Lihou Island

Lihou is a small island located just off the west coast of the island of Guernsey, in the English Channell.  The island is a beautiful and tranquil haven reached only by a tidal ancient stone causeway from the L'Eree headland.

The 38 acre island that is owned and managed by the States of Guernsey is an important nature and conservation area and is listed as such under the RAMSAR convention, and has an abundance of bird and marine life. 

Visitors are welcome to Lihou at any time and during the bird breeding season (1st January to 31st July) some paths may be roped so that people can quietly enjoy seeing Gulls nesting close by. The causeway has a wide range of plants and marine life - your walk to Lihou may take a little longer than you planned as you explore the rock pools.

Visiting Lihou

The causeway does not open every day and visitors will need to check the tides times prior to crossing, you need to allow 20 minutes at least to cross the causeway.  The causeway is not to be crossed if submerged at any point due to the dangerous currents, and should never be crossed at night.

Opening times for the causeway can be downloaded from the States of Guernsey website (link here) with further guidance regarding crossing

The causeway is 570m long (approximately quarter of a mile) and is often a wet, slippery and uneven surface. The causeway is constructed of different materialism, with a mix of cobbles, shale, gravel and larger bolders. There is often a build-up of seaweed at the Lihou island side which can make traversing the causeway particularly difficult. Anyone with a physical impairment should be aware of these factors and make a decision as to whether they feel is safe and appropriate to attempt to cross to the island. 

Dogs aren't permitted on Lihou or the causeway in order to protect wildlife, particularly birds.

People using small boats, kayaks and canoes are requested not to land at Lihou when the causeway is closed to allow the wildlife to live in peace without human disturbance.

Bird nesting and roosting

Throughout the year, but especially from the end of February until the end of July, it is important to respect the birds on the island. Please can you avoid the two main roosting sites:

The northern-most tip of the island
The roped area in front of the house called Lissroy (pronounced lee-roy).
The birds use the areas extensively for roosting throughout the year and nesting in the spring. At all times it is advisable to be cautious and aware when walking off the paths, as many nests are very difficult to spot and the eggs are very camouflaged.