Channel Islands | A small group walking tour for seniors
Another Small group tour of the British isles of the Channel Islands. This fully escorted, small group walking tour, takes the active senior off the beaten path with local guides to Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm.
From $14,088CAD
Highlights
- 1. La Hogue Bie Museum – home to one of the world’s ten oldest buildings, even older than the Pyramids of Giza.
- 2. Visit the Hamptonne Country Life Museum, and get a better insight intro traditional rural life in Jersey
- 3. In Guernsey visit therecently restored Hauteville House (Victor Hugo's house) and learn more about the island's military history.
- 4. Enjoy full day excursions to Alderney, Sark & Herm.
Departure Dates
| Departure Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 19 May 2025 Ends 05 June 2025 • 18 days $14,791 Twin $18,042 Single Available | Selected |
| 15 September 2025 Ends 02 October 2025 • 18 days $14,791 Twin $18,042 Single Available | |
| 18 May 2026 Ends 04 June 2026 • 18 days $15,644 Twin $18,818 Single Available | |
| 14 September 2026 Ends 01 October 2026 • 18 days $15,644 Twin $18,818 Single Available |
Channel Islands Small Group Tour: Walking Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark & Herm
This fully escorted, small group walking tour of the Channel Islands, takes the active senior on a walking holiday of discovery through the fascinating small Channel Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm. This tour gives you the chance to walk the islands while learning about the history, unique culture, landscapes and wildlife of these destinations.
The walks suit a range of abilities
Our guided walks have been organised so that they suit a number of different abilities. Although, on average, the group will be hiking for about 10km per day, it will be possible for participants to skip segments of the walks if they so desire.
On this small group tour to the Channel Islands, there will be a variety of activities included to supplement the walks ensuring a memorable holiday. The five islands that we visit have both a long and interesting history and beautiful coastal scenery. The Channel Islands teem with bird life, particularly on the smaller islands, with puffins in abundance on the sea cliffs during the breeding season as we walk along sections of the Jersey coastal path. Cumulatively this walking tour of the Channel islands provides breathtaking views of stunning medieval castles, military fortifications, stately homes, gardens with unique torrey pines and museums. There is even a well preserved Roman Fort! The pristine coastline with its sheltered coves reveals a national park and marine sanctuary of oyster beds, kelp forests and sea lions and to see dolphins as well as whale watching on occasion.
About Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark & Herm
The Channel Islands are not part of the United Kingdom but are British Crown Dependencies with their own distinctive culture and history. They are situated only a few kilometres from the French coast, but were controlled from Britain for many years. As a result, the islands provide a delightful mix of English and French culture.
Jersey
With its charming historic center at St Helier, is a most well known by its historical exports which share its name, the close-fitted and machine knitted garment, mostly associated with football jerseys; and the jersey cow, bred on the island and renowned for its ultra-creamy milk. Though Jersey cows can now be found around the world, the best products are still found fresh on the island.
The island of Jersey has its own unique local dialect known as Jèrriais, a distinct tongue with its origins in Norman, though today it is spoken by only a few. The beautiful scenery and mild weather have long made Jersey a popular tourist destination, with St Helier being an ideal departure point for trips around the island, which can easily be explored by car or by bike.
Guernsey
The second largest of the channel islands, is flatter and less dramatic looking than Jersey with the bucolic country lanes of Guernsey being ideal for exploration by bike or on foot.
Guernsey features its own local dialect derived from Norman known as Guernésiais, though it is diminishing with each generation. Guernsey famously provided exile to Victor Hugo, banished from France, Belgium and Jersey for his fierce opposition to Napoleon III. Proclaiming it the ‘rock of hospitality and freedom’, Hugo would live on Guernsey for 15 years, and was inspired by the beauty of the island to write his masterpieces, including Les Miserables.
Alderney
This is the most remote of the channel islands, lying close to the coast of France. Due to this continental proximity, a succession of leaders – ranging from Queen Victoria to Adolf Hitler – have vastly overestimated the strategic importance of Alderney.
In the Victorian Era, the British covered the island in a total of 18 forts, in order to dissuade French invasion, in a mania which Prime Minister William Gladstone denounced as ‘a monument to human folly’. Successive regional aspirants powers, like the German third Reich, added further to the islands fortifications, leaving today's Alderney a unique landscape punctuated by serene natural beaches and wetlands and its monolithic human constructions, slowly being reclaimed by nature.
Sark
Sark holds the distinction as the most curious of the channel islands, being distinct as Europe's last remaining feudal state, with suffrage only being introduced in 2008. Visiting Sark is like stepping into a time machine, with its many arcane laws from the medieval period creating its own unique charm. Among these are strict rules around land use, the absence of any income taxation, and the absence of motor vehicles, with only tractors for agriculture excepted. As such, for tourists there are three ways to explore the island – on foot, by bike, or by horse drawn carriage ride.
Sark is also an ideal spot for star-gazing, thanks to the absence of street-lights. It was the world’s first island to gain Dark Sky Status. Look up at night and you’ll see the vivid and glowing patchwork of the Milky Way galaxy.
Herm
Herm is one of the smaller islands at only 1.5 miles long and less than a mile wide. Like Sark it operates under a 'no motors' rule, with the one exception being quad bikes, which are used by hotels to transport luggage for guests.
Herm was used extensively as a granite quarry until the end of the 19th century, after which it featured a litany of private owners who used the island for their own purposes. In 1889, Prince Blucher von Wahlstatt, bought the island lease, turning it into his own personal kingdom and introducing a colony of red-necked wallabies. The next tenant of the island was a writer, Compton Mackenzie, who wrote the novel Fool’s Gold about his experiences on Herm, before selling the lease on to Sir Percival Perry, chairman of the Ford Motor Company. Today, Herm is mostly a chance to relax among pristine and beautiful scenery. The golden sands and turquoise waters of Shell Beach being the most popular spot.
The History of the Channel Islands: Cultural exchange between France and England
Their history and culture are influenced by their strategic location between the northern coast of France and the south coast of England. Formerly under the control of Brittany, invaded by Vikings, and annexed to the Duchy of Normandy, they emerged as miniature self-governing territories. The islands were transferred to the English crown when William the Conqueror annexed England in 1066. Although Britain lost Normandy in 1204, the islands remained a possession of the British crown.
The islands of Jersey & Guernsey have a seafaring tradition and their trade with the Newfoundland fisheries gave rise to the name New Jersey in the US. Trade further laid the foundations of these attractive islands' prosperity as well as agriculture (Jersey and Guernsey cows are recognisable the world over), milling, fishing, shipbuilding, and financial services.
During World War II they were the only part of Great Britain to be occupied by Nazi Germany. This caused considerable suffering to the locals. Some locals were deported as slave labourers. Jews were sent to concentration camps. Reprisals for partisan activities were harsh, and many islanders were reduced to near starvation by the end of the war. Accusations of collaboration and cover-ups poisoned relations between many islanders for decades. While on the islands it is possible to visit sites that commemorate this history, such as the War Tunnels on Jersey.
Highlights of our tour:
This eighteen day tour is based in just two locations for the duration of the program. The group spends seven nights in the same hotel in St Helier, Jersey and then we travel to Guernsey, where we spend ten nights in a hotel in St Peter Port. Each day on guided walks we learn about the history, the culture and the wildlife that is unique to the Islands. The hikes selected are reasonably easy. Each day the group walks between 4km to 11km on a variety of terrains. Our tour also includes full day trips to Alderney, Sark and Herm.
Jersey is the biggest of the islands, the closest to France, and the most French in culture. Highlights of our trip to Jersey include Elizabeth Castle, perched on a tidal island in St. Aubin's Bay. The castle was built during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I to defend the islands from potential attack. We also make an excursion to the Jersey War Tunnels, which tell the fascinating history of local resistance to the Nazis. We also take the time to explore the natural beauty of Jersey, with walks along the striking coastline, and inland valleys.
Guernsey Island, by contrast, is closer to England. Important sights here include Hauteville House, where Victor Hugo wrote Les Miserables while in exile, and La Vallette Underground Military Museum and the German Occupation Museum, both of which provide insight into the island's military history.
The day by day itinerary sets out the touring and learning activities for the group for the duration of the tour of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark & Herm.
You can read more about the Channel Islands and Britain on our country profiles pages where you'll also find all other Odyssey tours departing for these destination.
For more details about the Channel Islands small group walking tour, click the 'Top 5' or 'Itinerary' buttons above! If you're keen to experience this tour offered by Odyssey Traveller, please call or send an email. Or, to book, simply fill in the form on the right hand side of this page.
About seniors walking tours from Odyssey Traveller
Odyssey Traveller offers a range of walking tours each year paced for senior travellers. The collection of walks are for active mature and senior travellers, particularly those who seek out walking tours that are typically off the main circuit. To help you prepare for any walking program whether with Odyssey or another company this ist if articles is intended to help you prepare for your holiday.
- articles on Selecting walking shoes for women
- article on footwear and walking shoes
- article on what to pack when travelling.
- article on maintaining muscle fitness in senior and mature age travellers
- article on selecting socks for walking
- article detailing six great short walks in Britain
- article on preparing for a walking holiday
- article on Pilgrim walks in Europe
- article on walking in there Lake District
Articles published by Odyssey Traveller about the Channel Islands & Britain
The following articles that should assist your enjoyment of this tour to the Channel Islands written by Odyssey Traveller.
- Channel Islands Wildflowers, potato peel pie and rebels.
- Understanding British Churches
- Icons of British villages
- Studying Gargoyles and grotesques
- Victorian Country life
- Britain's neolithic past
- Lumps and bumps, how to read the British landscape
- English village history
- Britain's National trust a history
You can also browse all articles Odyssey published about Britain.
External articles to assist you on your visit to the Channel Islands
The following external links should assist you in planning your trip to the Channel Islands of Great Britain as a tourist and a walker.
Gallery
Itinerary
18 days
Day 1: St. Helier, Jersey
Accommodation: The Savoy Jersey, or similar
You arrive at the hotel in St. Helier on Jersey by own arrangements, In the evening the group gets together for a welcome dinner and briefing of the tour.
The group is based for the first seven nights in St Helier.
Day 2: St. Helier, Jersey
Accommodation: The Savoy Jersey, or similar.
Today we have a full day of sightseeing in and around St. Helier. This will us to familiarise ourselves and learn more about the area before setting off to explore its perimeter in earnest on Day 3. Our sightseeing today includes entrance to the Maritime Museum and visitor center, and to the War Tunnels in nearby St. Lawrence.
Day 3: St. Helier, Jersey
Accommodation: The Savoy Jersey, or similar.
Today we begin with a visit to the Elizabeth Castle, perched upon a tidal island in St. Aubin’s Bay accessible by a short ferry shuttle – if timing is right, we may be able to walk across instead.
We begin our guided tours with an easy-going day to warm up. We follow the curve of the bay round to St. Aubin’s Bay (3km), with some free time to visit the Harbour Gallery.
We then drive south onto the peninsula of Noirmont Point, to visit, opening times permitting, the CIOS sites of Battery Lothringen and Marine Peilst and Tower (entrance included but usually only open on weekends), and continue around St. Brelade’s Bay(5km). There will be free time to explore the seafront town before returning to St. Helier.
Dinner tonight is included and will be in a local restaurant.
Day 4: St. Helier, Jersey
Accommodation: The Savoy Jersey, or similar.
Today we pick up where we left of the previous day. After breakfast as island packers we will be transferred to St. Brelade’s Bay and will then head west along the coast to the south-western corner of the island, Corbiere Lighthouse (6km). One of the most scenic and secluded beaches in all the Channel Islands can be found en route at Beauport.
After walking the causeway at Corbiere, we will transfer away from the coast to experience some of Jersey’s best inland walking, taking a walkalong the scenic Waterworks Valley and following the leafy woodland path along the Chemin des Moulins to the Hamptonne Country Life Museum, which provides insight intro traditional rural life in Jersey (3km). It is a short hike that reveals the islands natural beauty.
Dinner tonight is included and will be in a local restaurant.
Day 5: St. Helier, Jersey
Accommodation: The Savoy Jersey, or similar
Today’s walking (13km) will take in the main features of the western and north-western coasts – beginning at St. Ouen’s Bay, a long sweeping sandy beach which stretches virtually the entire length of the west coast. After the beach, we climb up the Plemont headland, which is scattered with numerous military buildings and ruins and stark coastal features such as Le Pinacle outcrop, you have a chance to enjoy the breathtaking views. The undulating cliff path continues to Plemont Bay, where the group will then be shuttled to the sheltered cove of Greve de Lecq to have some lunch(own expense) and recharge.
This afternoon’s walking will include a visit to the collapsed caves of the Devil’s Hole and end at Sorrel Point.
Day 6: St. Helier, Jersey
Accommodation: The Savoy Jersey, or similar.
After breakfast, the group will head to Bonne Nuit Bay to continue walking the northern coastline today. The more rugged and severe north coast makes for some of the more challenging but of course also the most impressive Channel island hiking the group may enjoy. Walking on Jersey, with the coastal path to Bouley Bay snaking along the top of some of the island’s highest cliffs(10km).
Our coach will collect us at Bouley Bay and transfer us to Rozel.
The Hungry Man shack in Rozel is one of the island’s famed eating spots offering some of the freshest seafood on the island, with their signature crab sandwiches filled with crabs caught that very day so a light lunch here has been included.
En-route back to St. Helier from Rozel, we stop at La Hogue Bie Museum – home to one of the world’s ten oldest buildings (older than the Pyramids of Giza), one of Europe’s finest passage graves.
Day 7: St. Helier, Jersey
Accommodation: The Savoy Jersey, or similar.
This morning, the we will transfer to Flicquet Bay at the island’s north-eastern corner to begin our final day of walking on Jersey, completing the coastal route. Today’s walkdown the east coast includes a stop at the scenic bay next to St. Catherine’s breakwater, and the imposing hilltop castle of Mont Orgueil at Gorey, whose scenic harbour offers a multitude of dining options for lunch(own expense).
The walk continues down Grouville Bay to the south-eastern corner of the island, at La Rocque harbour. Our coach will take us back toto St. Helier, or those who are keen can continue walking the extra 5km.
Dinner tonight will be in a local restaurant.
Day 8: St. Peter Port
Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel, or similar.
After breakfast we will be transferred to St. Helier harbour to catch the ferry to Guernsey.
Please note that ferry departures are subject to last-minute time changes or even cancellation due to weather, (so the itinerary may be subject to change).
On arrival in Guernsey we’ll be transferred to our hotel and the remainder of the day is at leisure.
We be based in the same hotel for the next 10 nights in St. Peter Port as the island is again so small, all the sights can be easily be explored on day excursions.
Dinner tonight will be in our hotel.
Day 9: St. Peter Port
Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel, or similar
Today we have a full day of sightseeing in and around St. Peter Port to get to know the town and surrounding areas before we start our scheduled walks around Guernsey. During our sightseeing we will visit Castle Cornet, the recently restored Hauteville House (Victor Hugo’s house) and the James Dorey Centre.
Day 10: St. Peter Port
Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel, or similar.
This morning we head south out of St Peter Port to Fort George, with a visit to La Vallette Underground Military Museum which provides good insight into the island’s military history.
From here we drive to Fermain. This south-east corner of the coast is a haven for seabirds and wildflowers, with rugged cliffs and great panoramic views out to sea. We will enjoy a nice walk on the beach.
Along the way we will stop and visit the Sausmarez Subtropical Gardens and for guided tour of Sausmarez Manor.
From Icart, we will return to St Peter Port by coach.
Day 11: St. Peter Port
Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel, or similar.
This morning we begin our day’s walking from the picturesque Petit Bot Bay, where we visit the German Occupation Museum which provides further insight into this turbulent period of the island’s history. The group can also get up close to one of the island’s 15 famed loophole towers, built during the 18th century to defend against potential French attacks.
We will drive from Petit Bot Bay to Pleinmont, where a well-preserved stone circle ‘Fairy Ring’ offers evidence of Guernsey’s superstitious history. We will then walk along the coastal path, finishing at Portelet Beach where we will have some free time to explore the area.
Dinner tonight will be in a local restaurant.
Day 12: St. Peter Port
Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel, or similar.
Today’s day of walking will complete the group’s circling of Guernsey island, beginning from Mont Cuet and following the coastal route along the northern and eastern coasts all the way back to St. Peter Port, with highlights en route including the harbours of Beaucette, Bordeaux and St. Sampson’s and the fortifications of Fort Doyle and Vale Castle.
The first leg of the walk to St. Sampson is around 10km; if some of the group prefer not to walk the remaining 4km to St. Peter Port, they can transfer to the hotel on the coach. The north coast has long stretches of wild coastline but with gentle terrain, making for fairly easy walking.
Day 13: St Peter Port
Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel, or similar.
Today we enjoy a full day excursion to Herm. It is the smallest of the main Channel Islands and the closest to Guernsey, taking just 15-20 minutes to reach by ferry. A guide will meet us upon arrival on Herm and lead an easy and leisurely half-day walking tour encircling this tiny island, whose northern half is entirely bordered by white sand.
We return by ferry to St Peter Port and transfer to our hotel.
Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant.
Day 14: St. Peter Port
Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel, or similar.
This morning, after breakfast, we transfer to the port and take the fast ferry to Alderney. This still takes 1.5 hours!
We will be met at the ferryport on Alderney, to embark on a full day of exploring by mini-coach. We will view many sights from the coach, with possibility to stop for a photos of course, including the beaches of Saye, Arch and Corblets. We will drive to Braye to Mannez Point, past the lighthouse and the Nunnery – Britain’s best preserved small Roman Fort, before an included lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch we will do a short walk to the western shore where we can Les Etacs – the Gannet Colony.
We will return to Peter Port by ferry.
Day 15: St. Peter Port
Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel, or similar.
After breakfast, our coach takes us to Rocquaine where we visit the Fort Grey Shipwreck Museum.
From here we will walk (2km) to L’Eree, before driving to Vazon ,with countless small nature reserves and conservation areas along the coast such as Shingle Bank and Colin Best Nature Reserves. We will visit Port Soif, with chances to see Fort Hommet and Cobo Bay on the way. Before driving back to our hotel, we will visit Rousse and its Loophole Tower.
Day 16: St. Peter Port
Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel, or similar.
Today we have a full day trip to Sark by ferry. Sark is within easy reach of Guernsey and is served by a regular ferry service.
Sark is a rockier affair than some of its neighbouring islands, meaning fewer beaches but some impressive coastal scenery and cliffs. After a steep ascent from the harbour, the island is largely a raised plateau, so the walking should still be relatively easy-going.
Upon arrival at the port, we will be met by a tractor bus who will take us to La Colinette, from where we will walk to La Seigneurie for a guided tour, and stop to view ‘The Window in The Rock’ on the western coast. After lunch together in a local restaurant, we will walk to the southern edge of the island, crossing the ‘La Coupee’ isthmus to Little Sark, before walking back to the ferry terminal and returning to Guernsey.
Day 17 : St. Peter Port
Accommodation: Duke of Richmond Hotel, or similar.
This morning, after breakfast, our local coach will transfer us to Les Vauxbelets, where we visit the fascinating Little Chapel and German Military Underground Hospital. There will also be time to visit the Guernsey Goat’s Cheese farm in Les Brehauts and the Guernsey Dairy cow farm in St Andrew.
We will then return to St Peter Port and have the remainder of the day at leisure until we meet again for our farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 18: St. Peter Port
Our tour concludes after breakfast.
Includes / Excludes
What’s included in our Tour
- 17 nights of accommodation.
- 17 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 7 dinners.
- Applicable entry fees and services of local guides.
- Services of a Tour Leader for the duration of tour.
- Gratuities and necessary tips.
- Detailed tour information booklet.
What’s not included in our Tour
- International flights and departure taxes.
- Comprehensive travel insurance.
- Items of a personal nature such as telephone calls and laundry.
Participants must be in excellent health, extremely mobile and live an active lifestyle. Program activities may include up to 6 hours of continuous strenuous, moderate-to-fast paced activities per day on varied terrain.
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Crossing international borders with restrictions
The list of requirements to travel internationally has changed and will continue to change for several years. Odyssey is here to assist you in managing your way through these requirements:
For more information see our Crossing international borders with restrictions page.
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If less than 30 days before your tour starts you are unable to travel as a result of Government travel restrictions, Odyssey Traveller will assist you with a date change, provide you with a credit or process a refund for your booking less any non-recoverable costs.
See Terms and conditions for details.
Peace of Mind Travel
The safety of our travellers, tour leader, local guide and support staff has always been our top priority and with the new guidelines for public health and safety for keeping safe for destinations around the world, we’ve developed our plan to give you peace of mind when travelling with us.
See Peace of Mind Travel for details.
Reading List Download PDF
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer
January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.
Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.
The Model Occupation: The Channel Islands Under German Rule, 1940-1945
Madeleine Bunting
What would have happened if the Nazis had invaded Britain? How would the British people have responded – with resistance or collaboration? In Madeleine Bunting’s pioneering study, we begin to find the answers to this age-old question.
Though rarely remembered today, the Nazis occupied the British Channel Islands for much of the Second World War. In piecing together the fragments left behind – from the love affairs between island women and German soldiers, the betrayals and black marketeering, to the individual acts of resistance – Madeleine Bunting has brought this uncomfortable episode of British history into full view with spellbinding clarity.
Menagerie Manor
Gerald Durell
This is the hugely entertaining account of how the much-loved conservationist and author Gerald Durrell fulfilled his lifelong ambition by founding his own private sanctuary for endangered species in Jersey with the help of an enduring wife, a selfless staff and a reluctant bank manager. With a foreword by Lee Durrell, Honorary Director of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, this book about the trials and wonders of living in the middle of a zoo is a classic that will continue to bring pleasure to those who grew up reading Durrell, and deserves a whole new readership.
The Other British Isles: A History of Shetland, Orkney, the Hebrides, Isle of Man, Anglesey, Scilly, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands
David W . Moore
heir names bespeak a rich past. From the Norse Hjaltland comes the modern Shetland: islands nominally Scottish, steeped in Nordic culture, closer to the Arctic Circle than to London. Important Neolithic sites are at Skara Brae and Maes Howe in the Orkneys. Holy Iona, island center of Celtic Christianity, the Isle of Man, former seat of rule over the Irish Sea, and Anglesey and Islay, homes of medieval courts at Aberffraw and Loch Finlaggan, are just a few of the more than 6,000 islands that form the archipelago known as the British Isles. The offshore isles are home to half a million people.
Focusing on the eight islands or chains that have long supported substantial populations, this history tells the stories of Shetland, Orkney, the Hebrides, Anglesey, the Channel Islands, the Scilly Isles, and the Isles of Man and Wight, from their Neolithic settlement, to Roman, Norse and Norman occupation, to the struggle to maintain their uniqueness in today’s world.
Secret Guernsey
Amanda Bennett
Guernsey is small - only 25 square miles - but it holds a depth of history and intrigue far greater than its size. Early prehistoric beginnings allied to a Norman French heritage and a long period of loyalty to the English Crown have produced a unique culture - a melting pot of religious, political and economic activity. The islanders' stories can be found everywhere - from the sea-swept coast and rural country lanes, to the bustle of St Peter Port, in buildings, churches and charming quaint, granite houses. Take a journey through this familiar landscape to find what lies beneath - stories of the unusual, the intriguing or the plain odd. From serial duellists to romantic poets; confusing road names to land reclamation; mysterious stones to pagan offerings, Secret Guernsey is filled with unexpected tales of island life and history, and invites you to explore the island for yourself and uncover more unfound treasures through stunning colour photographs.
Balleine's History of Jersey
Marguerite Syvret and Joan Stevens
Jersey has a remarkable history, especially during the many centuries since it became an exposed, surviving outpost of Duke William's Duchy, within sight of France yet attached to the English Crown. More than most mainland people, its inhabitants are fiercely conscious of their special identity and history; while more than most islanders they are aware of the uniqueness of their heritage, produced by the interaction of two cultures and two rich sources of tradition. It is not surprising that when the first great History of the Island of Jersey appeared in 1959 it enjoyed such immediate popularity that it soon ran out of print. The result of long years of careful and scholarly research by G.R. Balleine, it was instantly accepted as the definitive history of the island. Books are often described as a "classic," but few justify the accolade as thoroughly as this great work, which enjoys an unrivalled pre-eminence in Jersey literature. This new edition will maintain its position as the book on Jersey well into the next millennium. It will be welcomed by Jersey people everywhere.
Living With The Enemy: An Outline Of The German Occupation Of The Channel Islands With First Hand Accounts By People Who Remember The Years 1940 To 1945
Roy McLoughlin
During the Second World War the Channel Islands were the only part of Britain to be occupied by German forces. 'Living With the Enemy' tells the story of life on the Islands under Nazi rule, with eye-witness accounts from both islanders and German soldiers, the book gives an accurate insight into this ill-assorted community at war.
Articles about the Channel islands
Alderney, Channel Islands
A tour of Alderney takes you to he most remote part of the Channel Islands. Participants on a tour of Alderney discover an atmospheric paradise for history buffs and nature lovers, an island of eerie ruins and stunning beautiful beaches.
Channel Islands; wildflowers, potato peel pies & rebels
Get ready to explore the Channel Islands Jersey, you say? Aren’t they the shirts footballers wear? Think again, traveller. Picture a smattering of tiny islands, a mere stone’s throw from England and France, peppered with…
Guernsey, Channel Islands
Guernsey, Channel Islands A tour of Guernsey takes you to the second-largest of the Channel Isles, Guernsey island is the most English, a place where ‘politeness is a way of life’. The island of Guernsey…
Herm, Channel Islands
Herm, Channel Islands You won’t find many places relaxing than the car, bike, and TV free island of Herm in the Channel Islands. Like the other Channel Islands – Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark –…
Jersey, Channel Islands
Jersey is the largest and southernmost of the Channel Islands, an archipelago which sits in the English Channel.
Sark, Channel Islands
Sark, Channel Islands A visit to the small island of Sark is something like stepping into a timewarp, where horses and carts still rule the roads and arcane feudal traditions shape daily life. Like the…
St. Helier, Jersey
Saint Helier, Jersey The capital of Jersey, Saint Helier is a charming town with a vibrant foodie and shopping scene, and an ideal location from which to base your tour of Jersey and the Channel…
Walking tours for active travellers – tips for seniors
For the active mature and senior traveller be they a couple or solo traveller this article outlines preparation for walking tours even for the over 80's. It may on the Wainwright, the lake district or a pilgrims walk across Europe or St James Way, the Camino. This artices give advice on getting fit, shoes and socks including for particular advice for women on this topic.
