The Jersey Collection; Le Saie

Le Saie is a tiny bay, hidden on Jersey’s North-East coast in the parish of St Martin. Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands, boasting dozens of gorgeous bays and beaches and so much more, with something for absolutely everyone. Le Saie stems from Le Scez, meaning harbour in Jerrais, Jersey’s native but now largely dis-used language. Found along Le Mont de Rozel, Le Saie is an amazing and secluded Jersey beauty spot perfect to explore.

I have written about many of this stunning island’s best spots to visit as part of The Jersey Collection, but Le Saie – or Le Saie Harbour as it is sometimes referred to – has been the most difficult to research. This illusive little bay is a truly well kept secret, although the ‘30 Bays in 30 Days’ Challenge has certainly brought more visitors than in previous years. Still, the most prominent recorded public information about Le Saie is a contraversial incident that happened back in 2014, where a number of people were spotted engaging in pretty unseemly activities by shocked locals on the bay. Those individuals were never caught, but other than that there was not much to be easily found about the site. Nevertheless, don’t allow this to dissuade you from making a trip there. Le Saie is a very private spot and there is much to be found there. Despite this, it is not – yet – a big tourist spot. You will undoubtedly find some peace there, and plenty of curious dark rock to explore. In fact, the bay is almost wholly covered by this dark rock, only briefly showing some creamy, sea-soaked sand when the tide is low.

La Saie is a lesser known spot on Jersey’s jaw-dropping coast, and though it has become popular with visitors over the past few years, it is still secluded and quiet. Like all of Jersey’s bays and beaches, La Saie has its own distinctive vibe. For those looking for lush sands to sunbathe on for hours, Le Saie may not be what you are after. But if you are looking for somewhere different and completely unique, Le Saie should be on your radar. A short walk down a little path offers absolutely unbeatable open ocean views over ferns, and there is a ‘wish tree’ standing laden on your arrival. While care must be taken, you can swim off the rocks in clear, untainted waters that are never crowded. Le Saie’s black rocks are a feature alone, and clearly have been for a long time. Historians have identified some of the formations as ancient fish traps, indicating that people have used Le Saie for hundreds of years at the least.

A trip to Le Saie includes more than the bay itself. Le Couperon is the name of the headland that seperates Le Saie and Rozel Bay, and it is home to Le Couperon guardhouse and Le Couperon dolmen. The guardhouse was erected in 1689 to support a defensive gun position, and then rebuilt in 1778. The dolmen, on the other hand, is an age older. Overlooking the stunning turquoise waters that surround Le Saie, Le Couperon dolmen is actually a gallery grave made up of a covered chamber enclosed by stone. It originates from the Chalcolithic Period, which is dated between 2250 — 3250 B.C. (or B.C.E). It is free to visit and you are able to venture inside, though it is naturally asked to show respect and not damage the stone. An ancient site on an ancient land, history buffs and adventurers alike will revel in being able to explore Le Saie so freely.

Le Saie does have a tiny space used for parking cars, but be warned that it is very tight and fills up quickly. There is only enough room for a handful of cars and unless you’re familiar and comfortable with Jersey driving you may find it quite stressful. Instead, you can of course reach Le Saie by bike or using Jersey’s Liberty Bus Service, taking the Route 3 bus to La Grande Route de Rozel and then walking the pathway called La Fue des Fontonelles. This will take you to the dolmen, only a few minutes from the car parking area at the top of Le Saie. Unfortunately the rocky nature of Le Saie means that it has no disabled access, and those with reduced mobility may find it unsuitable. Dogs are allowed to visit, and as mentioned before there is no lifeguard service. There are also no facilities or amenities – Le Saie is entirely void of commercialisation.

Le Saie is truly is perfect for those looking to explore wild Jersey, with its untouched bay, headland, dolmen and breath-taking views. If you enjoyed reading about Le Saie, please drop this post a like and follow if you want more travel and lifestyle content like this delivered directly to you. If you have been to Le Saie before, feel free to comment what you thought of this gorgeous spot. Wishing you all a beautiful day!