We'd identified L'Avarizon as a "must get" cache during our week on Jersey and were determined to do it by any means possible. We'd missed the organised walk on the previous weekend and knew from the tide tables that there were limited opportunities to get out to the tower while we were there, but were able to book a "private" walking tour for ourselves (Colin and Alison) and Alison's mum through Jersey Walk Adventures.
We met our guide, Derek, on the slip at La Rocque Harbour on a pleasant enough afternoon, dressed in the expectation of getting cold and wet!
We headed out into what has been described as a moonscape, an understandable if not literal description, towards the safety tower initially. We began the walk heading across the deepest tidal gullies and for quite a while our objective was obscured from view. On arrival at the safety tower, Colin couldn't resist the climb up. (Note the spike on the trip's height profile!)
From the safety tour Derek took us slightly left and behind Seymour Tower to the low water mark to enable us to approach from the seaward angle, giving a different view of the tower.
There were overnighters staying in the tower so we had to be discreet (fortunately Derek knew about it), but the cache was quickly found and the log was signed.
The return route took us nearer to the oyster beds, but the tide had risen too high to get very close. We returned to the harbour with dusk closing in, with only our feet slightly damp and a great sense of achievement.
The tour cost £12.50 per person. A guide is not necessary if you check the tide tables, but Derek's local knowledge and historical narrative certainly added to the experience.
We were warned that we may have to wade through water up to our knees, so were prepared woth spare clothes in the car, but as it turned out we only got our boots wet.
We also expected it to be cold but it actually stayed quite warm with little or no wind.
Geocaching, Seymour Tower, LAvarizon
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