
2026 Dates:
Due to the lack of tides low enough to safely permit access, there are no walks planned this year.
Start at Seymour slip
Distance 5 – 6 km
Duration 4 – 4.5 hr
Price: £N/A Adults only
Private walks, subject to availability and tides, may sometimes be arranged – minimum 2 persons, from £110. Contact me directly to discuss your requirements.
This walk is not suitable for children. A good level of fitness and an ability to keep up a good walking pace over several hours is required. Walk way out beyond Seymour Tower to the Karame Beacon and Violet Bank, to where only the seabirds and a few hardy low water fishermen dare to go, on one of the lowest tides of the year. Enjoy the quietude, and tune in to the sounds of the natural world and be prepared to get your feet wet, including the possibility of wading through knee deep water, as we explore the sand bank, before turning for shore.
Accessible only at the lowest tides
2026 Dates:
April 19
September 12
Start and finish at Green Island slip
Distance 4 – 5 km
Duration 3 – 4 hr
2026 Price: £35 per person
Private walks, subject to availability, may sometimes be arranged – minimum 2 persons (£105) and additional as above. Contact me directly to discuss your requirements.
This walk is not suitable for children. A good level of fitness and an ability to keep up a good walking pace over several hours is required. Walk out to the sand banks of La Sambue reef. Situated to the south west of Green Island, these massive rocks stand above all the other geological formations in the area. There are some very large sand banks to the east of the rock, which form a large lagoon at low tide. The whole area is accessible on foot for a few hours when the tide is at its lowest of the year.
2026 Dates:
April 18
September 13
December 26
This walk starts and finishes at the top of the slip, ‘la Montée de la Sordonnière’, and will take us through gravelly gutters, shallow pools and across streams as we explore the rocky intertidal around La Motte, or Green Island.
Distance 2 – 3 km
Duration 3 – 3.5 hrs
Price: £29.00 pp Adults and children over 16yrs; £25.00 Children 13 – 15 yrs, £18.00 pp Children 6 – 12 yrs
Private walks, subject to availability, may sometimes be arranged – minimum 2 persons (£90) and additional as above. Contact me directly to discuss your requirements.
Bimbles On The Beach
Bimble, or gentle stroll, into the rocky intertidal zone and immerse yourself in the beautiful natural environment. These walks will be suitable for adults and children, (except the Rocco Tower walks which are for adults and over 16 yrs only), who are interested in exploring at the beach and will take place at different locations around the island.
We will be walking through shallow water and into rock pools, so please wear wellies or other suitable footwear and dress appropriately for the weather.
Duration: approx. 2 hrs (Rocco Tower 3 hrs)
Distance: 1 — 3 km
2026 Prices: £25.00 pp Adults and children over 16 yrs, £18.50 pp Children 13 — 15 yrs and £ 13.50 pp Children 6 — 12 yrs
Rocco Tower – Adults and over 16 yrs only: £30.00 pp
Private walks, subject to availability and tides are sometimes possible — minimum 2 people (£75), additional people as above. Contact me directly to discuss your requirements.
2026 Dates:
April 15
May 5 and 19
July 31
2026 Dates:
August 14
October 11
2026 Dates:
April 21
2026 Dates:
No dates planned
2026 Dates:
October 10
2026 Dates:
April 17
2026 Dates:
April 20
2026 Dates:
No planned walks
These walks are for 3 hours and are for adults and over 16 yrs only.
Price: £30.00 pp. No private walks available.
Night Walks 2026
As the sun sets, and twilight becomes dusk, strange creatures venture from their hiding places to go about their lives under the cover of darkness. The intertidal becomes an eerily quiet place, as activity winds down after the frenetic movement of the day.
These walks below take place in the vicinity of La Rocque harbour late at night and are not suitable for young children. A series of shorter walks held later in the year, when it gets dark earlier, are suitable for younger children (over 6 yrs).
We will be walking over sand and gravel, rough and uneven, possibly slippery surfaces and through shallow pools over sand, and gravel, so be prepared to get your feet wet if you aren’t wearing wellies. No dogs are permitted.
Take a walk into the darkness and discover some of the amazing creatures that come out after dark. Change your perspective of the beach, learn something about this beautiful island we call home, and see the zone between the high and low tides in a new light.
2026 Dates:
April 25
July 11, 24 and 25
August 8
October 4, 23 and 24
November 6, 7, 19, 20 and 21
December 4, 5, 19 and 20
Start and finish in La Rocque car park
Duration 2 – 2.5 hr
2026 Price: £29.00 Adults only
Private walks, subject to availability and tides are sometimes possible – minimum 2 persons (£85) and additional as above. Contact me directly to discuss your requirements.
2026 Dates:
June 26 and 27
Distance 3.5 – 4km
Duration 2.5 – 3hrs
Price: £37.00 Adults and children over 16 yrs
Private walks, subject to availability and tides are sometimes possible – minimum 2 persons (£110) and additional as above. Contact me directly to discuss your requirements.
2026 Dates:
September 5
October 3
November 1
December 2, 17, 18, 28, 29, 30 and 31
Duration 1.5 – 2 hr
Suitable for children over 6yrs
2026 Prices: £24.00 pp Adults and children over 16 yrs; £18.50 pp Children 13 — 15 yrs; £13.50 pp Children 6 — 12 yrs
Private walks, subject to availability and tides are sometimes possible – minimum 2 persons (£75) and additional as above. Contact me directly to discuss your requirements.
These are shorter versions of the La Rocque (Bioluminescence) walks above, and are suitable for younger children and less active adults.
