La Coupée, Isthmus and trail on Sark, Channel Islands
La Coupée is a narrow isthmus on Sark, one of the Channel Islands, linking the main part of the island to its smaller southern section known as Little Sark. The trail runs along the top of this land bridge and is partly compacted earth and partly paved, with open sea visible on both sides.
La Coupée served for centuries as the only land route between the northern and southern parts of Sark. During the Second World War, German forces occupying the island reinforced the path and added the concrete handrails that are still in place today.
La Coupée connects the main part of Sark to Little Sark and has long served as an everyday crossing for islanders. Walking across it today, you feel the wind coming off the sea on both sides, and seabirds circle regularly overhead.
The crossing is short and can be done in a few minutes, but the surface becomes slippery in wet weather, so sturdy footwear is a good idea. Wind can pick up quickly along the exposed ridge, so a light jacket is worth carrying even on clear days.
Before the handrails were added in the 1940s, local schoolchildren had to be roped together to cross safely in strong winds. This detail is still remembered on the island and gives a sense of how exposed the crossing once felt to those who used it every day.
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