Ile au Guerdain or Janvrin's Tomb is a small rocky island in Portelet Bay, which is linked to the beach below Portelet by a sand tombolo for at least 3 hours either side of low tide.
In 1721 a local seafarer called Philippe Janvrin died of the plague while at sea. The local people wouldn't allow his body to be brought ashore but permitted his burial on Ile au Guerdain. His body was exhumed at a later date and reburied at St Brelade's Church.
The building on the summit of the island is a Martello Tower, which was built in 1808.
Getting on to the island is an easy scramble over some rocks. However I could see no obvious path to the top of the island. I have no experience of rock climbing and was about to give up when a couple sprinted passed me and scrambled up a route they obviously knew well. I followed them but as is often the case getting up was easier than getting down again! I found the geocache and took a few photos and then made my way back down very slowly.
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| Tombolo - looking south towards Ile au Guerdain |
Ile au Guerdain looking east from Portelet Common
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| Ile au Guerdain from Noirmont Point - the tide was retreating rapidly and by the time we reached Portelet Bay it had gone out far enough to access the island with dry feet |
The tombolo is beginning to appear as the tide goes out.
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| Ile au Guerdain |
Ile au Guerdain
Martello Tower on the summit of Ile au Guerdain
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| Martello Tower |
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