Corbiere Lighthouse | La Corbière - St Brelade, Jersey

One of my favourite places in Jersey was La Corbière. Located on the south-western point of Jersey in St. Brelade, it is a stunning location - remote and very beautiful.

Located on the headland is a memorial sculpted by Derek Tristram. The memorial, a sculpture of two hands clasping, was erected to commemorate the rescue of 307 passengers from a catamaran called Saint-Malo which ran aground on rocks off this point in 1995. A plaque accompanying the sculpture describes what had happened on that fateful day.

About the memorial

'During the morning of Monday, April 17th, 1995 whilst on passage from Jersey to Sark, the French catamaran "Saint-Malo" struck a rock known as La Frouquie, 900 metres north of La Corbière Lighthouse. Visibility was good at the time, but with a Spring tide ebbing to the west and a westerly Force 5 wind, the sea conditions near Corbière were moderate to rough.'

'Emergency services responded promptly and nearby ships gave assistance. All 307 passengers and crew were saved from the partially submerged vessel.'

'This memorial is erected in thanksgiving and as a tribute to the rescue, which with the help of God and of many strong arms, ensured the safe return of all on board.'

A lighthouse is situated atop a rock that is only accessible at low tide. This was the first lighthouse in the British Isles to be built of concrete and today is one of the most photographed landmarks in Jersey. When viewed from the coast, the lighthouse on the tidal island looks very dramatic and stunning - the rugged coastline, the causeway with rock pools on either side and the whitewashed lighthouse standing tall against the blue background. All of it is very beautiful. We walked to the lighthouse at low tide and it was lovely. We liked it so much that we went there on 2 different days to enjoy the dramatic setting. Definitely a must-see for any visitor to Jersey.

Useful Tips

• Check for the tide times and be alert always. Although a siren is sounded to warn people of the incoming tide, the tide can come in very quickly leaving the causeway covered.
• There is an ice cream stall near the car park and while the ice cream is yummy, watch out for the seagulls. They can be aggressive and may try to nick your foodstuff.