Guernsey is a fantastic
destination, less than an hour's flight from London, for weekend escapes as
well as for longer relaxing holidays. There is a wonderful range of outdoor
activities for people who don't get enough fresh air, and still the occasional
tax-free bargain to be had from one of the many artisans still producing hand
made goods here in Guernsey.
Don't forget that
Guernsey is only 24 square miles, so everywhere is close to town, countryside
and beach. You may wish to hire bikes, or a car for your stay. There are many
cycle paths dotted around the island, but it's just as easy to use the bus and
the occasional taxi to get around. You'll probably find you'll want to walk to
most places when the weather is fine.
The Beautiful Guernsey
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Background
Guernsey, officially
the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel
off the coast of Normandy. Although its defence is the responsibility of the
United Kingdom, the Bailiwick of Guernsey is not part of the UK; and while it
participates in the Common Travel Area, it is not part of the European Union.
The Bailiwick of
Guernsey is included (along with the Bailiwick of Jersey) in the grouping known
as the Channel Islands.
Guernsey On English Channel
Google Interactive map
Climate
The climate is
temperate with mild winters and warm sunny summers. The warmest months are July
and August; when temperatures are generally around 20 °C (68 °F) but
occasionally reach 24 °C (75 °F). On average, the coldest month is February
with an average weekly mean air temperature of 6 °C (42.8 °F). Average weekly
mean air temperature reaches 16 °C (60.8 °F) in August. Snow rarely falls and
is unlikely to settle, but is most likely to fall in February. The temperature
rarely drops below freezing, although strong wind-chill from Arctic winds can
sometimes make it feel like it. The rainiest months are December (average 108
mm/4.3 in, November (average 98 mm/3.86 in) and January (average 89 mm/3.50
in). July is on average the sunniest month with 250 hours recorded sunshine;
December the least with 50 hours recorded sunshine. 50% of the days are
overcast.
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Language
English is the language
in general use by the majority of the population, while Guernésiais, the Norman
language of the island, is spoken fluently by only about 2% of the population
(according to 2001 census)
How to Reach
Guernsey
Guernsey airport has
flight links to :-
a.The UK -
London (Gatwick and Stansted), Southampton, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham,
East Midlands and Exeter. There are seasonal services to Norwich, Edinburgh and
Belfast.
For frequent Flight
information visit Aurigny Air Service website: -www.aurigny.com
b.France -
Dinard. There is a seasonal service to Grenoble
c.Isle of Man
d.Jersey
e.Alderney
f.Netherlands
- Rotterdam (April-September only)
g.Germany -
Stuttgart and Dusseldorf (April-September only)
Guernsey Airport :- http://www.guernsey-airport.gov.gg/
Capital
Saint Peter Port
Guernsey’s capital has
been a busy entrepôt since Roman times. Her deep, safe anchorage and relative
remoteness from France made Saint Peter Port the Channel Islands’ premier port,
graced by a wealth of ship builders, privateers and merchant adventurers.
Georgian and Regency styles were enriched by an influx of French emigrés,
including Victor Hugo.
Today the town is a captivating blend of
styles, framed by a tumble of terraces and tiered gardens and criss-crossed by
worn steps and hidden alleys.
Shopping in Saint Peter
Port is an unmissable experience. Electronic and photographic equipment,
jewellery and perfume are all good, low duty buys, along with wines, spirits
and tobacco and of course the famous Guernsey jumper. Small boutiques offer
exclusive clothes, shoes and leather goods, whilst the Old Quarter is the place
to find antiques.
You can explore Saint
Peter Port with a series of guided walks available, Walking Festivals in spring
and autumn, or pick up a copy of our map of Saint Peter Port, with five trails
taking you to different areas of the town.
If you prefer to relax, take time to just look
around you, soak up the atmosphere, sit and have a coffee or snack, al fresco
style, and watch the world go by. After all, this is the Channel Islands’ most
beautiful town.
Saint Peter Port
Places to Visit
1. Castle Cornet
& Its Museums
Castle Cornet,
Guernsey’s ancient royal fortress, has stood guard over the town and harbour of
St Peter Port for nearly eight centuries. The story of the Castle and other
aspects of Guernsey’s past can be found in the five museums housed within the
Castle: The Story of Castle Cornet Museum, The Maritime Museum, The 201
Squadron (RAF) Museum, The Royal Guernsey Light Infantry Museum and The Royal
Guernsey Militia Museum.
The Castle is also home
to four well-researched ‘period’ gardens. There is a guided tour each morning
and the Noon Day Gun is fired daily by soldiers in 19th century costume. Themed
castle tours available every Sunday May - September at 2:15pm.
On selected days the
Guernsey Museums & Galleries ‘History in Action’ company enact stories from
Guernsey’s past. With so much to see, plus the Refectory Café and the Castle
Shop, a visit to the Castle makes a great day out.
Castle Cornet
Contact details:
Castle Emplacement St
Peter Port Guernsey GY1 1AU
t: +44 (0)1481 726518
w: www.museums.gov.gg/
Perry's guide
reference: Town Map P9
Admission: Adults:
£9.00, Seniors: £6.50, Children: £2.00 (under 7 free)
Opening: Open daily
late March – October
Fisherman
2. Fort Grey &
Shipwreck Museum
Known locally as the
“Cup and Saucer”, Fort Grey is a Martello Tower built in 1804 to defend
Guernsey’s west coast. Many vessels have come to grief on this beautiful but
treacherous coast, and the Martello Tower now houses a Shipwreck Museum with a
surprising variety of objects recovered from the wrecks. The information panels
tell the gripping stories surrounding the disasters which date from the HMS
Sprightly in 1777 to the Vermontborg in 2003.
On Tuesday mornings at
11.15am and Sunday afternoons at 2:15pm Guernsey Museums ‘History in Action
Company’ enact stories from Guernsey’s Past.
Fort Grey
Contact details:
Rocquaine Bay St Peters
Guernsey GY7 9BY
t: +44 (0)1481 265036
Website : www.museums.gov.gg
Perry's guide
reference: Page 26, A1
Admission: Adults:
£4.00, OAPs: £3.00, Children: £1.50 (under 7 free )
Opening: Open daily
Late March – October
Fort Grey
3. Sausmarez Manor
Possibly one of the
most interesting, beautiful and varied places on the island, encompassing so
many different things to see and do, including a delightful selection of
wildfowl, lake-side café, Happy Hollow 9 hole short course golf, Affinity Gems,
where you can make your own jewellery, and an Edwardian Tin & Coppersmiths.
The Subtropical Gardens, featuring many exotic species set in ancient woodland
around two small lakes and a winterbourne is recommended by the Royal
Horticultural Society, the Good Garden Guide, Which Garden and 1001 Gardens to
Visit Before you Die. The Art Park has more sculptors exhibiting their works
than anywhere else in Britain to make a wonderful array of work to suit every
taste and pocket.
Sausmarez Manor
Contact details:
Sausmarez Road St Martin
Guernsey GY4 6SG
t: +44 (0) 1481 235571
w:
www.sausmarezmanor.co.uk
Perry's guide
reference: Perry’s Guide page 31, E2
Admission:
Opening: Open Daily
4. German Occupation
Museum
A unique experience of
life in Guernsey 1940-1945, authentic occupation street. Maritime history and
fortifications.
Contact details:
Les Houards Forest
Guernsey GY8 0BG
t: +44 (0)1481 238205
w: sorry - no website
available
Perry's guide
reference: Page 28 D3
Admission: Adults £5,
Children £2.50
Opening: Open daily April
- October. Restricted opening November - March. Please check with the Guernsey
Information Centre for details.
5.National Trust of
Guernsey Folk and Costume Museum
Set in stables and
other outbuildings of an old country house in Guernsey’s largest park, the Folk
and Costume Museum depicts life as it used to be in the Island around 100 years
ago. Displays include domestic life, farming, fishing and seafaring, trades, the
tomato industry and transport. The recently much enlarged museum also has
several displays on Guernsey costume and a magnificent fully-furnished scale
model of a Victorian town house. In the summer months (May - August), the
museum has a programme of small-scale local craft demonstrations and
explanations on Wednesday or Thursday afternoons.
Contact details:
Saumarez Park Castel
Guernsey GY5 7UJ
t: +44 (0)1481 255384
w:
www.nationaltrust-gsy.org.gg/
Perry's guide
reference: Page 15, G2
Admission: Adults £5,
OAPs: £4, Children under 5: Free, Students and Children under 16: £1.50.
National Trust Members: free.
Opening: Open mid March
- end of October: Open daily.
6.Guernsey Museum
and Art Gallery
Designed around the old
Victorian bandstand in the restored Victorian Candie Gardens, Guernsey Museum
& Art Gallery houses a variety of Exhibitions.
‘The Story of Guernsey’
shows the development of the Island and its people. Artefacts from Victorian
Collectors are displayed in a Victorian style Gallery.
A changing programme of
temporary exhibitions is held in the Rona Cole and Brian White Galleries.
The Museum gift shop
stocks a variety of quality books and souvenirs. Café Victoria offers light
snacks and lovely views over the harbour and outlying Islands. Free Entry to
Shop and Café.
Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery
Contact details:
Candie Gardens St Peter
Port Guernsey GY1 1UG
t: +44 (0)1481 726518
w: www.museums.gov.gg
Perry's guide
reference: Town Map H5
Admission: Adults:
£5.00, OAPs: £4.50, Children: £1.50 (under 7 free)
Opening: Open daily
February – December
Other Attractions : - Le
Dehus , Herm , Moulin Huet Bay , Victor Hugo Trail , L’Ancresse
Herm
Le Dehus
Activities
With such spectacular
coastline and countryside, the islands offer enough walking routes to last
holiday after holiday. Qualified guides can help you uncover the islands’
secrets, or alternatively, just grab a map and head off yourself.
With an environment
that’s as conducive to outdoor pursuits as ours, it’s not surprising that a
range of sporting and other activities is available on the islands, including cycling, diving, angling and sailing.
Guernsey’s west coast can also provide excellent surfing and windsurfing conditions. And nature lovers are in for a
treat with plenty of bird watching opportunities on all of the islands. However you decide to spend your time in the
islands, one thing’s for sure – you’ll want to come back for more.
You can also get the
good opportunity to learn and enjoy -:
Surfing
Cycling
Flying , Language
classes , Clay pigeon shooting , Climbing , archery ,Yachting and Sailing etc
Night Life in
Guernsey
Despite Guernsey's
small size it has a buzzing nightlife that incorporates bar restaurants, funky
cocktail bars as well as the more traditional pub. It also has a selection of
nightclubs situated in the island's capital, St Peter Port.
Bar One, Club 54, The
Townhouse & Laska offer a more laid back, sophisticated night out, with
funky house and progressive beats from live DJs, while Barbados & Folies
have a younger more energetic crowd playing commercial dance.
The Dog House is the
island's premier live music venue and offers excellent value food also.
The Red Onion is
primarily a sports bar, but also has live DJs.
The Dog House
Walking Guide
With 28.5 miles of
spectacular cliff top paths, plus numerous bays, rural lanes and common,
Guernsey offers walkers numerous opportunities to explore. Getting out and
about on foot is arguably the best way to get a real feel for the island and
will allow you to discover much of what makes us so special.
As you walk you’ll be
able to see rare, semi-tropical species of plants growing wild, including
aloes, Madeira geraniums and Kaffir figs. Alternatively, explore the streets of
our capital, Saint Peter Port, and discover how the picturesque town became
what it is today.
Accredited guides are
available throughout the year for guided walks on most aspects of Island life
and in Spring and Autumn there are Walking Festivals. These provide a great
opportunity to learn more about the island, providing you with insights that
you might otherwise miss.
Guernsey’s temperate
climate and variety of habitat makes it an ideal place for many species of bird
to nest or visit. There are RSPB walks throughout the spring and summer that
will take you to the best places to observe them.
Book by Victor Hugo
Information Centre :- Various walking literature is
available from the Guernsey Information Centre, and so why not pay them a visit
during your stay, which includes:
The Must Have Map of Guernsey:
With details of floral,
environmental and heritage sites, as well as accredited places of interest and
activity centres. Available to pick up during your holiday on Guernsey and is
free of charge.
The Walking Map of
Guernsey: with points of interest along the whole of Guernsey’s coast, as well
as two suggested circular walks. Available to pick up during your holiday on
Guernsey and is free of charge.
Walk Trail
Map of St Peter Port: Five walking routes through the
historic town of St Peter Port, with details on points of interest. Available
to pick up during your holiday on Guernsey and is free of charge.
Guernsey Coastal Walks
and Nature Trails: Sixteen walks throughout the island. Available to buy from
The Guernsey Information Centre and other outlets £7.50
The Channel Island Way: The Way covers five of the Channel
Islands: Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm and Jersey. Available to buy from The Guernsey Information
Centre and other outlets £9.95
While it is easy to
gather the Channel Islands under any number of umbrellas, this new 110 mile,
island-hopping, walking route dispels the notion that any of the islands are
similar to their neighbours. In fact, the further you walk, the more each
island asserts its own charm and personality. From the timeless charm of Herm’s
Shell Beach to Alderney’s heaving sea bird colony, and Sark with its
tractor-drawn taxis, each of the five islands are very much individual.
Travelling between
the Islands
There are regular
transport links between all of the Islands.
Alderney: Regular flights and occasional ferry (in season) from
Guernsey:
Sark: reached by a 45 minute ferry ride from Guernsey.
Herm: reached by a 20 minute ferry ride from Guernsey.
Jersey: Regular ferry and flights from Guernsey
Getting Around
Guernsey has an extensive
bus service with routes servicing most parts of the island and all of the main
attractions.
Buses : With a little planning it is possible to use the bus as your
sole form of transport. Buses cost just
£1 per journey and all have disabled access. Bus timetables are available from
the Guernsey Information Centre, the Bus Terminus and at: www.icw.gg/buses/
Saint Peter Port
Taxi , Cars and Mini
Buses :
Taxi's and mini-buses are also available for
hire, some of which conduct island tours.
With low priced petrol
and competitive rates, self-drive hire cars are a popular way to explore the
island. Although there are varying maximum age restrictions, cars can still be
hired under private insurance; please check with your hire car supplier before
arriving on the island. The minimum legal age to hire a car is 20 years old.
Driving in Guernsey is
a little different to what most visitors are used to. The roads are narrow,
there are special rules, and not all the signs will be familiar to you. The
maximum speed limit is 35mph and less in many areas. We recommend that you read
the leaflet ‘Driving in Guernsey is different’ available to download below and
from the Guernsey Information Centre. Drivers must be insured and have a full
driving licence.
Moulin Huet Bay
Parking :-
Many of Guernsey’s
public parking areas are designated as ‘disc parking’ zones where drivers must
display a parking clock, available from the Visitor Information Centre, the
Police Station and some garages/news agents. Details of how to use the clock
are printed on the reverse. There are three dedicated small car-parking zones
in St Peter Port. More details can be found below.
Motorcycles and
bicycles :-
Motorcycles and
bicycles are also available for hire and are an excellent way to see the
island. If hiring a motorcycle, you must be 20 years of age or over and have
held a full licence for more than one year in the category required.
Guernsey is place to unwind yourself without burning your pocket . A perfect place for a lovely spring summer Holiday.
Do write to us you experience. We will loved to include your travel log and view about this lovely place.
List of Some very Useful Websites :-
Get the weather forecast for Guernsey
Choose and Book Hotels
Good Food in Guernsey
Honeymoon Ideas - Guernsey
Cheap Flight Tickets
More Information on Guernsey
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Guernsey/General_Tips-Guernsey-TG-C-1.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guernsey/
The best part of your post was the virtual tour, I m really impressed with the description of this place, you have sorted out my problem of where to go for this summer vacation, surely we are going to have a good break to Guernsey, in June end.
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