Railway Walk

The Railway Walk follows the route of the former Jersey Railway that operated from 1874 to 1936, running across the southern part of the island from St. Helier in the east to Corbière in the west, a distance of approximately 18 kilometres, and the route has been converted to a walking and cycling path while retaining much of the original character of the railway, including the track bed, sleepers and stone bridges that were an important part of the railway infrastructure. The path is maintained as a Green Lane under Jersey's countryside management programme, which restricts motor traffic and preserves the route for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

The railway was an important part of Jersey's transport infrastructure for over sixty years, connecting the main town of St. Helier with the western part of the island and providing a service that was used by both passengers and goods, and the construction of the line was a significant engineering undertaking involving cuttings, embankments and bridges across the southern landscape of the island. The railway was closed in 1936 following competition from motor buses and the steep gradients on the western section of the line, and the track and structures were removed but the route was preserved as a public right of way.

The walking route follows the track bed for most of its length, giving a level and well-drained surface that is easier to walk than the lanes and hillside paths that characterise much of the Jersey countryside, and the route passes through a varied landscape of rural lanes, woodland and open countryside. The original stations along the line have largely disappeared, though some station buildings survive as private residences or commercial premises, and the route is marked and waymarked throughout as a public footpath and cycle route.

The stone bridges that carried the railway over lanes and minor roads are among the most distinctive features of the route, and the engineering of the railway is apparent in the scale of the cuttings and embankments that were created to maintain a relatively level alignment across the undulating Jersey landscape. In places the railway was carried on embankments several metres high, and in others it was cut through hillsides in deep cuttings with stone walls that are now colonised by ferns and mosses, creating a sense of travelling through a green tunnel in places.

The route passes through some of the most attractive countryside in Jersey, including the section between First Tower and St. Peter's where the cutting faces are particularly high and the green corridor of the former railway is most apparent, with the track bed winding between stone walls and the sound of traffic absent except where the route crosses a minor road at the original level. The disused railway is also a wildlife corridor, with the linear habitat of the track bed and its margins used by a range of birds and small mammals, and the hedges and stone walls that border the route support a diverse flora and fauna.

The Green Lane designation means that motor traffic is restricted on the route and it is maintained primarily for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, and the Jersey government invests in the maintenance of the path surface and the waymarking throughout the route. The path is used by commuters and schoolchildren as well as visitors, and the level surface makes it suitable for a wide range of users including those with pushchairs or mobility aids, though some sections may be narrow in places where the railway ran close to property boundaries.

The Railway Walk follows an 18-kilometre route across Jersey from St. Helier to Corbière, offering a level and accessible way to explore the interior of the island away from motor traffic.

The route retains much of the original railway infrastructure including the track bed, sleepers, stone bridges and cutting faces, creating a distinctive linear landscape corridor.

The Green Lane designation restricts motor traffic and the route is maintained for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, providing a safe and pleasant environment for outdoor recreation.