Guernsey

It certainly is a very much underrated destination. Quietly nestled only 3 hours on the fast ferry from Poole, it’s an easy-to-reach holiday option. There are also flights from the majority of regional airports. We decided to take the fast catamaran car ferry which leaves from Poole, and arrived late afternoon in glorious sunshine.

St Peter Port (Guernsey’s Capital) is a busy port and harbour, with some wonderful restaurants and shops to seek out. The narrow streets are fun to explore, and we found the prices extremely reasonable, and the food was of an excellent quality.

One of the things that struck us immediately was the laid back attitudes and slower pace and lifestyle by the islanders themselves, and it is soon that you slip into their slower pace of life with ease. The speed limit on the majority of the beautiful lanes and roads is a mere 25 mph, so life here is taken very easy!

I think that to everyone not travelling with their own car, I would certainly recommend that you let me arrange some car hire for you. There is much fun to be had exploring the various beaches and bays around the island, as well as getting out and walking along the cliffs and headlands. Cycling is also extremely popular, with lots of nice places to ride. Tourist attractions aren’t plentiful - it is more the type of holiday where you are happy to potter about, seeing this beach on this day, and visiting that part of the island on another. We were struck by how quiet it was – even though we were in the height of school holidays, so if you want a beach to yourself, you have an excellent chance of finding one (even in the busy summer months) on Guernsey.

One of the best and unique things about Guernsey is their local produce that can be bought from roadside ‘boxes’ that work with the honesty box system. We had salads that were fit for a king! Not to mention homemade jam, chutney, and fresh eggs all bought from outside the people of Guernsey’s homes – whilst never meeting the persons whose hard work (and no doubt some passion too!) had laid these products out for us to buy. Also I must not forget to tell you about the freshly caught crab and fish available for you to buy – again directly from the fishermen themselves. Self-catering can be a real pleasure!

Our favourite day was when we ventured over to Herm on the ferry. The island of Herm is traffic free and takes only 20 minutes to reach from St Peter Port. Here you can enjoy walking & exploring; the scenery is amazing and breath-taking and the beaches here will give the ones in the Caribbean a definite run for their money – especially on a sunny day.

It is just beautiful, and has a laid back and friendly feel. I would definitely recommend Guernsey for a short break, or summer holiday. Anyone who enjoys exploring, walking, cycling, photography, or for families who have young children who simply like to dig in the sand, and for couples who fancy a break away and enjoy fine dining – it really does offer something for everyone!

I have access to self-catering cottages and apartments, B&B’s and hotels on Guernsey and also accommodation on Herm, so drop me an email or give me a call if you’d like me to make some initial recommendations…and I will find your perfect Guernsey visit!