Channel Islands Holidays

Jersey is the largest and most popular of the Channel Islands. This year-round gem offer is perfect for relaxing, exploring, getting active, and savouring the welcoming hospitality. You’re never more than ten minutes from the water’s edge; perfect for days spent building sandcastles, paddling in rock pools, swimming in the sea, enjoying alfresco picnics, and trying surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, and coasteering. Explore medieval Mont Orgeil Castle or Gorey Castle and learn about wartime Jersey at Jersey War Tunnels. Get up close to wildlife at Jersey Zoo and pick a pearl from oysters at St Ouen’s Jersey Pearl. Show off your creative side at The Harbour Gallery and The Jersey Art Centre or get in on the action with locally-brewed liquors from La Mare Wine Estate and the Channel Island Liquor Company.

Get away from it all, recharge your batteries, get #ThatIslandFeeeling on the islands of Guernsey; comprising five islands nestled in the bay of St Malo – namely Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, and Lihou. Guernsey is your gateway to the charming town of St Peter Port with its Castle Cornet, Hauteville House, Candie Gardens, Guernsey Tapestry, and shopping on the High Street and Market Square. Step back in time at Shrine of the Sacred Heart, La Valette Underground Military Museum, National Trust of Guernsey Folk & Costume Museum, and Le Creux es Faies Passage Tomb. Walk to Rouse Headland, Rousse Tower, and L’Eree Headland and escape to Victor Hugo’s Garden and Cambridge Park. Relax at Vazon Bay and Rocquaine Bay, go surfing at Portinfer, and try high-tide swimming at Petit Bot Bay. Experience the sparkling world of diamonds at The Guernsey Diamond Museum.

Lihou is just across a cobbled causeway from Guernsey and is the ideal spot for adventure – visit for just the day or spend the night at the nine-bedroomed Lihou House. With the RAMSAR wetlands, Lihou is a wildlife sanctuary that is ideal for bird watching amongst the 150+ resident bird species and rock pooling on the rocky shore. Try your hand at wild swimming at the tidal Venus Pool and walk back in time at the ruins of Lihou Priory built by Benedictine monks in 1114.

Alderney is a 15-minute flight (or a ferry ride in peak season) from Guernsey and the second largest of her islands. Wander through the cobbled streets of St Anne’s and tuck into everything from French and Thai to gastro pub fare and seafood fresh from surrounding waters in the many eateries. Delve into history from the Iron Age to World War II at Alderney Museum. Catch sight of seabirds, dolphins, bats, and blonde hedgehogs along the coastal grasslands and sub-tidal kelp forests. Peer through binoculars to delight in the puffin and gannet colonies in spring and summer. Relax at popular Braye Beach, seek out Saye’s sand dunes, paddle with the family at Arch, and go rock pooling at Corblets. Ride the Channel Islands’ only working railway - the Alderney Railway from Braye Road Station to Mannez Station.

Sark is a 35-50 minute ferry ride from Guernsey’s St Peter Port and feels like a world away, whether you’re visiting for the day or staying overnight. Cars are forbidden and you can travel to a bygone era as you discover Sark’s unspoilt landscapes and charming unpaved roads from your seat on a horse-drawn carriage, by pedal power on a bike, or on foot. Sark is the World’s First Dark Sky Island – no public and vehicle lighting protect the island from light pollution allowing locals to use The Milky Way to find their way around. Sark’s The Avenue is the heartbeat of the island with its supermarket, eateries, and local silver and craft shops. Escape to the serene La Seigneurie Gardens in the grounds of a 17th-century manor house. Despite its compact size the island boasts a variety of dining venues – from fine dining in hotels to alfresco crab sandwiches and cafes serving afternoon tea.

Herm is a 20-minute boat ride from Guernsey’s St Peter Port. Step ashore and uncover unspoilt golden beaches, sandy cliff paths, pods of dolphins, and a resident puffin colony. Herm Island Specsavers Nature Trail gives you the chance to complete a quiz answering questions about the island wildlife. Enjoy family time with sunbathing and water sports at Shell Beach or escape to the secluded Belvoir Bay. Take to the water by paddleboard and join a guided kayak puffin patrol or a circumnavigation of the island by kayak, while on dry land you can have a go at archery, team challenges, and activiquizzes. Food and drink-wise relish everything from a glass of rose and a crab sandwich overlooking the beach to silver service dining and relaxed pub fare.

The Channel Islands are famous for their locally-caught seafood including mussels (moules), oysters, scallops, lobsters, and crabs (spider crabs are a local delicacy). Jersey is, of course, the home of Jersey Royal potatoes and Jersey butter; both of which are utilised in many recipes. You can sample Guernsey Gache (sweet bread), Guernsey Bean Jar (hearty bean and vegetable stew), and Ormer (shellfish). From beach cafes and tea rooms to fine dining restaurants and everything in between there’s plenty of places to tempt your taste buds in the Channel Islands. Drinks produced on the islands include wine from La Mare Wine Estate and Gorey Wine Cellar and also Roquette Cider and Weadon’s Gin.