Anou al Moris
FR
Walk: Albion beach → lighthouse & cliffs
Photo:Yannick Apollon / Unsplash

🚶 Walks · Albion

Walk: Albion beach → lighthouse & cliffs

From Albion's family beach along the shore to the red-and-white lighthouse of Pointe aux Caves, on black cliffs full of sea caves.

🚗 From the villa35 min · 23.1 kmoff-peak estimate
⏱️ Time needed1.5–2.5 hnot counting the drive
🕓 Best time of day🌤️ Afternoon · 🌇 Sunset
💰 PriceFree
🚶 Trail5.5 km · flatEasy · out and back · guide not needed

Albion's public beach is a quiet, sheltered lagoon with casuarinas. From there, follow the shore north: the sand gives way to flat basalt shelves and the coast rises into cliffs, until you reach the Pointe aux Caves lighthouse, the last working lighthouse on the main island, standing over the sea caves.

About 2.5 km each way. It's lovely at sunset, but the drive home (35 minutes) is then in the dark: go in the late afternoon and watch the sun go down from the cliffs before heading back.

  • Lighthouse above sea caves
  • Basalt cliffs and crashing waves
  • Swim at Albion beach

Trail map

Traced along the shoreline (OpenStreetMap coastline): walk on the firm sand near the water.

Trail (easy)
0 m50 m 0 km1 km2 km 0 m
One way; you come back the same way. Elevation from SRTM satellite data (±10 m).

Trail traced on OpenStreetMap paths: check the signs on the ground, and take the OSM or an offline map app (Organic Maps, maps.me) with you.

What to expect on this walk

MudLow
ShadeSome
🌊 TideBetter at low tide
👟 FootwearProper shoes
🏊 Swim on the wayIn places only
🔁 Getting backSame way back
🚧 Obstacles2 to know
🌅 Best lightAfternoon, Sunset
📍 Where it starts
Albion public beach (35 minutes from the villa).
🧭 The route
North along the beach, then over flat basalt shelves and low cliffs to the lighthouse at Pointe aux Caves (≈ 2.5 km). Back the same way.
🪨 Terrain
Sand, then flat rock shelves (sharp) and a grassy cliff-top path.
👁️ Views
The lighthouse, the cliffs and the whole west coast down to Flic en Flac.
🌅 Best light
Late afternoon: the sun sets over the sea right in front of the lighthouse.
🚧 Obstacles
  • Sharp, slippery basalt shelves
  • Cliff edges near the lighthouse
🌊 Tide
Easier at low tide (firmer sand, rocky points and river mouths easier to pass): check the tide table.
🏊 Swimming
Swim at Albion beach at the start (sheltered lagoon), not along the cliffs.
👟 Footwear
Proper shoes with grip: rock, roots or mud (not flip-flops).
🔁 Getting back
Same way back along the sand. Leave the lighthouse soon after sunset: the shelves are hard to see in the dark.
🦟 Insects
None.
💧 Water
Snacks at Albion beach at weekends.
👥 Crowds
Quiet on weekdays.
📶 Phone signal
Good coverage.
🎒 Bring
Shoes with grip (sharp rock) · Water · Hat and sunscreen
  1. Albion public beach
  2. Albion lighthouse

Getting there

Driving route from the villa

🚗 By car: 35 min (23.1 km) off-peak. Albion public beach car park (or park at the lighthouse and walk the other way). Directions in Google Maps ↗

Tips

  • 💡 The basalt shelves are sharp and slippery near the water: wear proper shoes.
  • 💡 Stay back from the cliff edge when the sea is rough.