Directions
1. Starting at St Lawrence Parish Hall, cross the main road opposite and take the ‘No through road’ Le Mont Misère. This steep lane leads you into St Lawrence Valley. This valley is often referred to as 'Waterworks Valley' after the many mills that were once powered by the stream flowing through the valley.
2. Turn left up Le Chemin des Moulins, passing Dannemarche Reservoir, continue as the road begins to rise steeply. On your right, after the reservoir, is Hamptonne, a Trust property and Jersey’s Country Life Museum. The Hamptonne complex consists of a range of farm buildings, dating from the 16th to 19th centuries. If you have a spare couple of hours why not pop in to enjoy a spot of lunch at the Hamptonne café, or wander around the site and take part in the activities on offer? For more information about Hamptonne, please visit the Hamptonne Country Life Museum page.
Hamptonne Country Life Museum
Morel Farm
3. At the next junction turn left and then right into the narrow lane. Carry on until you reach the main road then turn right, and after fifty yards, turn left down La Ruelle. At the end of this lane turn right, then left into Le Mont Sorsoleil. Keep straight on at the next crossroads which mark the centre of the area known as Ville au Veslet. Turn left at the next crossroads and then left again into La Rue de La Fontaine. On your left is Morel Farm, another complex of farm buildings owned by the Trust. The beautifully proportioned double arch leads into a cobbled courtyard. It is worth noting that the house is of a much later date than the encircling wall. Amongst the outbuildings of this working farm are a boulangerie, pressoir and pigsties.
La Rât
4. Continue down La Rue de la Fontaine St Martin. On the left is the 16th-century house, Le Rât, which was the first property purchased by the Trust in 1937. In 1998 the Trust renovated the building whilst safeguarding the historic fabric such as the original pantiles on the roof and the handmade glass in the windows. Look out for the dripstones on the chimney stack known as ‘witches’ stones’, which were constructed to prevent seepage of rainwater under the original thatched roof. To the right is La Fontaine St Martin, one of Jersey’s old ‘sacred’ springs, reputed to have healing properties.
5. Continue up Le Mont Perrine. Turn right at the crossroads into La Route de L’Église. On the right is the farm Oaklands, with buildings dating from the 17th century, including a fine boulangerie.
6. On the left you will pass the 19th-century school, the Arsenal and the Parish Hall, you will soon complete the walk and arrive back at St Lawrence Church. The church bell is said to be the oldest in the island, dating back to 1592, and the church also displays a broken granite pillar believed to be derived from a 4th-century roman building.
St Lawrence Church