Ports

Facing the channel islands, ports ancient and modern dot the 80 km coast of la Hague. On the foaming sea flows the Raz Blanchard, one of the strongest currents in the world at ten knots.

Natural harbours shelter a strong economic development in all weathers - fishing, maritime commerce not to mention smuggling and the constant fight against it by the customs. Today fishing boats and pleasure craft share and benefit from the modern conveniences available.

Port Diélette

In olden days this picturesque little 17th century port passed the greatest tonage in all France. The reason was granite, in great demand by constructors, notably in 1837 during the construction of the Place de la Concorde in Paris, paved with this material.  Today it is a pleasure port with 460 moorings, serving the channel islands, which face the coast.

Porte des îles: Three boats of the company 'Manche Îles Express', the Marin Marie, the Victor Hugo and the Tocqueville sail to the islands daily from April to the end of September sometimes several times a day. In low season, a weekly service runs at weekends and school holidays. 

Reserve your tickets all year round at sales points around the region: Beaumont-Hague, Les Pieux, Goury (during holidays) and Diélette (in summer).

Goury

At land's end, facing the channel island of Alderney you'll find Goury. The famous lifeboat 'Mona Rigolet' is stationed here, often called out to boats taken by the Raz Blanchard, one of the fastest currents in the world.

le Hâble

A port which never dries at low tide, sailors consider this one of the best moorings in the region. Le port's name comes from old Norse. It was in the past an important port for the gauls and the romans in their commerce with Britain as it lies on a confluence of two important roman roads from Alleaume (Valognes) and Portbail. A reknowned pirate and corsair port where ships would rest and restock before sailing off to hunt the enemy.

Port d'Omonville la Rogue

A sheltered port, Omonville existed in gallo-roman times. the creek behind it is deep and safe. In 1864, a great english steam ship, the Iowa, got lost and entered the port. Although it struck rocks at the bottom it was safely taken back to sea. It is said that the great mast crossbeams touched the houses. Unloading the cargo and transporting it to Cherbourg took nearly a year!

Port Racine

The smallest port in France with a surface area of only 800m2 and an opening between the jetties of just eleven metres. This port takes its name from one of the last corsairs to sail under Napoleon - captain François-Médard Racine (1774-1817). In 1813, he chose this place as a strategic refuge. A jetty was constructed to hide his ship, the 'Embuscade' and protect it from the weather. Thereafter he launched attacks on enemy craft sailing around the Cap de la Hague, and engaged in commerce with the channel islands. 

When our hero passed away, the dry stone jetty, for many years maintained by fishermen, started to fall apart. After many petitions a solid construction was put in place between 1870 et 1886. Today the port is home to small fishing boats and pleasure craft moored on ropes strung between the jetties from a wooden mooring beam.