Greve de Lecq

Greve de Lecq is one of the most popular sea kayaking venues on Jersey.  The concentration of caves, particularly to the east of the bay is unequaled in on the island.  The only potential issue is at times the size of the swell which can be encountered along this stretch of coast, making exploration of the caves not only impossible but potentially very dangerous.  On warm summer days with no swell though it is difficult to think of anywhere better to be.  One cave after another is revealed and it is possible to paddle over 100 metres into at least two of them, making for a truly memorable paddle.

In addition to coastal exploration Greve de Lecq is the most popular departure point for one of Jersey's offshore reefs, the Paternosters.  Whilst paddling along the coast they will normally be visible, nearly 3 nm to the north.

In common with a number of the islands bays, at the conclusion of the paddle there is somewhere to relax and in the case of Greve de Lecq it is the Moulin de Lecq pub.

Part of the mill dates back to the 12th Century and the Germans used the water wheel to generate power for their search lights, a basic form of hydro electric power.  After a great day on the water though it is an ideal place to stop for a pint and is justifiably popular with members of the Jersey Canoe Club, it is where Committee meetings are held during the winter months.

Greve de Lecq from the air at low water.  The section of coast to the east, towards the top of this picture is riddled with caves.  It is one of the most popular areas for sea kayakers on the island.

 Looking east.  On a warm summers day this is one of the most popular beaches on the island.  Arriving too late in the summer will mean that parking is almost impossible.

 Arriving at Greve de Lecq from the west.  The pier was built in 1872 and partially destroyed in a storm 13 years later.  A small stump is left with the remnants of pier providing some shelter for the fishing boats which are launched off the beach.  In certain conditions the bay provides very challenging surf.

 Looking down on the Octopus Pool, on the eastern edge of the bay.  Generations of young Jersey people have amused themselves by jumping into the obvious rock pool in the middle of the rocks.  Underneath where I was standing there is a superb cave which runs through the headland to the small beach of Val Rouget.  Paddling or scrambling out from the beach it is the cave at the head of the third gully which leads through the headland.  

 One of the main caves along the coast.

If there is any swell around I like to reverse into the caves so it is possible to see if there are any waves heading towards you.

A Different Perspective

After having been kayaking with a number of archaeologists over the summer months, linked to the excavations at La Cotte de St Brelade, I have started to look at the island from a completely different perspective.

On Saturday we paddled around the north west corner of the island and as usual, swell permitting we entered a number of caves.  Previously I had always looked at the caves wearing my geographers hat.  What processes are at work to produce such dramatic physical features?

Nowadays I always think geography first but then I wonder whether the caves could have provided habitation in the same way that La Cotte de St Brelade did.

A number of academic institutions in the UK have combined in a project known as the The Quaternary Archaeology and Environments of Jersey project (QAEJ).  It makes interesting reading and helps, us as sea kayakers, to understand the backdrop to the environment in which we spend so much of our time.

I had paddled into this cave numerous times but until Saturday I had never realized that there was a tunnel leading through another section of the coast.  The tide was too high to go through the tunnel on Saturday so another visit, towards low water is necessary.

 A beautiful cave, close to La Cotte a la Chevre, which was known to have been inhabited, thousands of years ago.  It would be interesting to see what is on the shelf, above the kayakers head, but access looks like a challenge.  Extreme coasteering?

 Another cave which is close to slightly above the present high water mark. Conditions look favourable for a return visit towards the end of the week.  Today we have force 7 gusting 50 mph mean this area would look slightly different to when this picture was taken.