St Martin

St Martin occupies Guernsey's eastern edge, where cliff-top paths connect ancient sites spanning millennia. The parish's coastline features Jerbourg Point, the island's southeastern headland offering views across to Herm, Sark, and France beyond. Prehistoric dolmens and passage graves scattered through the parish testify to Neolithic occupation thousands of years before Norman dukes claimed Channel Islands sovereignty. The parish church, with origins predating the Norman conquest, anchors a settlement pattern that radiates outward through lanes too narrow for modern traffic expectations. German occupation fortifications at Jerbourg and along the coast transformed defensive terrain into tourism assets, though many bunkers remain sealed or inaccessible. Saints Bay and Moulin Huet Bay—the latter famously painted by Renoir during his 1883 visit—offer beach access unusual on Guernsey's cliff-dominated south coast. The combination of ancient monuments, dramatic coastline, and artistic heritage positions St Martin as the parish for visitors seeking depth beyond St Peter Port's commercial attractions. Modern St Martin maintains relatively low density, with large gardens and agricultural plots surviving between residential developments. The parish connects to St Andrew inland and Forest to the west, creating the southeastern cluster that balances development against heritage preservation. By 2026, St Martin's archaeological sites and Impressionist associations increasingly anchor cultural tourism distinct from finance-driven St Peter Port.