Definitive Island Guide to Guernsey 2015

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DeямБnitive Island Guide 2015

Guernsey WHAT TO SEE

ATTRACTIONS

EATING OUT

SHOPPING

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Welcome to

Guernsey Welcome

to Guernsey 2015, the Definitive Island Guide.

Guernsey folk are a patriotic bunch and with good reason – there is much to love about our island. The Definitive Island Guide to Guernsey has been designed to help you discern your cake from your Gâche so you can decide what to pack into your holiday.

Our guide will give insider tips on where to eat and what to do, with stories of local heritage and shopping hot spots.

The 70th anniversary of the Channel Islands’ liberation from German Occupation takes place in 2015. From 3 April until 11 May, the Channel Islands Heritage Festival will take place and commemorative events and guided walks will be held at historic sites around Guernsey, culminating with Liberation Day festivities on 9 May. Up to date details of all the events taking place while you are here are available from the Guernsey Information Centre in St Peter Port, or on visitguernsey.com/events.

© COAST MEDIA LIMITED. Published by Coast Media Limited.

Tel: 01481 735450. www.coast.gg.

While every effort will be made to ensure that the information contained within this publication is accurate and up to date, we make no warranty, representation or undertaking (whether expressed or implied) as to the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information contained in this publication, nor do we assume any legal liability (whether direct or indirect) or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information contained in this publication.

We disclaim any liability in relation to the acts or omissions of any third parties in relation to any default by them in relation to the provision of its contents or any service supplied by us.

The views expressed in this booklet are not necessarily those of the publishers.

For further information on our beautiful island, Perry’s produces The Channel Island Way, Coastal Walks and Nature Trails, and a detailed map of island roads that has become something of a Guernsey institution – The Perry’s Official Guide to Guernsey. These can be found in many shops, hotels and visitor attractions.

St Peter Port ISLAND CAPITAL SHOPPING WINE AND DINE

Out of Town OUT AND ABOUT SHOPPING WINE AND DINE OTHER ISLANDS OUTDOOR PURSUITS

P28 P40 P47 P52 P57

Competitions WIN £1000 JEWELLERY GIFT VOUCHER.

P37

WIN £500 OF DIAMONDS OR JEWELLERY.

When you have finished with this guide please recycle it.

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GUERNSEY | PAGE 4

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Light, bright and always offering something of interest. Le Friquet, Home of Garden and Living is a colourful all weather oasis in the heart of the island.

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GUERNSEY | PAGE 5

• Stunning outdoor plant area • Beautiful surroundings • Relax and enjoy amongst the plants • Outstanding architecture • Perfect spot for holiday makers

Unwind & re lax!

• Cafe des Amis • Terrazzo Restaurant for stone baked pizzas • Fresh, traditional and local dishes • Speciality tea and homemade cakes

Amis & Cafe des taurant Res Terrazzo

• Children’s play areas

• Unique shopping experience • Women’s fashion • Diverse selection of homeware • Pets and aquatics • Gardening inspiration • Brilliant gift selection • Outdoor furniture

Fantastic gift ideas!

GARDEN CENTRE

RESTAURANT

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 6pm

Friday & Saturday Last orders 8pm year round.

(RESTAURANT) Opening everyday 12 – 4pm

Sunday until 4.30pm Last orders 4pm

Sunday 12 – 4.30pm

Friday & Saturday 8.30am – 8pm Sunday 10am – 5pm

Rue du Friquet | Castel | Guernsey | GY5 7SS | Tel: 259220

Perry’s Guide Ref: 16A3

www.bluediamond.gg

LE FRIQUET GARDEN CENTRE

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St Peter Port The Island Capital Guernsey’s east coast is dominated by the island’s picturesque capital of St Peter Port, with its deep natural harbour and pretty hilltop buildings, as well as by sensational views of the neighbouring smaller islands of Herm, Jethou and Sark. Sheltered from the prevailing winds, St Peter Port Harbour is the island’s main port.

Standing guard over the harbour is Castle Cornet, built in the 1200s by the English Crown after King John lost Normandy. Garrisoned until the 20th century, it was taken by the French in 1338, a Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War, and occupied by the Germans in 1940.

The Castle is surprisingly big – allow from 2 to 5 hours for your visit – and houses five museums, three period gardens to walk around and from which to enjoy the spectacular views over the other islands, a café and

CASTLE CORNET

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souvenir shop. Stay and see the firing of the Noonday Gun – cover your ears, as it is loud! From May until September enjoy daily guided tours and hear about life in days gone by from costumed storytellers who give live performances.

A number of free events take place during the year for the family to enjoy. Pick up a Museums Diary from the Guernsey Information Centre or any Guernsey Museum site for more information.

The first of the Castle’s museums, The Story of Castle Cornet, takes visitors through the 800 years of the Castle’s history. Life sized figures, interactive displays and a vast array of archaeological and historical evidence bring the Castle’s history to life.

With a rich history of the sea, it is no surprise that the Castle is home to a Maritime Museum. Housed in the 18th century Upper Barracks, it traces Guernsey’s nautical history from prehistoric times to the present day. Museum objects and a collection of maritime art portray the island’s close links with shipbuilding, privateering and world trade.

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HIGH STREET, ST PETER PORT

ST PETER PORT

GUERNSEY | PAGE 8 FORT DOYLE

CANDIE GARDENS, GUERNSEY MUSEUM

201 Squadron Museum is unique as the only squadron museum open to the public. From biplanes to Nimrods, the story of ‘Guernsey’s Own’ 201 Squadron is told through photographs and documents, personal and aircraft relics, models and interactive displays.

as well as the largest tank in the island. Bring the whole family to the Guernsey Aquarium and Aquatic Centre for an entertaining morning or afternoon – especially if the weather rules out a day on the beach.

A little further along the 19th century promenade, alongside the Victorian Bathing Pools, is La

The Royal Guernsey Light Infantry Museum tells the story of the RGLI, including a dramatic tableau from the Battle of Cambrai. The RGLI was formed during World War I and served in France.

Vallette Underground Military Museum which covers all aspects of Guernsey’s military history in a unique display, housed

Finally, The Royal Guernsey Militia Museum tells the history of Guernsey’s militia since its foundation in the 1300s.

Looking south from the Castle across Havelet Bay stands Clarence Battery which is accessed from steps in the corner of La Valette.

You can walk around this early 18th Century battery; an interpretation board explains about the only battery remaining of Fort George, once Guernsey’s largest and most important defence works. You can also take the opportunity to admire the views over the neighbouring islands.

Below the battery is the Guernsey Aquarium set among tunnels, quarried out of solid rock by the German occupying forces during World War II to store ammunition and light vehicles. The main tunnel was dug out by locals in 1864 to create a short cut to the cliff paths.

The Aquarium contains a diverse range of fish from local and tropical waters, plus an extensive display of reptiles and amphibians – from snakes to lizards and terrapins –

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ST JAMES CONCERT HALL

St Peter Port was an important trading post in Roman times, but it is from the early part of the 13th century that the town began to develop around the parish church and quayside. Building was confined to a narrow strip of land within town walls ordered for its protection by the King in 1350, and later marked by les barrières de la ville – six stones erected in 1700 to define the town limits.

To learn more about the island’s history, head to The Guernsey Tapestry at the Gallery in St James Concert Hall. The Tapestry was the island’s Millennium project and tells the story of 1,000 years of local history in ten panels of embroidered canvas work, one for each parish. It is housed in a purpose built Gallery with an audio guide (available in English, French or German).

The idea of a tapestry to celebrate the Millennium evolved from a suggestion at a public meeting in 1995. It

CANDIE GARDENS, GUERNSEY MUSEUM

was intended to be a lasting reminder of the celebrations and a project that could involve the whole community, as well as act as a learning vehicle for future generations of islanders and visitors, encouraging people to look more deeply into Guernsey’s rich history.

All ten panels were worked on by island residents and cover a century – illustrating the major events and important traditions that have shaped both the island and those who lived here. Each one bears the crest of the parish that stitched it. Many of those involved in the sewing now act as volunteers at the Guernsey Tapestry, and enjoy talking to visitors about their experiences making it.

GUERNSEY | PAGE 9

in a well lit and air conditioned German tunnel complex.

Displays include Brigadier Snow’s uniform, Militia collection and items from World War I.

The former garrison church of St James-the-Less and its more recently built Dorey Centre, provide Guernsey with a unique and versatile venue offering one of the largest auditoria in the island.

The venue plays host to a dazzling array of activities covering a broad range of tastes for the benefit of both residents and visitors from concerts, recitals – whether classical or jazz, choral, folk or brass, drama, poetry – to lectures and exhibitions, meaning there’s something for everyone!

A JOURNEY THROUGH THE HISTORY OF GUERNSEY The Bailiwick of Guernsey Tapestry, situated in the Dorey Centre at St James, illustrates 1000 years of local history in ten unique embroidered panels

Mar-Oct 2015 Mon-Sat 10am-4.30pm St James, St Peter Port, GY1 2NZ, T 01481 727106

Adults £4.95 65s & Students £4.50 Includes free Audio Tour Children under 16, free

t

LA VALLETTE UNDERGROUND MILITARY MUSEUM

AWARD WINNING MUSEUM

ST PETER PORT

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Across the road from St James sits the beautiful Candie Gardens. Once part of a private estate, the award

VICTORIAN SHOP AND PARLOUR

winning, restored Victorian gardens contain a rare example of a late 19th century public flower garden, and offer wonderful views across St Peter Port Harbour. They are home to the oldest known heated glass-houses in the British Isles, which date back to the late 18th century.

Statues of Victor Hugo and Queen Victoria also feature.

At the top of Candie Gardens is the Guernsey Museum.

Positioned on an elevated site, the Museum overlooks St Peter Port and its approaches. Visitors can enjoy major artworks from local artists, discover more local history with The Story of Guernsey, and view the many different exhibitions that are displayed during the year, all of which will be of great interest. Pick up a Museums Diary from the Guernsey Information Centre or any Guernsey Museum site for more information.

The Museum’s next door neighbour is The Priaulx Library, Guernsey’s national library, which has been serving the island since 1889. Once a private residence and retaining all the charm of its Victorian origins, the Library is a delight for visitors and researchers, containing books, maps, newspapers, photographs, prints and manuscripts detailing Channel Island history, as well as general collections of military history and rare books, and frequent exhibitions.

home life of the past. This is one of the oldest townhouses in St Peter Port, run by The National Trust of Guernsey, which sells traditional sweets, local crafts and National Trust goods. A showpiece Victorian parlour has been set out behind the shopping area.

Cornet Street weaves up to the top of Tower Hill, an area of Town steeped in folklore and tales of witches and ghosts, and eventually becomes Hauteville, where you will find Hauteville House, home to French writer Victor Hugo for most of his time in Guernsey.

Victor Hugo left France in 1851 for an exile that would last 19 years. Following a short period of time in Jersey, he came to Guernsey and was instantly captivated by

The centre for Channel Islands studies.

Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.00pm Parking available. Tel: 721998

Specialising in local history, the Library has a world-wide client list and will undertake research on any aspect of Guernsey life, particularly genealogy.

At the southern edge of St Peter Port lie two more jewels in the town’s crown.

The Victorian Shop in Cornet Street acts as a historic shop and museum, which highlights islanders’

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Candie Road, St Peter Port www.priaulxlibrary.co.uk

A large white building with a garden overlooking the sea, Hauteville House remains today as it was left, for visitors to see Victor Hugo’s individual style of decoration: he put his boundless imagination to work on the house, spending months overseeing a major conversion on a medieval pattern, which gave this unique building an inner force and mystery. Hugo lived in Hauteville House until 1870 and completed many of his masterpieces, including Les Misérables and Les Travailleurs de la Mer (Toilers of the Sea), which is dedicated to ‘the rock of hospitality, to this corner of old Norman land where resides the noble little people of the sea, to the Island of Guernsey, severe and yet gentle...’

ONLY

ACCOMPANYING

KIDS ADMITTED FREE!

£16 PER ADULT

Guernsey is spoilt for choice when it comes to sporting activities. Naturally most of these take place out of Town, but St Peter Port does host Guernsey’s only leisure Sejour. centre, Beau Situated in Cambridge Park, it has facilities that include the island’s only public 25m indoor swimming pool, with separate children’s pool. It also features a modern fully equipped gym, with over 70 pieces of equipment, and a wide range of keep fit classes suitable for different ages and abilities.

These range from gentle exercise and Aquafit to Zumba. The facilities are complemented by a sauna, steam room and whirlpool. Indoor courts accommodate badminton, squash, football, basketball and volleyball, and outside facilities include courts for tennis and netball.

GUERNSEY | PAGE 11

the island. During his 15 years here, he made a lasting impression and wrote some of his most famous works.

GUERNSEY INFORMATION CENTRE FREE WI FI GUIDED WALKS LOCAL INFORMATION THEATRE BOOKINGS

DISCOVER MORE 12 MONTHS UNLIMITED* ENTRY TO CASTLE CORNET FORT GREY SHIPWRECK MUSEUM GUERNSEY MUSEUM AT CANDIE

*DURING NORMAL OPENING HOURS / AVAILABLE TO BUY AT ANY OF OUR SITES www.museums.gov.gg

SOUVENIR GIFT SHOP ACCOMMODATION BOOKING

North Esplanade, St Peter Port

Telephone 01481 723552. Perrys Ref L6 ST PETER PORT

GUERNSEY | PAGE 12

Shopping In St Peter Port TOWN CHURCH AND ALBERT STATUE

a new watch, or have your eye on an engagement or wedding ring or, indeed, any sort of lasting special gift for a loved one.

Followers of fashion are also catered for, with some of the hottest designer labels represented at various fashion houses. Elsewhere you will come across some individual boutiques with exclusive lines in clothing and shoes.

As Guernsey’s clothing and footwear retailers bring in the latest collections for every new season, throughout the year there are sales where bargains can be found.

All your requirements can be met, from formal wear to casual, and from designer sunglasses to high quality lingerie. There is also an excellent choice in sports and outdoor equipment outlets, including a couple of shops that specialise in surf and ski wear.

With no VAT or any other sort of tax on goods and services charged locally, Guernsey is one of the most attractive and cost effective places to go shopping in the British Isles.

The island’s shops stock a wide range of products, from electronic and photographic equipment to perfumes and jewellery, and in general all these goods are very competitively priced.

The main retail centre can be found in and around the quaint cobbled streets of St Peter Port, just a short walk from the harbour ferry terminal. Alongside some familiar big names that you might see in any English high street, there are plenty of locally owned and managed shops that are unique to the island.

For computers, cameras, mobile phones and other electronic items, there are a number of specialist dealerships with a high level of expertise. St Peter Port is also the home of some fine jewellery stores, some of which remain under local family ownership that goes back generations. You will be spoilt for choice if you fancy Guernsey 2015

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For perfumes and cosmetics a great range of personal grooming products for women and men are available at various outlets in St Peter Port, from Boots to specialist Channel Islands fragrance houses. Typically, these shops offer world famous brands at a hugely discounted rate compared to the usual UK price and bargains can be found at the island’s wine and spirit merchants, again with a wide choice.

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Guernsey’s most beautiful and original gift shop Our fabulous ranges include interior and exterior furnishings, cards, jewellery and clothing

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ST PETER PORT

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Although sterling is used here, Guernsey prints its own notes and coins – we are still the proud users of £1 notes. However, although you can use your UK money here, any Guernsey currency is not legal tender outside of the Channel Islands and needs to be exchanged at a bank before or once you return home. However, you can ask for ‘UK change’ if paying in cash and where possible retailers will accommodate you. Most of the UK High Street banks have a presence in St Peter Port, and there are some branches in out-of-town shopping areas.

Located nearby is the Guernsey Pearl shop, where a wide variety of the ‘gems of the sea’ including simulated, freshwater and precious cultured pearls can be viewed and purchased.

While the High Street is St Peter Port’s main shopping

SportsDirect, the Co-Op

thoroughfare it must be regarded as only the start of your Guernsey retail experience. The area known as the Commercial Arcade, a pedestrianised shopping area packed full of pavement cafes and boutique shops, is great for shopping as well.

supermarket,

If you are looking to buy a camera while in Guernsey then Guernsey Photographics in the Commercial Arcade is the place to go. They stock the leading makes of digital cameras, lenses, digital picture frames, memory cards, binoculars, telescopes and accessories, together with a range of the latest digital video cameras, all at low VAT free prices. Their trained staff will be pleased to help you with your choice, whether it be one of the latest digital, compact or single lens reflex cameras. They also have Agfa Film processing equipment installed and are able to offer a one hour service for most colour films. They can print from most digital memory cards and transfer your digital images to CD-ROM/DVD. A Kodak kiosk allows instant digital photographs to be printed even from your smart phone. Download the free Kodak Kiosk Connect App and you’ll be ready to go. The quality is of the highest standard and prices are very competitive. Telephone 727165 or find us on facebook.

The Arcade leads onto the refurbished Town Market its

Place

impressive

with

cobbled

square. Home to HMV, New Look, Holland & Barrett, One2One

personal trainer, The Vape Bar and feelunique, the Market Buildings façade provides the perfect Victorian backdrop for whiling away several hours at the Market Bistro and the Café Delice. Both serve food throughout the day with internal dining and al fresco tables on the European-style piazza that is Market Square giving St Peter Port shoppers a place to rest and watch the world go by in the heart of the town.

The pedestrianised area of Market Square hosts many events throughout the year, including regular musical ensembles during summer months, and is a very popular performance area during the annual Town Carnival.

The island’s Fresh Friday Market brings local traders to Market Square selling fresh produce and street food and on Saturdays the area hosts a popular local Arts & Crafts Market.

This really is an area of St Peter Port not to be missed.

Go a little further beyond the Market, and you will find yourself in Guernsey’s charming Old Quarter. Renowned for its antique shops, art galleries and gift shops, follow Mill Street as it winds uphill through the top of Town to get a flavour of what is on offer.

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MARKET SQUARE

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ST PETER PORT

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www.sportsdirect.com facebook.com/SportsDirectUK Twitter@SportsDirectUK Tel: 01481 725687 Open Monday to Saturday 0900 – 1800

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www.newlook.com facebook.com/newlookfashion Twitter@NewLookFashion Tel: 01481 749650 Open Monday to Saturday 0900 – 1700

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New loca 5

www.hollandbarrett.com facebook.com/hollandandbarrett Twitter@holland_barrett Tel: 01481 701532 Open Monday to Saturday 0900 – 1730

For further information www.marketplaceguernsey.co.uk Twitter@Guer

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Open Monday to Saturday Tel: 700950 or 239249 7

facebook.com/cicoop Tel: 01481 743612 Open Monday to Saturday 0730 – 1900

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Open 8.30am - 4.00pm 9

Tel: 01481 711369 Open Monday to Saturday 0730 – 1800

10

© 2013 Perrys. www.coast.gg

n including events visit / facebook.com/MarketBuildings rnsey_Market

Twitter@hmvtweets Tel: 01481 739720 Open Monday to Saturday 0900 – 1800

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Wine And Dine In St Peter Port Eating out is an adventure in its own right in Guernsey,

Guernsey restaurateurs and hoteliers pride themselves

thanks to a wining and dining tradition that combines the

on the freshness of their fish and shellfish. The close

best fresh, natural produce the island has to offer together

proximity of the fishing quay at St Peter Port Harbour

with a superb level of culinary expertise. Good food served

means the day’s catch can make it from the sea to the

well and at a decent price is never hard to find.

dinner plate in the space of just a few hours.

St Peter Port’s commercial centre is noted for the

Seasonality is another philosophy at the core of Guernsey’s high reputation for eating out. The island’s mild, sunny climate and its fertile soil mean that there is a rich variety of locally grown vegetables and fruits on offer for most of the year.

excellence of its restaurants and it is also worth sampling some of the buzzing bistros, cafés or wine bars where you can snack to your heart’s content on anything from Spanish tapas to genuine Japanese sushi dishes. There are also plenty of restaurants that specialise in particular world cuisines.

AL FRESCO EATING

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Dining out is something of an institution for islanders, and most of the hotels cater just as much for locals

GUERNSEY | PAGE 19

Located a short distance from the centre of bustling St Peter Port, BEST WESTERN Hotel de Havelet boasts two fine restaurants with great views, as well as a charming ‘olde worlde’ bar.

The Havelet Grill specialises in sizzling charcoal grills, fresh fish and seafood.

The Wellington Boot Restaurant offers fine food and friendly service as well as outstanding views.

Seasonal set menus are great value, and a selection of vegetarian dishes are always available.

Morning coffee and seafood lunches are also served on the terrace.

BEST WESTERN

BEST WESTERN HOTEL DE HAVELET, HAVELET, ST PETER PORT, GUERNSEY GY1 1BA TEL: 01481 722199 FAX: 01481 714057 www.dehaveletguernsey.com

ST PETER PORT

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ST PETER PORT AT NIGHT

DESSERTS

LOCAL FISH

FRENCH BISTRO

as they do for their residents, with the result that bar food (pub grub) in Guernsey is of a consistently high standard, as well as being very competitively priced.

A continental feel pervades Town in the summer months when on some weekends the Quay fronting on to Victoria Marina is closed to allow restaurants to bring diners outside. Patrons can enjoy a glass of wine, watching the ships glide into the harbour, in the sun.

When it comes to food and drink, islanders are rightfully proud of their local produce, with plenty of events taking place throughout the year, across all the Bailiwick islands.

New for 2015 is the Guernsey International Food Festival, which takes place from Friday 18 - Sunday 27 September. During the Festival, there will be fantastic promotions on offer in restaurants and cocktail bars as well as markets and shows, interactive events and Guernsey 2015

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plenty for the children to do, as well as the grown ups.

Activities will be centred around our capital St Peter Port, but festival fever will spread across the island.

The festival will allow visitors to explore the amazing array of produce that comes from the island, in both restaurants and demos from both our very talented island and guest chefs.

The Autumn Tennerfest has been a popular fixture on the Channel Islands’ food calendar for over 15 years - and organisers are preparing for another bumper festival of local food.

The Tennerfest began 18 years ago and since then over five million meals have been enjoyed during the food festival. On average, more than 170 restaurants take part across the Channel Islands, with a record 75 in Guernsey alone last year.

What began as a way of attracting customers into island

Your perfect home from home

GUERNSEY | PAGE 21

dukeofrichmond.com

Pop in for lunch on The Terrace overlooking Candie Gardens and take in the sea views of the islands beyond.

Join us for dinner in The Leopard Bar and Restaurant, where our chefs are keen to impress you with imaginative dishes, which you can enjoy in style and comfort. You’ll find freshly caught fish and seafood on the menu as well as our signature Rotisserie Chicken.

Our hotel proudly lives by the Red Carnation Hotel Collection’s mission statement “No request is too large, no detail too small”

Cambridge Park, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1UY FOR RESERVATIONS TELEPHONE 01481 740866 Email: orlandoabreu@dukeofrichmond.com @DOR_Guernsey

/dukeofrichmondhotel

DOR_Guernsey

ST PETER PORT

GUERNSEY | PAGE 22 ST PETER PORT HARBOUR

restaurants in quieter months with a £10 three course menu, has evolved into a celebration of the very best island food which also offers great value for money.

With gourmet menus now ranging from £10 to £20 per person, you can feast on lobster and scallops, try local specialities of Bean Jar and artisan cheeses or tuck into favourites including fish and chips and bangers and mash. You can eat your way around the world, trying Italian and Chinese, Indian and French, without even leaving the island.

Many of menus still stick to the original promise of the festival and offer something for £10 - which, in this day and age, offers incredible value for money.

Last year, many restaurants opted to extend the festival from six to eight weeks to cover all of October and November.

Stunning views can be found at the Best Western Hotel De Havelet, which is situated on a steep hill on the outskirts of St Peter Port. Here you can enjoy outstanding views of Castle Cornet and the smaller islands from the two restaurants. The newly refurbished Wellington Boot restaurant is on the upper floor, and the cosy Havelet Grill specialises in fresh local fish and seafood, as well as excellent steaks.

Why the Wellington Boot? Local legend has it that Henrietta, daughter of the Le Marchant family, enjoyed a liaison with the Duke of Wellington before her hurriedly arranged marriage to a Captain de Courcey. It was the Duke who ordered the rebuilding of part of the house.

The Duke’s name was given to Wellington boots after the custom favoured boots he wore as part of his uniform instead of traditional hessian boots worn at the time.

On fine days and warm evenings you can enjoy coffee, lunch and drinks on the beautiful terrace in front of the hotel, or on cooler days enjoy a meal in the Saddle Room bar, with its olde worlde charm. Telephone 722199 for reservations.

Les Rocquettes Hotel, situated on the outskirts of St Peter Port, continues to be a very popular haunt for visitors and locals. The Oak Bar and Restaurant offers a selection of high quality lunches and dinners. A new venue for 2015 is Ella’s lounge where you can enjoy a coffee, afternoon tea, a pre dinner cocktail or simply savour a great glass of wine.

Telephone 722146 for reservations.

LOCAL SHELLFISH

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GUERNSEY | PAGE 23 GUERNSEY COWS

THE TASTE OF GUERNSEY Guernsey sits astride a cultural fault line. A British Crown Dependency since 1204, the islands are a subtle brew of Anglo Norman culture, spiced with cosmopolitan seafaring influences, and served up with a spirit all of their own.

Guernsey’s traditional cuisine is no less distinctive. Hearty country recipes like Bean Jar (known as Bean Crock in Jersey) compete with a myriad of timeless seafood dishes.

Fresh vegetables have always featured strongly, thanks to the island’s mild climate, as well as a time-honoured selection of breads and cakes.

January to April is the time when you may be able to try local delicacy, ormers. To some this is a near mythical, mouth-watering gastropod that inhabits the low tide mark of Guernsey’s coasts. On a few legally designated tides, locals don Wellington boots and Guernsey jumpers as they wade in search of what they feel is the ultimate seafood – once the staple of island dinner tables.

Nowadays, diners require even more determination than shore gatherers to track down an ormer, but they can still occasionally be found in restaurants.

Tea is a staple drink in Guernsey: British, after all, for almost 800 years. But no cuppa is complete without

a slice of Guernsey Gâche. Each summer, visitors can be heard wrestling with unlikely pronunciations of the island’s favourite fruit loaf - served at beach kiosks and traditionally smothered with rich, yellow Guernsey butter.

But have no fear - locals recognise the knotted brow and hesitant manner before the chalk menu board!

It’s pronounced ‘Gosh’ and, well... we know what you mean. Watch out too for Gâche Melée (pronounced gosh mel-a), a delicious local apple cake.

Guernsey was once known for its cider, which it produced in sufficient quantities for export. The industry has been revived over recent years, with delightfully crisp results.

The island also has a long brewing tradition, and local beers are widely available in bars and restaurants.

GUERNSEY COWS The island’s greatest ambassador has four legs, two horns and a taste for grass: the Guernsey cow is renowned across the globe as a leading specialist dairy breed.

The Guernsey cow of today is thought to have originated from crossing native black European wild cattle with larger Roman cows from the south and mixing them with high milk yielding animals brought to France by Norse invaders.

ST PETER PORT

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GUERNSEY GACHE

The late 18th century saw an end to the long war with France. This curtailed Guernsey’s lucrative privateering ‘industry’, which forced countless locals to find new ways of making a living. Many turned to dairy farming and some went on to emigrate – taking their animals with them – to the USA, where the Guernsey breed thrives today.

The Guernsey cow produces unique golden coloured milk, high in protein, butterfat and beta carotene. Research reveals that the Guernsey cow is a milk-producing marvel: this easy tempered beast lives longer than most other breeds, has the lowest incidence of calving difficulties, is popular for cross breeding and the quality of her milk and cheese is second to none.

The Guernsey Dairy produces nine types of cheese, three styles of cream, two varieties of butter and twelve flavours of ice cream – not bad for an island just six miles long and four miles wide. But there again, when your raw material is the celebrated Guernsey milk, this should come as no surprise!

GUERNSEY TOMATOES

HEDGE VEG There is one phenomenon that is pure, unadulterated Guernsey and – more than any other – sums up islanders’ approach to life. It’s nothing to do with politics, religion or philosophy. Rather, it’s all about produce and the way islanders love to buy and sell it from makeshift stalls at the side of the road. Welcome to the world of ‘hedge veg’.

Hit the island’s country roads and you will soon spot it.

Look out for stands by the side of the road, fashioned from a table, crate or even driftwood, with a hand written sign, promoting today’s offering. There will also be a small tin, box or even a milk churn – for shoppers to pay for their purchases. It all relies on honesty and it works. In an age of locks, security cameras and rising crime it’s reassuring to know that there is still somewhere people prefer to work on trust.

And there is certainly no shortage of stock. Anything from tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots and potatoes to roses, carnations and freesias – even the odd spider crab – can be found. Aside from the occasional crustacean, much of it originates from commercially sized greenhouses, which are still commonplace, while the remainder is pulled from kitchen gardens.

Guernsey 2015

| The Definitive Island Guide

GUERNSEY HEDGE VEG

GUERNSEY | PAGE 25

Excellent quality lunches and dinners A light menu is served throughout the day The Oak occasionally hosts themed weeks and live music.

LES ROCQUETTES G U E R N S E Y ★★★

@LRHGSY

Les Rocquettes Hotel, Les Gravees, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1RN T: 01481 722146 F: 01481 714543 E: stay@lesrocquettesguernsey.com www.lesrocquettesguernsey.com ST PETER PORT

GUERNSEY | PAGE 26

theoghhotel.com

Enjoy a taste of five-star dining With unbeatable views of St Peter Port harbour and beyond, experience Guernsey’s first and only five-star hotel.

From formal dining in The Brasserie, an al fresco lunch in The Olive Grove overlooking the pool and St Peter Port harbour or a light bite in The Crown Club, join us at arguably the most stylish rendezvous in Guernsey.

We have been welcoming guests for many years to the most historically famous hotel in The Channel Islands, affectionately known as The OGH. Steeped in history, our hotel proudly lives by the Red Carnation Hotel Collection’s mission statement “No request is too large, no detail too small”

St Ann’s Place, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2NU FOR RESERVATIONS TELEPHONE 01481 724921 Email: fandbmanager@theoghhotel.com @OGH_Guernsey

Guernsey 2015

/theoghhotel

| The Definitive Island Guide

OGH_Guernsey

The Old Government House Hotel and Spa, situated in the heart of St Peter Port, with stunning views of the harbour and neighbouring islands, it is Guernsey’s only five star hotel, and the most historically famous hotel in The Channel Islands.

A minute’s walk from the main shopping street, The OGH offers a range of unique dining options, each presided

over by the Executive Head Chef and his experienced team. The light and airy conservatory houses The Brasserie, perfect for informal dining occasions. The menu offers a range of dining experiences from continental and full English breakfasts, sandwiches and light snacks, to Sunday lunch, and the restaurant boasts a Gold Award from VisitGuernsey. During summer, the hotel offers al fresco dining in The Olive Grove, with stunning views of St Peter Port.

The team look forward to welcoming you for a five star dining experience that you will never forget.

For fine dining, guests need look no further than The Curry Room at The Governors. Open daily for lunch and dinner, and decorated in a colonial style with pictures of the past Governors of Guernsey, offering authentic Indian cuisine in relaxed and convivial surroundings.

Served every day between 2.00pm and 5.30pm in the Sir John Coward Lounge, afternoon tea is a must. Diners relax in the cosy ambience as they enjoy a wide selection of loose leaf teas and a magnificent tea stand offering a selection of delicate finger sandwiches, homemade scones with clotted cream and jam and a range of cakes

and pastries prepared by the pastry chef. This may also be enjoyed outside in the garden during the summer months.

GUERNSEY | PAGE 27

First Class Experience New to Guernsey at The OGH is The Crown Club, offering a stylish and relaxing environment. With a beautifully appointed conservatory overlooking the hotel gardens and two quiet lounges, there are plenty of options for a quiet cup of coffee or afternoon tea.

Whatever your dining pleasure, the team look forward to welcoming you to Guernsey’s only five star hotel, for a five star dining experience that you will never forget.

The Duke of Richmond, refurbished in 2012, is situated a short walk from the town centre in the peaceful surroundings of Candie Gardens and Cambridge Park.

It has several unique dining experiences available, all utilising the best fresh local produce and boasting an extensive wine cellar.

The Leopard Bar & Restaurant offers delicious cocktails, a wide selection of fine wines and the finest quality cuisine in stylish surroundings. It has a magnificent conservatory and outdoor terrace, perfect for al fresco dining, with superb views over St Peter Port Harbour and the neighbouring islands. A glass wall to the kitchen means diners are able to watch the chefs at work – a spectacle that no other restaurant on the island offers. The A La Carte menu boasts favourites such as beautifully cooked steaks, burgers and fresh fish, in addition to locally caught fish and seafood on the Daily Specials board.

The Duke of Richmond also offers afternoon tea daily between 2.00pm and 5.30pm. Served in the stunning black and white Resident’s Lounge, or on The Terrace when the weather is fine, this English tradition offers a wide range of teas from around the world, and a sumptuous tea tray of finger sandwiches, homemade cakes, and scones with jam and clotted cream.

ST PETER PORT

GUERNSEY | PAGE 28

FORT PEZERIES

Out And About For such a small island Guernsey boasts an astonishing range of natural scenery as well as plenty of things to see and to do. Wherever you go and at any time of year the island’s unique, multi-layered character is revealed, with a fresh sight or surprise around practically every corner.

As the outline on your Guernsey Map clearly shows, Guernsey is roughly triangular in shape with three distinct sides, but what you cannot tell quite so easily is that they are all stunning stretches of coastline in their own different ways.

The east coast is dominated by the island’s picturesque capital of St Peter Port, with its deep natural harbour and its pretty hilltop buildings, as well as by sensational views of the neighbouring smaller islands of Herm, Jethou and Sark.

By contrast Guernsey’s south coast is defined by the majestic granite cliffs that rise from the shoreline up to 100m high in places. There is also an unbroken coastal footpath that begins on the outskirts of the town and meanders all the way along the southern coastline, the many steps can be challenging in places but there are breathtaking vistas of the rocky bays and inlets below.

The character of the island undergoes yet another transformation along the sun drenched west coast, which is famed for its splendid sandy bays that attract thousands of pleasure seekers throughout the summer months. Walking here is easy as the terrain is flat.

The three sides of the Guernsey triangle are just a rough approximation of what the island has to offer anyone who is determined to spend a little time finding out. In Guernsey 2015

| The Definitive Island Guide

fact, it would be more accurate to say that the island has 100 sides, many of which are to be found inland.

Yet another facet of Guernsey’s natural charm can be found within its public spaces. These range from the splendour of Saumarez Park in the heart of the island and windswept L’Ancresse Common at its northern tip to the sheltered valleys on the south cliffs.

All journeys in Guernsey are short and yet it is easy to become lost (especially if you do not have a Perry’s map to hand) as you navigate your way along the hundreds of miles of narrow roads and lanes that criss-cross the island.

Guernsey’s road system includes a network of peaceful green lanes signposted as ‘Ruette Tranquille’ where those using motorised transport are asked to give priority to cyclists, walkers and horse riders.

Thanks to its geographical position in the Bay of St Malo, Guernsey has a huge tidal range of 10m, or more than 30ft, and one of the joys of exploring the island is leaving the car on a coastal headland to experience its ever changing shoreline. You can even walk across a causeway to the tiny island of Lihou on the west coast, which forms part of an important nature reserve, but be careful not to find yourself marooned when the tide starts to come back in.

During the spring, summer and autumn months there are regular ferries to Herm Island and to Sark, both of which are well worth going to see on a day trip. You can also view all the islands from a completely different perspective by taking an excursion by boat, whether on a fishing expedition or on an ‘eco-voyage’ for close up views of the Bailiwick’s rich marine and bird life, and skippered craft are available for hire.

GUERNSEY | PAGE 29

Innovative and modern cuisine featuring top quality local produce in contemporary surroundings, with amazing views. www.theauberge.gg

Jerbourg Road, St Martins, Guernsey. T: (01481) 238485

1

The perfect town centre location with a great Café Culture. Serving terrific food every day and evening. Large Al Fresco area.

“It’s neither a Restaurant, nor a Wine Bar, Café or Pub. It’s all these things and more.”

CGG

19 Commercial Arcade, St. Peter Port, Guernsey. T: (01481) 723455

The White Hart is at the centre of town life. Live music, bar lunches and big screens for all major sporting events.

2

10%

✁

off your food bill With this voucher.

At any of these great eateries

3

TERMS & CONDITIONS: This offer is valid Sunday to Thursday inclusive until 30th September 2015. Cannot be used with any other offers and has no cash value. Each voucher is valid for one booking/table up to a maximum of eight diners, including kids.

PLEASE HAND IN THIS VOUCHER WHEN PAYING. Liberation Group reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

OUT OF TOWN

T

B

PI AKE EST ZZ AW A AY S

GUERNSEY | PAGE 30 Classic pub dishes balanced with local seafood and imaginative specials. Enjoy a relaxing lunch or supper in the bar, conservatory or on the terrace with panoramic west coast sea views.

CAMRA Good Beer Guide & The Good Pub Guide

Ample parking.

The Houmet, Grande Havre Bay, Guernsey. T: (01481) 242214

Lefebvre Street, St Peter Port, G

For full details & menus Situated near the airport this ever popular Gastro Inn serves lunches & dinners on the Al Fresco sun terrace and in the distinctly styled bar and eating areas Locally brewed beer & cask ale Ample parking.

CGG

✁

Le Bourg, Forest, Guernsey. T: (01481) 238585

10% off your food bill With this voucher.

At any of these great eateries

TERMS & CONDITIONS: This offer is valid Sunday to Thursday inclusive until 30th September 2015. Cannot be used with any other offers and has no cash value. Each voucher is valid for one booking/table up to a maximum of eight diners, including kids.

PLEASE HAND IN THIS VOUCHER WHEN PAYING. Liberation Group reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

Guernsey 2015

| The Definitive Island Guide

The Pollet, St. Peter Port, Gu

CGG

GUERNSEY | PAGE 31

Burgers, Pizzas, Steaks, Fish, Noodles, Pasta, Salads, House Specials & Sandwiches...

10% off your food bill

Showing Sky Sports & Big Matches

With this voucher.

At any of these great eateries

Cocktails, Pitchers & Shooters Live DJs and Music

TERMS & CONDITIONS: This offer is valid Sunday to Thursday inclusive until 30th September 2015. Cannot be used with any other offers and has no cash value. Each voucher is valid for one booking/table up to a maximum of eight diners, including kids.

OPEN ALL DAY EVERYDAY!

PLEASE HAND IN THIS VOUCHER WHEN PAYING. Liberation Group reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

Guernsey’s leading Cocktail Bar

visit: 3 2

5 6

4

1

Choose from over 60 cocktails, freshly made using the finest spirits and liquors from around the world. We also offer an international range of premium spirits, wines and Champagnes.

Laska’s Cocktail Bar tenders are highly experienced and very obliging if you would like to try something a little more imaginative, with a few questions they can create something to suit your personal tastes.

The music’s great and there’s a small dance floor if the spirits move you.

Albert House, South Esplanade, Guernsey. T: (01481) 727444

Situated north of the tourist information centre, the Thomas de la Rue is a traditional town pub serving wholesome classic bar meals and a good selection of beers from the two bars and The Parlour Locally brewed beer & cask ale

uernsey T: (01481) 714990

TAPAS • MEZZE GRAZING • CAFÉ • BAR RESTAURANT CAFÉ CULTURE SHARED WITH GOOD FRIENDS

South Esplanade, St Peter Port, Guernsey. T: (01481) 720644

✁

Guernsey. T: (01481) 713030

CGG

GUERNSEY | PAGE 32

10% off your food bill With this voucher.

At any of these great eateries

Situated next to the town church overlooking the marinas and islands. A traditional pub serving great lagers and cask ale in three bars.

TERMS & CONDITIONS: This offer is valid Sunday to Thursday inclusive until 30th September 2015. Cannot be used with any other offers and has no cash value. Each voucher is valid for one booking/table up to a maximum of eight diners, including kids.

âœ

PLEASE HAND IN THIS VOUCHER WHEN PAYING. Liberation Group reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

4

A bustling harbourside bar serving great food with local and guest cask ales and Rocquettes cider on tap. A fabulous location with a great atmosphere.

North Esplanade, St Peter Port, Guernsey. T: (01481) 721368

5

This stylish brasserie and bar have a contemporary feel and take dining to a new level. The two floors above Ship & Crown offer quality, fresh food and daily seafood specials, served with fantastic views across the islands.

North Esplanade, St Peter Port, Guernsey. T: (01481) 728994

Guernsey 2015

| The DeďŹ nitive Island Guide

6

A large part of what makes Guernsey a unique place in the world is its sheer physical splendour. However, the island’s beguiling character is shaped just as much by its people and by a fascinating human history that goes back not just hundreds but thousands of years.

Everywhere you go there are signs of the historical elements that make Guernsey such a special place, from its prehistoric dolmens to the Sea Guernsey mast at the harbour entrance from which the island’s distinctive flag, with its red and gold crosses, flies so proudly.

Going right back, the island was separated from the European continent when sea levels rose around 8,500BC. After that it was a few thousand years before man made their way to the island. There is evidence of Neolithic culture on Guernsey dating back to about 4,500BC with defensive earthwork structures, menhirs and dolmens still standing today. Guernsey’s living history book begins with Neolithic Man and the Les Fouillages burial mound, located on L’Ancresse Common, possibly the oldest manmade structure in Europe. The largest structure in Guernsey, La Varde Dolmen, is near the 17th green on the L’Ancresse golf course and measures 11m long by 4m wide with a capping stone pile of 5m long and 1m thick.

Like the mystery of the pyramids, one cannot begin to imagine how early man managed to move such stones into position.

Guernsey has over two dozen monuments dating from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages including Le Dehus passage grave in the Vale; the Trepied Neolithic dolmen at Perelle, held in local folklore as the meeting places of witches; and La Gran’mère du Chimquière statue-menhir, at the entrance to St Martin’s parish church.

Iron Age earthworks have also been found here as well as much evidence of Roman influence in the first century AD. St Peter Port was a busy harbour by this time, used

as a stop off on the trade route between England and France. A third century Roman shipwreck known to be the Roman ship ‘Asterix’ was found in the mouth of St Peter Port Harbour in 1982 and is now displayed at Castle Cornet.

As a Crown Dependency the island is a British possession but with the French coast just 30 miles (50 kilometres) across the water Guernsey exudes a modern day continental charm and also an ancient Norman heritage that goes back to the days of William the Conqueror. The historical links with the Duchy of Normandy can be seen in the names of the island’s inhabitants and in many of its place and road names. There is also an ancient Norman French language, Guernésiaise, which is spoken mostly by older inhabitants but is undergoing something of a revival in the island’s schools.

GUERNSEY | PAGE 33

LE CATIOROC

Guernsey’s strong constitutional links with the UK can be traced back to the early 13th century when Channel Islanders faced the choice of aligning with the King of France or the King of England and Guernsey chose the latter. At around this time the position of Bailiff was established to give Guernsey and its smaller neighbouring islands a legislative and judicial leader.

In the 1600s privateering, or legalised piracy, became commonplace as local seamen with good knowledge of the treacherous rocks plundered foreign ships. After striking, Guernsey ships were able to navigate their way quickly back to the safety of St Peter Port Harbour.

French ships giving chase often ran aground on the sharp rocks hidden beneath the surface of the sea.

During the French Revolution, hundreds fled their homeland and settled on Guernsey, including the famous poet and playwright Victor Hugo, who wrote many of his masterpieces here. Much of the Georgian and Regency architecture around St Peter Port was built

by French exiles at this time.

To get a feel for life in earlier times it is worth visiting the Folk and Costume Museum at Saumarez Park, operated by the National Trust of Guernsey. The museum gives an insight to an earlier age through a series of tableaux including a school room and nursery. Displays of fishing boats and tomato packing sheds illustrate traditional industries, OUT OF TOWN

GUERNSEY | PAGE 34

while the fine costume collection features garments and accessories from the early 18th to the 20th century, all of local provenance.

The late 18th century saw an end to the long war with France, which curtailed the lucrative privateering ‘industry’. Locals were forced to find a new way to make a living and many turned to dairy farming with the Guernsey cow, a now world-famous producer of delicious golden milk.

The coast of Guernsey is dotted with Napoleonic gun batteries that defended the island from the French.

Two of these have been recently restored and are open to the public – Mont Chinchon at Perelle Bay and Rousse Tower at the western end of Grande Havre Bay, which was built to defend the islands against the French in the late 18th century. Models and plans show how it was manned by men of the Royal Guernsey Militia – and their wives! The latter is only open from April to October.

Also of historic interest at the north end of the island is Vale Castle which dominates the approaches to the Little Russel channel, the waterway to St Peter Port. This late mediaeval castle

GERMAN TOWER

became a German strongpoint during WW2 and the old walls are ringed by concrete bunkers.

Fort Grey Shipwreck Museum, in Rocquaine Bay, is located within a Napoleonic Martello tower and houses an exhibition of shipwrecks from Guernsey’s maritime past. From the loss of the Boreas in 1808 to the more recent stranding of the MV Vermontborg, Guernsey’s treacherous west coast has claimed many vessels and lives. You can discover how they came to grief and learn their tragic stories, and see relics and remnants of the remains of their craft.

The Channel Islands were the only part of the British

N A PE E O LY L A

VALE CASTLE

R

LITTLE CHAPEL

Behind Forest Church Open Daily 10am - 5.00pm November - March, 10am - 1pm

FORT GREY

Authentic Occupation Street, Unique Audio Visual Experience Tearoom and Fortifications Bus Route 11, 91, 92 & P1 Guernsey 2015

| The Definitive Island Guide

GUERNSEY | PAGE 35

Isles to be invaded by Hitler’s Germany and the legacy of that five-year Occupation is the concrete walls, towers and tunnels that stand out even today.

The largest collection in the Channel Islands of Occupation memorabilia can be seen at the German Occupation Museum in Forest. On display are tableaux, fortifications, an audio-visual cinema, an Occupation street and all aspects of life between 1940 and 1945.

Also of interest is the German Military Underground Hospital in St Andrews, which is the largest construction in the Channel Islands, hewn out of solid rock by slave workers of many nationalities under the control of the German Occupying Forces.

Most of the German fortifications are not open to the public, but those that are include the German Directional Finding Tower at Pleinmont in the parish of Torteval. This re-equipped five-storey coastal artillery direction finding tower has a commanding view of the south and west coast and is home to original rangefinders, a reconstructed barrack room and a Batterie Dollmann nearby.

r n fo o i t w trac t at e kno s e b h t The ose in th

You will be amazed by the huge range in our gift shop, which includes candles, toys and gifts for all ages.

Carve your own candle Regular buses stop just outside Free entry and free parking

There is also a fully restored German gun casemate at Fort Hommet above Vazon Bay, with a fully restored German gun casemate with an original 10.5cm gun and equipment as used in 1944.

Finally, we highly recommend a visit to The Little Chapel at Les Vauxbelets in St Andrews, arguably Guernsey’s most recognisable visitor attraction.

Started in 1914 by Brother Deodat of the religious order of the de la Salle brothers, this was actually the third chapel he built on the site.

It is based on the Grotto at Lourdes and its decoration of shells and broken china make it a popular scene for photographers.

Open: 9am-5.30pm 7 days a week. Tel: 249686 All your desired gifts at one attraction.

OUT OF TOWN

GUERNSEY | PAGE 36 SAUSMAREZ MANOR

If we can tear you away from our beautiful heritage sites, there are many other hidden treasures to discover inland. From family friendly parks to leisure centres, ghost tours to silversmiths we have a long list of accredited attractions to keep visitors busy.

and yet beautiful and locally made. Situated within the Guernsey Candles complex is an extensive range of quality gifts which range from jewellery, picture frames, baby, Willow Tree and much more. An experience not to be missed.

Situated just across the road from Oatlands is the Guernsey Freesia

In the south-east corner

Centre. Freesia growing is an important part of the island’s horticultural industry, and here the process from planting to packing is explained in five vineries. Bulbs or blooms can be purchased and there is an extensive range of exclusive gifts in the shop. You can even send flowers to friends and family at home.

Just five minutes drive from Oatlands and the Freesia Centre you will find Guernsey Candles, producers of candles of renowned beauty and variation. Over the last 40 years, the company has progressed and today is known for its wide range of high quality candles.

of the island you will find Guernsey’s ‘historic Sausmarez

house’,

Manor, the seat of the Seigneurs de Sausmarez family for 800 years and voted in the Top Three Attractions in the Bailiwick by the visitors in 2013. The house and its contents reflect

the

changing

fortunes of the family over the centuries. Open every day are a short 9 hole golf course, sculpture art park and sub-tropical wild woodland gardens, lakeside tea gardens and gift shop, as well as a ride on a train, which works at weekends and school holidays, and a fully working coppersmith, working with ancient and

These include scented, aromatic, animals and the plain basic candle that will give hours of burning pleasure. At Guernsey Candles, you can also gain hands on experience of carving your own candle.

traditional methods and tools.

All ages are catered for. Children are supervised according to their ability and young adults upwards do their own thing! Guernsey Candles is a must for those who want to buy something different that is useful

different countries and is there to enjoy, to buy or to

Guernsey 2015

| The Definitive Island Guide

Within the grounds you can also discover The ArtPark: One of Britain’s most comprehensive exhibition of sculpture is exhibited at the Manor and is heralded as one of the most beautiful. It includes work from a dozen commission. Rated in the top five nationally by the Daily Telegraph. Mon Petit Monde: Sells the most delightful selection of locally handcrafted, eco friendly, and

GUERNSEY | PAGE 37

WIN

£1,000 GIFT VOUCHER TO SPEND ON JEWELLERY OF YOUR CHOICE To have the chance of winning £1,000, simply answer the following questions correctly:

1. What was the large piece of silverware Bruce was commissioned to design and craft for the British Royal Family?

(Picture in showroom) 2. The date above the entrance to Mint Brasserie?

3. What is the colour of the model train in the workshop?

(Made by Simon’s great grandfather)

Email answers to sales@bruce-russell.com, stating COMPETITION ENTRY in the subject line.

www.bruce-russell.com Tel. 01481 264321 Le Gron, St Saviours, Guernsey, Channel Islands, GY7 9RN

OUT OF TOWN

GUERNSEY | PAGE 38

Fairtrade gifts. The Tea Room at the Manor: What better place to relax after a day of sampling all the Manor has to offer? In beautiful surroundings, the cafe offers hot and cold home made light meals and cakes, as well as a wide variety of beverages. Subtropical Gardens: In partnership with the RHS, and recommended by English Garden, Gardening Which, Great British Gardens and Good Gardens Guide. The climate here means that we don’t need biodomes to grow around 50 species of bamboo, 300 camellias, tree ferns, bananas, ginger, palms and iant echiums. Ghost Tours: Evening ghost tours of the island’s most haunted house are not to be missed and usually take place on Wednesday or Thursday evenings for groups of six or more. Ring 235571 to check availability, even if there are only one or two of you.

Located on The Bridge, next to St Sampsons Harbour is The Accredited Guernsey Diamond Museum which offers a fascinating insight into the world of diamonds – from their origins, to mining and recovery, cutting and setting. Images from the Royal

Collection and a sparkling display of coloured, rough, old cut and certified diamonds are located in an old bank vault at Ray & Scott, the Jeweller. The shop has the most exquisite selection of diamonds at every price point, and VAT free, on the island. Ray & Scott stock over 50 brands of watches and jewellery, truly Guernsey’s hidden gem down on the Bridge! Free entry.

Martyn Silversmith Guille feels lucky to be working in a 300-year old barn situated next to the Little Chapel in the middle of the Island, with stunning valley views and Guernsey cows grazing outside. His shop combines the traditional silversmithing and jewellery making skills he possesses, with a large selection of clocks and watches, and many exclusive lines depicting the Little Chapel in the gift shop. There is seating outside where you can relax and enjoy the views, with parking provided near the road or next to the barn.

Just Up The Road Trains

St Peter Port Sausmarez Manor Weekends & school holidays, May to August only.

10 minute bus or taxi ride 30 minute walk

Sculpture Park International Sculpture Festival 2015

Voted in the Top 3 Attractions by the Visitors 2013

Partner garden

Recommended by

BBC’s Gardener’s World Magazine

BUS STOP

Guernsey 2015

| The Definitive Island Guide

(BUS ROUTES 11, 91, 92 & OTHERS)

Short Golf Course

GUERNSEY | PAGE 39

WIN£500

worth of fine diamonds or jewellery with Ray & Scott Visit Ray & Scott’s shop on the Bridge and answer this question:

‘What is the name of our fashion watch and jewellery specialist shop next door but one to Ray & Scott?’

Send your answer, together with your name, address and telephone number by post to Coast Media, Nelson House, Admiral Park, Elizabeth Avenue, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2HX; or by email to competitions@coast.gg. Closing date for entries is 31 January 2016.

Answer _________________________________ Name __________________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Telephone _______________________________________________________________ Please tick if you are happy to receive information on our products and services.

Choose perfection

Ray & Scott offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of jewellery and watches in the Channel Islands. Their love of flawless craftsmanship assures you perfection.

The Bridge, St Sampsons. Telephone: 244610 Over 100 years of trust and experience www.rayandscott.com

OUT OF TOWN

GUERNSEY | PAGE 40

Shopping Out Of Town GUERNSEY COTTAGE, LE GOUFFRE

Beyond St Peter Port there is more to discover for anyone in need of a little retail therapy, and you can almost guarantee not to go away empty handed. As well as the defined shopping areas, there are also plenty of little shops tucked away in various parts of the island that should make enjoyable stopping off points on any exploratory trips.

The northern parishes of St Sampson and the Vale share their own shopping centre known as ‘The Bridge’. Here you will find Ray & Scott which specialises in diamonds, having its own diamond museum in the diamond vault at the rear of the premises.

Proprietors of the jewellery house, Ray & Scott, Martin Search and Jeff Fox and their team strive to give a warm and friendly welcome, allowing customers to browse at their leisure, while making them aware that expert help is on hand to assist with any questions they may have.

In addition, If you are looking for that perfect memento of your visit to Guernsey, you are sure to find something special

here

Friquet,

at

Le

Home

of

Garden & Living. Nestled in the beautiful parish of Castel, the centre is open every day throughout the

school

holidays

and is full of inspirational ideas for the home and garden with a large range of plants and indoor living.

Customers and children will also enjoy exploring our pets and aquatics area with a wide variety of

fish,

small

animals

and birds.

The popular Café Des

A selection of magnificent diamond, and other,

Amis

rings is always available. Antique jewellery is also

Restaurant is the perfect

on display, if you prefer a piece that has its very own

spot to eat and relax with

history. If a watch is what you require, timepieces by

friends with two safe play

Omega, Blancpain, Tissot and Tag Heuer sports watches

areas, both indoor and

and a beautiful range of ladies’ watches by Dior are

outdoor, for the children

stocked, not forgetting pre-owned Rolex, Cartier and

to enjoy.

other international brands, to suit every occasion.

Guernsey 2015

| The Definitive Island Guide

and

Terrazzo

The jewellers still hand craft traditional Guernsey silverware including the famous Guernsey milk can and loving cup. They create a stunning range of platinum, gold and silver jewellery and you can always talk to the craftsmen and have a special piece made to your own design or repaired while you are in Guernsey.

In 1977 the States of Guernsey allowed Bruce to introduce a unique Channel Island hallmarking system, which has made their work become sought after by collectors.

The workshops and showroom are housed in traditional stone buildings that were built in 1582. The complex is set in an eight-acre Floral Guernsey winning garden and nature reserve, along with the award winning Mint Brasserie restaurant and tea room.

One of the most prominent landmarks of the parish of St Martin is the historic Mill which houses Catherine Best’s studio, and which is well worth a visit. The friendly family business is housed at the base of an historic sixty foot tall landmark windmill made from local pink and blue granite. The mill houses a large manufacturing workshop, complete with public viewing, staffed by some of the most highly qualified jewellers in Europe. The circular stone building also contains a fabulous retail studio, containing the largest display of unique jewellery in the Channel Islands.

The highly professional and friendly staff will guide you in the direction that best suits your requirements, be that a limited edition item, a one off design or even a personally commissioned work. They will help you choose the right metal and gemstone to express your special occasion and, should you require, they can even arrange for unique jewellery designers Catherine Best and her daughter, Vikki Freeman to produce a hand drawn design for you during your stay in the island.

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In the country parish of St Saviours you will find one of the island’s premier tourist destinations, offering a number of attractions – Bruce Russell & Son Gold and Silversmiths.

Founded in 1887, the Russell family business is carried on today by third and fourthgeneration goldsmiths and silversmiths, Bruce and Simon Russell. They have received international acclaim for their work and Bruce was the first craftsman in the Channel Islands to be awarded the honour of becoming a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths London; he has received many awards and commissions to design and craft pieces for presentations to celebrities, heads of state, The Vatican and the British Royal Family.

Catherine is famed for the fabulous diversity of her designs, with many international awards to her name, from very simple modern lines to the intricate works of art with stunning detail and fabulous gems. Many already well travelled visitors to the Mill are amazed to see the extraordinary collection of some of the rarest coloured gemstones in the world that are on display within.

These gems are lovingly crafted into the highest quality jewellery. Discover Catherine’s spectacular jewellery today in the historic and magical settings of the Mill studios in St Martins, open seven days a week with plenty of parking.

LE FRIQUET GARDEN & HOME CENTRE

ST MARTINS VILLAGE

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GUERNSEY | PAGE 42

A Passion for Design Visitors to Guernsey are frequently overwhelmed by the outstanding beauty the island has to offer; from the wild and rugged cliff top coast to the golden sandy bays and the many tranquil country lanes. These are a few of the natural inspirations that inspire the Channel Islands most unique jewellery designers Catherine Best and her daughter, Vikki Freeman.

The friendly family business is housed at the base of an historic sixty foot tall landmark windmill made from

Catherine is famed for the fabulous diversity of her designs, with many international awards to her name local pink and blue granite. The mill houses a large manufacturing workshop, complete with public viewing, staffed by some of the most highly qualiďŹ ed jewellers in Europe. The circular stone building also contains a fabulous retail studio, containing the largest display of unique jewellery in the Channel Islands. The highly professional and friendly staff will guide you in the direction that best suits your requirements, be that a limited edition item, a one off design or even a personally commissioned work.

They will help you choose the right metal and gemstone to express your special occasion and, should you require,

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| The DeďŹ nitive Island Guide

they can even arrange for Catherine or Vikki to produce a hand drawn design for you during your stay in the island.

Catherine is famed for the fabulous diversity of her designs, with many international awards to her name, from very simple modern lines to the intricate works of art with stunning detail and fabulous gems. Many already well travelled visitors to the mill are amazed to see the extraordinary collection of some of the rarest coloured gemstones in the world that are on display within.

These gems are lovingly crafted into the highest quality jewellery. Catherine herself is all too aware that her designs are purchased foremost as an expression of love, love for life, love for a friend or love for a partner.

The pieces are designed to evoke the beauty of nature and to be an eternal reminder of the romance that is often so important to those who visit.

Feel free to contact us; E: sales@catherinebest.com T: +44 (0) 1481 237771

If your stay in Guernsey is too short you can also visit our website and view the collection online.

www.catherinebest.com

GUERNSEY | PAGE 43

Guernsey Lily

Petit Bot Pendant

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Located in Rocquaine Bay, St Peters, and Commercial Arcade, St Peter Port, Guernsey Pearl has been an established visitor attraction for many years.

Here, a wide variety of the ‘gems of the sea’ including simulated, freshwater and precious cultured pearls can be viewed and purchased.

Their main attraction is the oyster tank, where you can pick your own pearl.

Friendly staff are there to assist, and commissions can be accepted. While there, why not enjoy a meal from the varied menu at the licensed tea room?

Keyprice has been retailing in Guernsey for over 28 years and remains a firm favourite with many in the local community Offering excellent value over a vast range of products, Keyprice also has many

IT’S ALL HERE! WHERE? WHERE ELSE?

EYourYoutPRICE of town, value for

regular visitors from the other Channel Islands as well as a large number who visit annually from around the world.

They have huge ranges of clothing, catering in age from newborn to the elderly and with their excellent ranges of footwear for all the family, there really is something for everyone! Also on offer are toys, including beach etc, souvenirs, stationery, bargain books, bedding and towels.

The range of greeting cards and giftwrap is extensive and prices are certainly among the best in the island.

The Cliff Top Shop, as the name suggests, is perched on top of the stunningly beautiful south coast cliffs at Le Gouffre.

This former stable block has been renovated and restored with rustic cobbled floors and timber beams and houses a wonderful array of interesting and unusual gifts, women’s clothing and jewellery including a range of handmade Guernsey ‘beach treasure’ necklaces. They also stock a selection of stunning local photos and paintings and prints, alongside metal wall art. The friendly local staff are happy to help or will let you browse at your leisure.

The C Clliffff Top Shop

money, store.

Fantastic selection for all the family including:- Clothing, Footwear, Toys, Souvenirs, Beach Goods, Greeting Cards, Stationery, Bedding and Luggage. Plus lots more. A bargain awaits everybody!

VISIT US TODAY AT L’Ancresse Bus Terminus. Near the Golf course.

Open: Mon-Sat 9.30am-6pm Sun 11am-5pm

A wonderful shop with interesting stock including local photographs, prints and paintings, ladies clothing, unusual gifts, jewellery, metal wall art and much more.

Open 7 days a week 10am - 5pm Le Gouffre, Forest. Tel: 265066 Plenty of parking

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The shop with the heart of gold Bruce Russell & Son - Jewellers & Silversmiths

Founded in 1887, third and fourth generation Guernsey craftsmen, Bruce and Simon Russell, welcome you to their workshops and showrooms where they craft an extensive range of ďŹ ne traditional silverware including the world famous Guernsey milk cans, Loving cups and Cow creamers.

Their silverware is very sought after and has been given to many celebrities including the British Royal Family, The Vatican, and Heads of State. The jewellers create a stunning range of bespoke diamond jewellery and many classic designs in gold, platinum, palladium and silver.

They also design and create individual pieces for that very special occasion.

Their internationally renowned buildings and gardens are stunning and have won many environmental and oral awards. The Jewellers and Silversmiths buildings are of traditional Guernsey granite built in 1582 and their eight acre gardens include a nature valley with many water features and unusual plants and trees.

Within the grounds is the award winning Mint Brasserie, a superb licenced restaurant, which is open for lunch or dinner.

The Jewellers and Silversmiths are open daily in the summer months, and from Monday to Saturday in winter.

They are situated close to the airport in the parish of St. Saviour, ten minutes by taxi from St Peter Port.

Bruce Russell (Open daily during the summer and Mon-Sat during the winter) Tel 264321 Mint Brasserie (Open daily) Tel 266556

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GUERNSEY | PAGE 46

Discover the world of beautiful Pearls

Pick-a-Pearl

Choose your own oyster - guaranteed to reveal a genuine cultured pearl! Watch as it is opened and decide to have it set into a beautiful piece of jewellery, or just keep as a special memento.

(Available Easter to October)

GUERNSEY PEARL • 5 COMMERCIAL ARCADE • ST PETER PORT • GUERNSEY • CI • GY1 1LB GUERNSEY PEARL • ROCQUAINE BAY • ST PETERS • GUERNSEY • CI • GY7 9BY TEL: 01481 266404 • FAX: 01481 266641 www.guernseypearl.com THE ARCADE

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ROCQUAINE BAY

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T THE

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MARINA

GUERNSEY | PAGE 47

Wine And Dine, Out Of Town LOCAL SEAFOOD

AL FRESCO

Sample the island’s incredible concentration of first-class restaurants, bars and cafés and you can’t help thinking that Guernsey takes food seriously.

Most international cuisines are represented with, not surprisingly, fresh local seafood taking centre stage. From a classic bistro to one of the popular business lunch spots, the choice is tremendous, whatever your taste.

of the north west. Picnics are also popular. You can pack fresh bread and cheese, local tomatoes and paté LOCAL PRODUCE

Summer in Guernsey is all about al fresco dining, with long cliff top lunches and leisurely gatherings at old farmhouse restaurants. A local favourite with all ages is fresh fish and chips (chilled local cider optional) on the west coast sea wall after a day on the beach, watching the sun dip into the Atlantic. The tingle of salt on your skin adds to the enjoyment of the experience.

Some of Guernsey’s beach kiosks are a gastronomic odyssey in their own right. Ask a local for their favourite and be prepared for passionate tales of dangerously full crab sandwiches, Guernsey cream teas and the legendary, towering 12-egg sponge cakes

and a bottle of wine and head for the beach or the cliffs. There’s a view from a bay or winding path that really is yours alone.

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AL FRESCO DINING

And there’s even more good food to be found offshore. With their own distinct flavours, the islands of Alderney, Sark and Herm all offer their own inimitable eating experiences.

Farmers Markets on Guernsey sell fresh produce all year round, at Sausmarez Manor in the summer/St Martins Parish Hall in the winter and at Fairfields in Castel in the summer/Le Friquet Garden Centre in the winter. Some noted farmers are Guernsey Organics, who have a real passion and commitment for sustainable supportive agriculture and Meadow Court Farm, which sells its award-winning Guernsey beef and veal. The Caritas Community Charitable Trust sells its freshly grown vegetables as well as delicious deli items made with its own produce and has a community cafe in St Peter Port’s Mill Street.

An old tradition still very much alive today is the weekend meat draw in many local pubs. Buy a raffle ticket and be in it to win anything from meat or seafood to vegetables.

Locals line up with their tickets while sipping a pint of ale as the week comes to an end, with their fingers crossed for some meat for Sunday’s table. Join in and good luck!

FRESH SEAFOOD

Guernsey Tourism

O p e n daii ly fo o r fabulous bar meals lun n ch h a n d dinne e r. Su u perb evening mea a ls in n our Sa a rnia restaurant.

Saumarez Park Cafe & Brasserie

Since 1998

Serving hot and cold food all day.

Fully licensed, family friendly cafe and brasserie with terrace and garden situated in the beautiful Saumarez Park near the Folk Museum.

Free bouncy castle.

Open all year round, 10am till late 7 days a week. Bus stops nearby

Tel:01481 254434 Guernsey 2015

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The Peninsula Hotel, Les Dicqs, Vale, Guernsey, GY6 8JP Tel: 01481 248400 Fax: 01481 248706 www.peninsulahotelguernsey.com

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“In the heart of Guernsey” Le Friquet Hotel lies right in the heart of Guernsey. Its beautiful setting and traditional atmosphere offers the perfect spot for a refreshing break. Originally an old Guernsey farmhouse, the inside of the hotel has been extensively refurbished, while retaining its original charm.

Single, twin or double rooms, family rooms, suites and superior rooms are all fitted with bath and shower, tea and coffee making facilities, air conditioning, free WiFi, digital flat screen televisions and direct dial telephones as standard. We also offer spacious and fully equipped Self-Catering Apartments. The whole hotel is non-smoking.

Within three acres of beautifully maintained gardens and beyond the little Beck, over which there are two small foot bridges, is the sheltered and heated swimming pool. The pool is open throughout the season and is set away from the hotel.

There is ample space for sunbathing, so remember to bring your swimsuit!

The Lobster & Grill Restaurant and Lucky’s Bar Opening 23 March 2015

“We hope we see you soon” Rue du Friquet, Castel, Guernsey, Channel Islands GY5 7ST Telephone: 01481 256509 · Facsimile 01481 253573 Email: friquet@guernsey.net · www.lefriquethotel.com

Lunch 12pm to 2.00pm Dinner 6pm to 9.30pm

RESTAURANT

Visit www.lobsterandgrill.com or

Tel. 259974 Le Friquet Hotel, Castel.

Certificate of Excellence

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GUERNSEY | PAGE 50

NATURAL HARBOUR

FROM THE SEA It’s hard to match the seafood in Guernsey’s waters.

Turbot, bass, brill and lobster: it’s all here in abundance and so fresh. If you choose to – and many do – you can dine on nothing but fish during your visit. That’s because the islands are home to a staggering variety of seafood.

Whether you plan a cliff top picnic, a coastal barbecue or something from the charcoal grill of a world class restaurant, Guernsey has seafood to suit every occasion.

FISHING LOCALLY The beach is not the only place to find the sea in Guernsey: it’s also in the blood. The ocean is everything: often a friend, sometimes an enemy and always a rich source of fascination. For some, it is also a livelihood.

Many say that the island’s fishermen are her finest sons, providing a living link with an industry that has existed for over 500 years.

The ocean was the mainstay of the local economy throughout the Middle Ages, when fish were caught, salted or dried throughout Guernsey and Sark before being shipped as far as Gascony. The same vessels returned home, laden with good wine. A regular fish market has always been part of life in St Peter Port.

An impressive new building was constructed for the purpose in 1830 and, some 30 years later, the flourishing English railways delivered fresh Guernsey seafood straight to London.

The end of the 19th century saw the island’s fishermen overtaken by the more advanced technology of mainland British fleets. Working their small, traditional sailing craft, locals struggled to compete with steam powered English boats and their powerful new trawling systems. Many gave up the unequal struggle, turning to quarrying and horticulture to make a living. The golden age of Guernsey fishing was finally over.

Today, the local market for fish has evolved, but is as buoyant as ever. The Guernsey fleet still plies local waters, supplying the island’s vibrant restaurant industry with an uncommon selection of seafood. The boats

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unload at the Guernsey Fishermen’s Co-op on the Castle Emplacement. To inspect their catch, get to the shop soon after 7.30am from Tuesday to Saturday each week.

Seafood doesn’t get any fresher than this.

While it may no longer be a major export, islanders’ appetites for fine fish are as healthy as ever.

THE ORMER The ormer is a favourite with islanders who can spend hours wading through rock pools on Guernsey’s coastline in search of the elusive abalone. There are strict rules on collecting ormers in order to protect future supplies, however, if you are lucky, this single shelled mollusc can be found under rocks at very low tide but only on a handful of dates between 1 January and 30 April. The minimum size for retaining ormers is 8cm, measured along the longest axis of the shell and breach of any of the regulations protecting ormers can incur a fine of up to £5,000 or six months’ imprisonment. Further details on these and other Guernsey Sea Fisheries regulations, including collecting dates, are available by phoning 234567 or e-mail seafisheries@commerce.gov.gg. Having found one or more ormers, soak them in fresh water for an hour, prise them from their shells, scrub, trim and beat them with a steak hammer. The traditional way to cook ormers is in a casserole.

ORMERS, A LOCAL DELICACY

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Country House Hospitality Perrys Ref: 30B3 La Barbarie is tucked away deep in the quiet lanes of St Martin, one of the island’s prettiest parishes; and it has an intensely friendly, welcoming feel to it. Managing Director Andy Coleman has been running the place for years, and most of his key staff also have impressively long service records. The en-suite bedrooms are pleasantly furnished, well equipped and scrupulously clean.

“The jewel in La Barbarie’s crown is really the restaurant, which produces outstandingly good food without affectation and with complete reliability. Rick Stein stayed there while making one of his television cookery programmes, and pronounced the lobster the best he had ever tasted - praise indeed from one of the country’s most celebrated seafood chefs.

Treat yourself at

Rick Stein stayed there while making one of his television cookery programmes, and pronounced the lobster the best he had ever tasted The dining room itself is so cosy and so cleverly lit that you would feel completely at peace finishing your meal there alone. The menus change daily according to what’s in season and what’s fresh; the wine list is decent and very fairly priced.

All in all, it would be hard to find a fault with it as a restaurant; as a hotel dining room, it’s quite simply an outstanding find.”

Source: Insight Hotel Guide

2

Open for lunch & dinner 7 days a week

BAR MEALS

Saints Bay, St Martin, Tel 235217 labarbariehotel.com facebook.com/labarbariehotel

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GUERNSEY | PAGE 52 HERM, SARK AND ALDERNEY

Other Islands Although it is tempting for us in Guernsey to consider our island the jewel in the crown of the Channel Islands, it would be unfair not to draw the visitor’s attention to the fact that each one is beautiful and well worth a visit in its own right.

both available for hire, with the only form of motorised transport being tractors. If you enjoy stepping back in time and relaxing in an island full of charm and history, then Sark is definitely for you.

ALDERNEY: Alderney is the northernmost of the Channel Islands and is only some 11km from France against 30km from Guernsey. Because of the distance it is advisable to fly (ten minutes) and there are regular daily flights.

La Seigneurie gardens are open for visitors every day from Easter till October 10 am till 5 pm.

There are excellent coastal walks to be enjoyed and you will see from these why Alderney is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The immense fortifications which have taken place over the centuries because of the island’s strategic position in the Channel are also visible. For the sporting, the fishing is well renowned and there is a nine hole golf course enjoying spectacular views. Alderney also has beautiful beaches, which are quiet, even at the height of the season.

SARK: Some 14.5km away lies Sark, with its unique history of feudal government dating back to 1563.

Accessed by ferry, taking around 50 minutes, Sark is in effect two joined islands; Sark and Little Sark being joined by La Coupee, a narrow and spectacular natural isthmus offering stunning views of Grande Greve bay and the other Channel Islands. Sark is a plateau island with 42 miles of spectacular coastal scenery and lovely footpaths, abundant with wildlife.

Several paths lead down to the numerous bays.

Five km long by 2.5 km wide, Sark is free of motor cars.

Transport takes the form of cycles or horse drawn carriages,

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HERM: Visit Herm and you will soon realise why so many people who live on Guernsey return year after year.

Only 20 minutes by way of regular launch, the tiny island is a holiday gem 2.5 km long by 1 km wide. It is easy to walk around in less than two hours and the walk itself is beautiful. Like Sark, motor vehicles are banned, with the exception of tractors.

Geographically similar to Guernsey with high cliffs in the south and flat land to the north there is an abundance of flora and fauna. Seals and dolphins can occasionally be seen, and many species of seabird breed on the cliffs and islets, including the Puffin.

The clear and shallow waters retreat far out at low tide making swimming safe for children, and Belvoir Bay and Shell Beach on the east coast are particularly beautiful.

The Gulf Stream washes ashore on Shell Beach and there are millions of fragments of shells – a dazzling sight on a sunny day.

In the village, close to where you dock, there are gift shops, places to eat and drink and, if you wish to stay longer, accommodation ranging through a camp site to self catering cottages and a hotel.

GUERNSEY | PAGE 53

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COASTAL WALKS

Outdoor Pursuits Guernsey’s environment will reinvigorate your senses: savour the scent of cool, wooded valleys, or the sight of a sunset, mirrored in the Atlantic Ocean. Soak up the sound of waves lapping on old granite landing steps, or the tingle of salt on your skin after a long day on the beach. With their age-old recipe of clean sea, fresh air and clear light, the islands are the ultimate, natural antidote to stress. Over 100 miles of coastline is the setting for sandy beaches and dunes, secret coves and rock pools, rugged harbours and endless, beautiful cliff walks. Inland, each island has a country heart that beats to the rhythm of the seasons. Sleepy lanes, private gardens, nature reserves and migrating birds are just some of the natural treasures waiting to be discovered and, with 449 flowering plants recorded in January alone, the islands are in bloom all year round.

of sculptures is displayed among a multitude of exotic plants, beside the small lake.

Many island attractions incorporate award-winning gardens. Bruce Russell & Son, Gold and Silversmiths, boasts a large, colourful, floral garden, with water features and flowers in every corner and has previously won gold in Floral Guernsey’s annual awards.

La Société Guernesiaise was formed in 1882 to study the history and natural history of Guernsey. It conducts guided wild flower walks from April to June inclusive and owns a number of reserves, including the Orchid Fields of Les Vicheries. The National Trust of Guernsey (separate from the National Trust in the UK) owns many beautiful properties, which are listed on its free map.

FLORAL GUERNSEY

FLORAL GUERNSEY Guernsey is a very special place for lovers of flowers and gardens. Packed into the island’s easily accessible 25 square miles is just about every floral attraction you could ask for: wildflower cliff walks delight as much as horticultural shows; country lanes and cottage gardens are adorned with daffodils, primroses and violets; historic formal gardens compete with bluebell woods and natural orchid fields; and commercial growers supply Britain with superb cut flowers.

As a visitor to Guernsey, you can discover our floral islands, their gardens and attractions, the award winning island of Herm and information on our most famous flower, the Guernsey Lily.

GARDENS & ATTRACTIONS Camellias and magnolias often grow to be huge in Guernsey, not least in the public gardens of Saumarez Park. The exotic species you will find here were originally planted by a Guernsey diplomat who had served as the British Ambassador to Japan. A nature trail links the park with nearby Cobo Bay. The sub-tropical woodland garden and art-park at Sausmarez Manor is well worth a visit. A wide range Guernsey 2015

| The Definitive Island Guide

WALKS Guernsey has nearly 500km of roads and lanes in an area only covering some 25 square miles (40 sq km), and when in the countryside it is sometimes difficult to believe that you are on an island. Many of our country lanes have high banks, often with tree branches covering

In the flatter north of the island, walking along the

In addition to the usual roads there are some Green and Water Lanes, which also date back hundreds of years and are unique to Guernsey. Traffic is banned from Green Lanes and you will find an abundance of wildlife existing around them.

Head inland and it is easy to forget you are on an island.

The cliff paths commence just above St Peter Port and end at desolate Pleinmont Point where, when windy, there are often only gulls for company. The walk has been called one of the best cliff walks in Europe. The cliffs are some 100m high and there are spectacular views to be had of the tiny bays below and of the waves crashing noisily onto the rocks. Many of these paths were originally made by fishermen to enable them to reach their boats more easily. However, the cliffs are not a play area and it can be dangerous to stray from the paths.

from the Guernsey Information Centre, including Perry’s

Planning is all when considering a walk along the south coast. Head for the south coast parishes of St Martins, Forest and Torteval, where the lanes are Guernsey’s treasured secrets. Here you will pass the flower filled gardens of granite cottages and more majestic farmhouses, and even one or two grand manor houses.

FISHING

coast is much easier and often quieter, as it is less well frequented. The springy turf of L’Ancresse Common is a delight, although do take care as it is also a golf course.

A three mile walk around the St Saviours Reservoir, shaped like a dinosaur’s footprint, was opened in 2001 to

GUERNSEY | PAGE 55

the entire width of the road; in some cases these banks date back to Elizabethan times. By law they need to be trimmed by 15 June, although up to this time they are awash with colour from a profusion of wild flowers.

allow the public to enjoy the environment.

There are numerous books giving walks available own Coastal Walks and Nature Trails and The Channel Island Way. Every year some altruistic and adventurous locals walk all the way around the island in a day for charity. It is 38.5 foot-blistering miles of glorious scenery, beginning at 5am and finishing several hours later, depending on how fast one is able to walk. Visitors are welcome to take up the challenge, though for a more relaxing time, shorter routes start at many points along the coast.

Guernsey is lucky to have so many picturesque country lanes full of pastoral scenery. Step out of your guesthouse or hotel and chances are you will find charming lanes, be they rural, coastal or urban, within a few minutes stroll. Don your walking shoes and explore.

GOLFING

CANDIE GARDENS

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GUERNSEY | PAGE 56

From gentle activities like bird watching and pitch and putt to hardcore abseiling and survival camping, Guernsey is an outdoor playground.

join in or try the more challenging beaches of Perelle or Portinfer, but beware, the currents are strong and the rocks are sharp.

If you fancy getting out on the sea with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face Bumblebee Boat Cruises offer the perfect way to explore the coasts and islands up close. In addition to trips to Alderney and coastal cruises around Guernsey’s hidden coves and secret anchorages, the Bumblebee team also offers a Seal Safari and Puffin

If you are a novice, the Guernsey Surf School has boards and suits for hire during the summer months. You might also like to try windsurfing or sailing. Details can be

Patrol. They know just where to look without disturbing the animals and guests are provided with binoculars, recognition guides and commentary. Spotting sheets, colouring sheets and quizzes are also on board to keep children entertained. The Bumblebee boat goes as close as it can to the cliffs where puffins nest and feed, so we see them in their natural state and habitat. Expect to see oystercatchers, shags, cormorants, gulls, egrets, fulmars, razorbills and guillemots, and many more.

Living on an island means there are plenty of water sports available. Guernsey has one of the oldest surf clubs in the world and Vazon is the place to do it. On

found at the Guernsey Sailing Trust or by going to www.sailingtrust.org.gg.

Other activities to make the most of a beautiful sunny Channel Islands day are bird watching and horseriding.

Guernsey has its own branch of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), which offers guided walks in various parishes throughout the year. Go to rspbguernsey.co.uk for further information.

Horse riding stables are dotted around the island.

Our Ruette Tranquille roads, where the speed limit is 15 mph through picturesque scenery, are most suitable for riding on.

Located in Victoria Avenue, St Sampson is the island’s only go-karting track, which is 400m long and offers a great day out for families, and is a great place to host a birthday party or corporate event.

a day with big swell you will see hordes of cars with board-carrying roof racks converge on the west coast as resident surfers take to the sea. If you have your own board and are an experienced surfer, feel free to

ST A L B F! Buzz around the Bailiwick and beyond!

Enjoy VIP treatment on our fast, friendly, fun yellow catamaran. Join us for a scenic Coastal Cruise, Seal Safari, Puffin Patrol, our new World War II Cruise or hop across to Alderney for an unforgettable day out.

OF

with Island RIB Voyages!

Enjoy the adrenaline rush as you hurtle across the sea just inches above the water. Visit bays, caves and islands, and see local wildlife on the way. There’s a choice of exhilarating trips, with our friendly and informative guides. See our islands from a whole different perspective on this fast and fun experience.

bumblebee.gg

islandribvoyages.com

Book online, visit us at our kiosk by the bus terminus or call us on: 01481 720200

Book online, visit us at our kiosk by the bus terminus or call us on: 01481 713031

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Cycle Tours and Hire

Regular Guided Explorations

Coasteering

Tel 07781 130403 Web www.outdoorguernsey.co.uk

GUERNSEY | PAGE 57

Kayaking & Kayak Hire

Outdoor Pursuits Adventure Sark The most spectacular coasteering and kayaking on the beautiful Island of Sark.

Knowledgeable local guides lead trips daily exploring Sark’s incredible cave systems and thrillingly wild coast. Sark is a mere 45 minutes ferry ride with Sark Shipping Company but a world away from anything else you may have experienced. All equipment is provided from Adventure Sark’s base camp at the top of the harbour hill. Just bring your sense of adventure!

Whether you are looking for a fun family day out, an unforgettable peek at unique natural environments or an ultimate adrenaline experience, Sark has it all.

T: 07781 115167 E: bookings@adventuresark.com W: www.adventuresark.com Adventure Cycles Hire WHEN TWO WHEELS IS ALL YOU NEED… Cycling offers the perfect way to explore Guernsey at a leisurely pace. Our latest model mountain, family and e.bikes offer safe and comfortable riding on the island’s roads, ruettes tranquilles and coastal cycle paths. Free island-wide delivery. Day, group and term rates available.

T: 07781 434797 E: hire@adventurecycles.net W: www.adventurecycles.net Bailiwick of Guernsey Guild of Accredited Guides, comprises enthusiastic, experienced and dedicated accredited guides, offering walking, cycling and coach tours of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Guides provide

tours that are informative, interesting and entertaining with the emphasis firmly placed on quality of service and customer satisfaction. Whether you are interested in: flora or fauna, merchants or megaliths, heroes or villains, public endeavour, domestic customs, military feats or literary accomplishment, the ancient past or the not so long ago (and so much more), we have the guide for you. W: www.guernseyguidedtours. com, find the guide for you and make your visit to the Bailiwick a memorable one.

Geocaching, is a free real-world outdoor treasure hunt using GPS-enabled devices.

W: www.geocaching.com or download from the App Store straight onto your smart phone.

Guernsey Beach Guide A comprehensive guide to twenty-nine glorious beaches. The best views, the best kiosks, the best places to swim. The right times to go to each beach. All you need to know to make the most of Guernsey’s beautiful coastline. Available to buy from all good local bookshops or online at www.guernseybeachguide.com Guernsey Surf School Learn to surf at Vazon Bay on the island’s beautiful west coast. All our coaches are fully qualified, experienced and friendly as well as being trained beach lifeguards. We offer many different lessons such as private one to one sessions, ABC lessons for groups of friends or join in with others and meet new people or get your loved ones

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together for a family lesson where fun and smiles come naturally from this exhilarating activity. All equipment is provided and we also offer a surfboard and wetsuit hire service. For more information visit our website, give us a call or come visit us at the south end of Vazon Bay (next to the slipway). We’re open between May 1st - October 31st.

W: www.GuernseySurfSchool.co.uk T: 07911 710789 E: info@GuernseySurfSchool.co.uk

KAYAKING

Herm Kayaks Outdoor Guernsey are now able to offer a number of activities on the beautiful Island of Herm.

Hire kayaks direct from Shell Beach. Subject to terms and conditions, and in a safe tidal area, just turn up to experience a unique view of this magical island and have great fun doing it! Kayaks can be hired from Easter, weather permitting. Please call us to confirm that conditions are suitable. T: 07781 130403 Puffin Patrols We have a number of dates suitable for guided kayak Puffin watching trips from April to July. Kayaks are the ideal way to unobtrusively observe Herm’s tiny iconic visitors. An unforgettable experience. Pre-booking essential.

Herm Kayak Circumnavigation On certain tides it is possible to kayak all the way around Herm. A unique trip with breathtaking views of the islands, available to small groups by arrangement.

T: 07781 130403 E: bookings@outdoorguernsey.co.uk W: www.outdoorguernsey.co.uk Karting Guernsey, opens Tuesday to Sunday, 9am until late. Junior karts age 8 years to 14 years and adult karts from 14 years upwards. All equipment is provided. Refreshments and racing shop on site.

T: 01481 723414 E: contact@kartingguernsey.co.uk W: www.kartingguernsey.co.uk Perry’s grid ref 10 B5.

Model Yacht Pond Large pond for sailing model boats. Easy access all year round and free to use.

Situated at the end of the Castle Emplacement.

Perry’s grid ref 5 N9.

Out The Blue Fishing Charter, advance or on the spot bookings taken. Rod hire available.

Contact: Richard Seager T: +44 (0) 7781 104 356 E: contact@boatfishing.net W: www.boatfishing.net.

Perry’s Maps and Guide books Perry’s produce a range of publications to guide you around Guernsey.

The Channel Island Way and Coastal Walks and Nature Trails In Guernsey feature detailed maps and a wealth

Guernsey 2015

| The Definitive Island Guide

of useful information to accompany your walk. For detailed maps only, the Perry’s Professional Guide To Guernsey and the Perry’s Official Guide To Guernsey are produced in a spiral bound book format.

Available from local bookshops and some hotels.

RSPB Guernsey Group, welcomes members and non-members on our local walks which are approximately two hours long. For further information please contact Donna Francis.

T: 01481 232632 W: www.rspbguernsey.co.uk.

Saumarez Park, is open all year round. Within the public park there is a large adventure playground, the National Trust Folk and Costume Museum, Victorian walled gardens, formal gardens, duck pond and cafe.

W: www.gov.gg/parksandgardens for more information Perry’s grid ref 15 G1-2.

Shrine of the Sacred Heart, is a unique and beautiful shrine inside a German Occupation search light bunker at Fort Hommet. Restored in 2005 over a million seashells were used to decorate the walls.

The Shrine is open on selected Saturdays from April – October. For more information contact Guernsey Museum T: 01481 726518 W: www.museums.gov.gg/sites The Guernsey Sailing Trust, was established in 1988 to enable local children from all walks of life to experience and enjoy the fun and challenges involved with sailing, and to make the sport accessible to all. As a Royal Yachting Association Recognised Training Centre we can offer dinghy sailing, windsurfing and powerboat courses for adults and children alike. With a fleet of 33 dinghies, 12 windsurfers and 4 powerboats we are able to offer all levels of sailor some fun on the water.

T: +44(0)1481 710877 W: www.sailingtrust.org.gg F: www.facebook.com/GuernseySailingTrust

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g area in in d & t plan Outdoor

Beautiful

in bloom!

SHOP | DINE | RELAX

relax! & d Unwin OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK GARDEN CENTRE

Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 6pm Friday & Saturday 8.30am – 8pm Sunday 10am – 5pm Rue du Friquet | Castel Guernsey | GY5 7SS Tel: 259220

All in exquisite, atmospheric surroundings unrivalled in Guernsey and an amazing horticultural heritage display.

When you spend £20 or more VOUCHER REDEEMABLE AT LE FRIQUET, HOME OF GARDEN AND LIVING, GUERNSEY. SIMPLY SHOW THIS ADVERT AT THE TILLS DURING YOUR TRANSACTION.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. CANNOT BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS. OFFER EXCLUDES CAFE DES AMIS AND TERRAZZO VOUCHER ENDS 31ST DEC 2015

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