The pools
Known within local swimming circles as just “The Pools”, there are four swimming venues along La Vallette, all within easy walking distance of each other. All Pools are free to everyone; there is no charge for using any of them, and we trust that all users will show care and respect for all areas and each other.
The Ladies’ pool
Possibly the most popular bathing place at La Vallette, the Ladies’ Pool is long enough for serious swimmers (55 yards per length), sheltered enough for those wanting to bob around and chat, and perfect for enjoying a post-swim chat, warming cuppa, and tasty food.
There’s plenty enough space for everyone who wants their own type of swim fun, plus a platform for the braver swimmers, and steps that lead into the open sea for anyone looking to have a mini-sea adventure.
Swimmers also benefit from renovated changing rooms, refreshing warm showers, and lockers for personal possessions.
Access is via a sloped tarmacked entrance from the road. There are handrails along most of the walkways and stairways.
The Pools’ names are retained from the 18th Century, when public decorum dictated that ladies and gentlemen were kept apart when swimming. These days, everyone can enjoy all the bathing places.
The Ladies’ Pool is served by the facilities developed by the charity Vive La Vallette, with ongoing maintenance and cleaning of the pools undertaken by States of Guernsey contractors. The States Department responsible is Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services, which is part of Environment and Infrastructure (E&I).
The Children’s Pool
A wonderful place for younger mer-mates. Plenty of space to practise their strokes, a gently sloping shallow end for littler legs, and a deeper end for adventurous splashing. Also, a higher, oval retaining wall makes the Children’s Pool more sheltered from tides and waves.
Families can also keep a watchful eye from the spacious, pebbled shoreline.
The Gents’ Pool
The first pool encountered along the access road, the slightly smaller Gents’ Pool is more likely to have space and calm for anyone wanting a relaxed swim. There’s a covered changing area and steps off the far pool wall for those wanting to head out into the heart of Havelet Bay.
Flat and smooth walkways around the pool are also a great place for resting, sunbathing, and letting the pace of life drift away.
The Horse Shoe
Next-door to the Gents’ Pool, and though technically not a ‘pool’ (more of a U-shaped pair of steps), the Horseshoe is a popular starting point for swimmers wanting to venture into Havelet Bay without walking across the sand of the bay.
Long and wide steps lead from a covered changing area into the water, allowing easy access to deeper waters of Havelet.
A bold & beautiful building
The Pools sit alongside a bold and beautifully conceived space designed by DLM Architects, whose work on the site was recognised with a RIBA South East Award in 2024. The architecture balances functionality with a striking sense of place, making the Pools not just a community facility, but a celebrated piece of contemporary design.
