Jersey
We immediately set forth to our first stop, Le Mare Wine Estate, where we toured the beautiful vineyards, grounds, distillery, shop and farmhouse – tasting and learning as we went. Did you know Jersey produced its own wine, ciders and spirits (and chocolate)? I didn’t, and I would go back to taste some more!
Our next adventure for the day was foraging. We arrived to the wide expanse of St Ouen’s bay and the tide was out (the tides on Jersey are some of the largest in the world!) For Kaz, our expert in foraging, the seabed reveals an untapped larder of goodies from crabs and lobsters to seaweeds and limpets – some were more appetizing than others to our untrained eyes and palettes. It was great fun exploring and learning what to just pluck from the seabed and eat there and then, and what not to. We finished with a cook-up on the beach and Kaz’s own version of Jersey Champagne made with Elderflower and all agreed it was an unforgettable experience.
The next day promised just as much adventure and much more adrenaline – we started with a visit to the prominent Mount Orgueil castle which has a great setting high above cliffs and beach and some of the group were brave enough to take on the challenge of abseiling off its battlements, for those less brave like me it’s nice place just to explore and enjoy the views.
The afternoon’s adrenaline rush of a RIB trip to Les Ecrehous (a little-known group of small but spectacular islands) had to be deferred to another visit due to windy weather – but we all enjoyed some time exploring the capital St Helier and as the tide was out a walk to Elizabeth Castle which becomes accessible by foot at low tide, there’s also an amphibious vehicle running back and forth covering the approx. 1km distance at low or high tide.
Our third day was also our departure day but with the timings of our flight we had some last visits to make and we had probably saved the best for last.
Jersey zoo is famed for conservation and with its continued links to its founder Gerald Durrell and Durrell Wildlife Conservation you can follow the work it does in helping to protect endangered species around the world. We saw some exotic wildlife in enclosures that provide as natural as possible settings and the keepers are hugely passionate about all their animals. We then visited the very moving Jersey War Tunnels which are deep beneath the surface and tell the story of Jersey’s sometime forgotten occupation during the Second World War and what life was like during this time for Channel Islanders.
There was time for one last visit on the way to the airport and that was to St Brelade’s Bay, half our group had been staying there and we (the other half) had been enjoying our stay near St Helier and on St Aubin’s bay, so it was new to me and we had arrived at just the right time – the sun was shining and the tide was out just the right distance so that we could admire this stunning bay at its very best. The beach at low tide is a huge expanse of sand and at this point we almost had it all to ourselves, it was beautiful, and it has left a lasting impression.
We departed to the airport on a high, we’d had an amazing time, we’d explored the island and discovered that such a small place can pack quite a punch.
We had indulged in some great food as there are some lovely restaurants in Jersey from Michelin stars to beachside cafes and most things in between and if you are a foodie you can coincide your visit with Tennerfest which annually provides the opportunity for fixed price dinning at participating restaurants to celebrate food in the Channel Islands.
I had visited with a lovely group, but Jersey could quite easily be visited as a romantic destination or a wellness break or a simple week/weekend away. I think most people would appreciate a visit to this small but beautiful corner of the British Isles.