Seymour Tower

Seymour tower dominates the bay of Grouville

Built in 1782, the tower dominates the Royal Bay of Grouville. Seymour Tower lies 1.5 miles/2.3 km offshore and is surrounded by a mass of granite rocks and gullies that is home to a huge and diverse range of marine creatures and bird life.

The walk takes you across sand bars and into the gullies and gutters, which at low tide fall dry. Stand in gullies that a few hours later will be flooded by up to 40 ft/12 m of ocean as the tide rushes back in to reclaim its territory. This is not a place to venture without local knowledge and a guide.

Learn about the marine history and fishing activities, which form part of our island’s rich history.

Observe low water fishermen searching for lobster, prawns, and perhaps the famous ormer. On most of the walks we also go past the oyster beds, where huge amounts are exported from or just be delivered to the local pub round the corner.

Even in the winter months you will see fascinating creatures, sponges, sea lemons, sea anemones and a wide variety of shellfish and seaweed. Enjoy the experience of being away from the sounds and activities of everyday life in a place that is neither sea nor land.

Duration: 2½ –3 hours.

Icho Tower

Though just 1.25 miles/2 km southwest of Le Hocq, Icho Tower provides a different experience to Seymour Tower. We walk through gullies catching glimpses of the wider

panoramas that suddenly open up to reveal a mass of reefs and sand bars. Expect to loose sight of the land as you drop into the gullies. But at Icho Tower, built in 1811, almost all the south coast of Jersey is visible. And on a clear day you can spot the tiny islands of Les Minquiers, 12 miles/18 km away, on the horizon in the southwest. At low tide the area of Les Minquiers is larger than Jersey.

Findings of bones of a single human and a horse as well as pottery and flint, dating back to Bronze Age, prove the prehistoric importance of le hoyge haag or Huge Hoge, the old Norse name meaning “high mound”.

For centuries granite was quarried around Icho and today the area, part of the Ramsar site stretching from La Colette (St Helier) to La Rocque and Seymour Tower, is important as a nesting site for sea birds, the cultivation of oysters and low water fishing.

The walk to Icho Tower is only possible on the very lowest equinox or spring tides.

Duration: 2½–3 hours.

Moonwalk through the stars

As night descends, star like shapes of luminous green twinkle and sparkle in a few special spots at low tide – with or without the moon illuminating the bizarre seabed at your feet.

Observe bioluminescence and other marine life with a guide in the Ramsar wetlands site offshore towards Seymour Tower. In just a few hours the sea will return and cover your footprints by up to 40 ft/12 m of ocean.

This type of walk is a great way to experience the area at night without the very late starts that are often needed, when heading out for a Moonwalk to Seymour Tower.

Note: With all natural phenomena the amount and frequency of bioluminescence can vary from day to day.

Duration: 1½ hours.

Night walks to Seymour Tower

Nothing looks the same at night when you walk over the intertidal sand bars and mudflats, which make the southeast coast of Jersey unique. Rocks take on a new form under the stars.

Experience the  sea-landscape  French soldiers discovered as they marched towards the shore and later into St Helier at daybreak on the  7^th January, Twelfth night  1781, led by Baron de Rullecourt.

Perhaps see bioluminescence in the rock pools or catch sight of a lobster creeping about.

A moonwalk can be undertaken on most of the scheduled walking dates. Contact us.

Duration: 2½–3 hours.

Icho and Seymour Tower combined walk

This walk is outstanding, a unique experience for all, who can grab the chance to walk between the two coastal fortifications.

The Two Tower Walk  is only possible on big equinox low tides, when the sun and moon combine to produce some of the lowest tides of the year. You will walk approximately 7 miles/10,5 km through gullies and gutters and past rocks that are normally submerged beneath the ocean. A good walking speed is required because tide and time wait for no one. If clients are not walking fast enough the walk will have to be shortened.

Duration: 4½ hours