This spectacularly located castle is thought to take its name from the old Norse words “grar nes” – the grey headland. It is a perfect description of the place when seen from the sea. To the south is Le Pinacle, a 60m high rock, which featured as an object of worship and a ceremonial site for thousands of years.
The castle was built about 1330 on the orders of Sir John des Roches. On three sides it is protected by natural features and on the fourth by a ditch. The walls are built from locally quarried granite and are thickest on the landward site.
The French took the castle in 1373 – 1381: it was probably demolished either during or after the French Occupation of 1461-68.
In 1806 a naval signal station was set up here to allow messages to be passed over to Guernsey which is visible to the northwest.
I recommend stopping and exploring the ruins on your way to the La Corbiere Lighthouse.
