The government has plans to work with landowners, parishes, Visit Jersey and other stakeholders to connect and expand existing paths to create a more ‘joined-up network’ to attract tourists and encourage residents to get out and about.
The Government Plan has allocated approximately £665,000 to improve countryside access, with one of the government’s key priorities over the next four years being the improvement of Islanders’ wellbeing, mental and physical health.
The government has also pledged to protect and value the local environment and create a vibrant economy.
This week, Jersey was voted one of the top destinations in Europe for a walking break alongside the Dolomites, the Alps, Lake Constance and the Highlands of Scotland. Jersey was cited as the best destination for ‘quiet coastal hikes and fabulous food’. Visit Jersey, which aims to attract one million visitors to the Island a year by 2030, has previously spoken about the importance of marketing Jersey as a walking destination – particularly in the shoulder months.
About 70km of publicly accessible routes are currently managed by the government and used by an estimated 100,000 people per year. Natural environment officer Julia Clively said the intention was to invest in the network using funds allocated in the Government Plan.
She added: ‘We hope that it will be possible to extend the network. Many of the best-known routes are coastal, but we’d like to have some focus on inland paths as well.
‘Having a south-to-north route is one of our aspirations – it could run from the north of St Helier up to the north coast, and there are some existing paths that could form part of this route.’
Ms Clively said that since the launch of the Countryside Access Strategy for Jersey 2016, there was a closer working relationship between landowners, helping to manage the legal position regarding access.
‘We have a different set of legislation in Jersey to the UK, and where paths cross private land we negotiate licence agreements with landowners. We are very grateful to those landowners who permit access as part of such an agreement,’ she said.
One element of the access strategy is a map showing all of the Island’s paths and denoting whether they are for walkers, cyclists or horse riders, and indicating the level of difficulty. This also highlights routes that are suitable for wheelchairs. The map can be seen at gov.je/environment/pages/accesscountryside.
‘Managing the network is quite a delicate balancing act – we want to make sure paths are safe, but we don’t want to over-manicure them with paved surfaces or excessive fencing,’ Ms Clively added.
Improved signage is another aim, although the intention is that this will be handled sensitively to reflect the Island’s environment and avoid giving rural paths a ‘built-up’ feel.
A team of rangers, supported by contractors, maintains the network of paths at an estimated annual cost of 75p per metre of path.
In its feature on European walking destinations, Condé Nast Traveller described the Island’s ‘narrow winding roads, pretty villages, friendly locals and incredible scenery around every turn’, saying that Jersey was ‘a mere hop from the mainland, but with a vibe all of its own’.
Visitors were urged to explore a location that was ‘fringed on all sides with near-deserted beaches and cliffside walking trails that wind their way through the hills above’. Reference is also made to the opportunity to refuel at a range of eateries from beachside cafés to gourmet restaurants, with seafood and other local ingredients featuring prominently on the menus.
