The Mini Rough Guide to Guernsey (Travel Guide eBook)

By Rough Guides

This pocket-sized guide is a convenient, quick-reference companion to discovering what to do, what to see and how to get around Guernsey. It covers top attractions like Castle Cornet, Fort Grey and Sausmarez Manor as well as hidden gems, including Le Creux ès Faies, Venus Pool and St Apolline's Chapel. This will save you time, and enhance your exploration of this fascinating island.

This Mini Rough Guide to Guernsey covers: St Peter Port, Fermain Bay, Jerbourg Point, Petit Port, Moulin Huet Bay, St Martin, Petit Bôt Bay, Vazon Bay, Cobo Bay, Rocquaine Bay, Fort Grey, Lihou Island, Le Grand Havre, Pembroke and L'Ancresse Bays, Fort Doyle, Bordeaux Harbour, Herm, Sark, Alderney

In this travel guide you will find:

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER
Experiences selected for every kind of trip to Guernsey, from cultural explorations in St Peter Port to family activities in child-friendly places, like Cobo Bay and Oatlands Village, or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like Petit Bôt Bay.

TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS
Covers the destination's top ten attractions not to miss, including Castle Cornet, La Valette Underground Military Museum, La Vallette Bathing Pools and Candie Gardens, as well as a Perfect Day itinerary suggestions

COMPACT FORMAT
Compact, concise, and packed with essential information, with a sharp design and colour-coded sections, this is the perfect on-the-move companion when you're exploring Guernsey

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INSIGHTS
Includes an insightful overview of landscape, history and culture

WHAT TO DO
Detailed description of entertainment, shopping, nightlife, festivals and events, and children's activities

PRACTICAL MAPS
Handy colour maps on the inside cover flaps will help you find your way around

PRACTICAL TRAVEL INFORMATION
Practical information on Eating Out, including a handy glossary and detailed restaurant listings, as well as a comprehensive A-Z of travel tips on everything from getting around to health and tourist information.

STRIKING PICTURES
Inspirational colour photography throughout

• Language: English
• Publisher: Insight Guides
• Release date: Jul 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781839058219

Rough Guides

Rough Guides are written by expert authors who are passionate about both writing and travel. They have detailed knowledge of the areas they write about--having either traveled extensively or lived there--and their expertise shines through on every page. It's priceless information, delivered with wit and insight, providing the down-to-earth, honest read that is the hallmark of Rough Guides.

Book preview

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HOW TO USE THIS E-BOOK

Getting Around this e-Book

This Rough Guide Mini e-book is designed to inspire you and help you plan for your visit to Guernsey, and is also the perfect on-the-ground companion for your trip.

The guide begins with our selection of Highlights, plus a Perfect Itinerary feature to help you plan an unforgettable trip. The Introduction and History and Culture chapters give the lowdown on Guernsey, past and present, while the Out and About chapter is a comprehensive guide to all the best sights. You will find ideas for getting active in Things to Do, while the Food and Drink chapter introduces you to the local cuisine and gives listings of our favourite restaurants by area. Travel Essentials offers just that; practical information to help you plan your trip. Finally, Where to Stay provides a special selection of hotels for every budget.

In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.

Maps

All key attractions and sights in Guernsey are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map], tap once to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.

Images

You’ll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of Guernsey. Simply double-tap an image to see it in full-screen.

About Rough Guides:

Published in 1982, the first Rough Guide – to Greece – was created by Mark Ellingham and a small group of friends who couldn’t find a guidebook to meet their needs. Combining a contemporary, journalistic style with a thoroughly practical approach to travellers’ needs, the immediate success of the book spawned a series that rapidly covered dozens of destinations. These days, Rough Guides include recommendations from budget to luxury and cover more than 120 destinations worldwide, all regularly updated by our team of ever curious, roaming writers. These Rough Guide Minis may be small, but they are packed with information and inspiration and offer amazing value for money.

© 2022 Apa Digital AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd.

Table of Contents

10 Things Not To Miss

A Perfect Day In Guernsey

Overview

Location and Climate

‘Peculiar of the Crown’

Language

Economy

History and Culture

Early History

Romans and Christians

The British Connection

Navigation and Knitting

The Victorian Era

The German Occupation

Post War

Out and About

St Peter Port

The Waterfront

Castle Cornet

La Valette Underground Military Museum

Candie Gardens and Guernsey Museum

Guernsey Tapestry

Victorian Shop and Parlour

Victor Hugo’s House

Southern Guernsey

Sausmarez Manor

Fermain Bay

Jerbourg Point

Moulin Huet Bay

La Gran’mère de Chimquière

German Underground Military Hospital

The Little Chapel

Petit Bôt Bay

German Occupation Museum

Pleinmont Headland

The West Coast

Rocquaine Bay

Fort Grey

L’Erée Headland

Lihou Island

Perelle Bay

St Apolline’s Chapel

Vazon Bay

Fort Hommet

Cobo Bay

Saumarez Park

Folk and Costume Museum

Northern Guernsey

Around Le Grand Havre

Oatlands Village/Guernsey Freesia Centre

L’Ancresse Common

Pembroke and L’Ancresse Bays

Northeast Coast

Bordeaux Harbour

St Sampson

Herm

Herm Harbour

Herm Common

Shell Beach and Belvoir Bay

Southern Cliffs

Le Manoir

St Tugual

Sark

Ferries to Sark

Brecqhou and the Barclay Brothers

Arrival in Sark

Getting Around

Big Sark

La Seigneurie Gardens

Around the Island

Port du Moulin and Lighthouse

La Coupée

Little Sark

Alderney

St Anne

Braye Harbour

Alderney Railway

The Northeast

Saye and Corblets Bays

Mannez Quarry and Lighthouse

Around Longis Bay

South of the Island

Things To Do

Sports and Outdoor Pursuits

Surfing and Windsurfing

Scuba Diving

Sailing

Adventure Sports

Swimming

Fishing

Walking

Birdwatching

Cycling

Golf

Horse Riding

Shopping

ST Peter Port

Around The Island

Entertainment

Activities for Children

Food and Drink

Seafood

Local Produce

Cider and Ale

Where To Eat

Culinary Events

Where To Eat

ST Peter Port

Around The Island

Fermain Bay

St Martin’s

Forest

St Saviour

Torteval

L’Erée

Cobo Bay

Castel

Vale

Herm

Sark

Alderney

A–Z Travel Tips

A

Accommodation

Airports

B

Bicycle Rental

Budgeting for Your Trip

C

Camping

Car Hire

Climate

Clothing

Crime and Safety

D

Driving

E

Electricity

Embassies and High Commissions

Emergencies

G

Getting There

Guides and Tours

H

Health and Medical Care

L

Language

LGBTQ+ Travellers

M

Maps

Media

Money

O

Opening Hours

P

Police

Post Offices

Public Holidays

T

Telephones

Time Zones

Tipping

Toilets

Tourist Information

Transport

Travellers with Disabilities

V

Visas and Entry Requirements

W

Websites and Internet Access

Where To Stay

St Peter Port

Around the Island

St Martin

St Saviour

Castel

Torteval

Vale

Herm

Sark

Alderney

10 THINGS NOT TO MISS

iStock

1. Castle Cornet

Step into the past at Guernsey’s ancient royal fortress, standing guard over St Peter Port. For more information, click here.

Anna Mockford & Nick Bonetti/Apa Publications

2. St Peter Port

Explore Guernsey’s endearingly quaint capital taking in the old town and colourful port. For more information, click here.

Anna Mockford & Nick Bonetti/Apa Publications

3. Fort Grey

Gripping stories of shipwrecks are the theme of the museum within the fort. For more information, click here.

Visit Guernsey/Chris George Photography

4. Hauteville House

Victor Hugo’s home in exile shows that the French author was also an inspired interior decorator. For more information, click here.

Alamy

5. German Occupation Museum

Excellent war museum showing how the islanders lived during the Occupation. For more information, click here.

Anna Mockford & Nick Bonetti/Apa Publications

6. Sausmarez Manor

Historic family manor with delightful gardens, a fine sculpture park and visitor attractions. For more information, click here.

Anna Mockford & Nick Bonetti/Apa Publications

7. Vazon Bay

Ride the rollers or hire windsurf or paddleboard gear on this whopper of a sandy beach. For more information, click here.

Shutterstock

8. St Anne, Alderney

The island’s capital is an engaging little town with cobbled streets and quirky shops. For more information, click here.

Anna Mockford & Nick Bonetti/Apa Publications

9. Shell Beach, Herm

This dazzling white beach is a paradise for shell collectors. For more information, click here.

iStock

10. Sark

Take a day trip to this tiny, car-free island and enjoy the walks and wildlife. For more information, click here.

A Perfect Day In Guernsey

9.00am

Breakfast. Christies in the heart of St Peter Port (41 Le Pollet, open from 9am, closed Sun) offers a coffee-and-croissant fix or a full English breakfast. Watch the world go by or secure a seat on the balcony for lovely harbour views.

10.00am

Picture-postcard port. Explore the cobbled streets of St Peter Port, stroll along the waterfront to Cornet Castle or up to Hauteville House, where Victor Hugo penned Les Misérables.

Noon

Cliff walk. For views that inspired Impressionist painter, Renoir, take the first section of the south coast cliff path starting at South Esplanade in St Peter Port and ending at Fermain Bay, one of Guernsey’s prettiest beaches. (Allow at least an hour as there are quite a few steps).

1.00pm

Lunch break. Fermain Beach Café has the best fresh crab sandwiches on the island and a lovely terrace on the beach. Alternatively, splash out and lunch at La Frégate (www.lafregatehotel.com) in St Peter Port, for Guernsey’s best seafood and a terrace with a sublime view out to Herm and Sark − even as far as the coast of France on a clear day.

3.00pm

West Coast. Head west to Rocquaine Bay where Fort Grey’s Shipwreck Museum tells the grim story of vessels wrecked on the rock-strewn coasts. Portelet Harbour southwest of Fort Grey has a pretty sandy cove, ideal for a dip if the tide is out.

5.00pm

Vazon Bay. Further along the coast watch or join the surfers on the golden sands of Vazon Bay. Guernsey Surf School (www.guernseysurfschool.co.uk) hires out all the gear. Vistas Beach Café, right on the beach with a roof terrace, has great views.

6.00pm

Sunset cocktail. Continue along the coast to Cobo Bay and catch the last of the sun’s rays on the spacious terrace of the Cobo Bay Hotel, a favourite spot for admiring the views.

8.00pm

Dining options. Return to St Peter Port for the best choice of restaurants. Indulge in a slap-up seafood dinner at Le Nautique (for more information, click here), Mora (for more information, click here) or Pier 17 (for more information, click here), all with harbour views. Ask for a seat by the window and watch the sunset over the marina.

10.00pm

On the town. RED, on the waterfront, has a cool cocktail bar (along with top-quality steaks); or for something more traditional try the Old Government House Hotel’s Crown Club with its red leather seats and antique brass. Familiarly known as the OGH, and located up the hill from the main shopping street, this was the former residence of the governor of Guernsey.

Overview

Sitting just off the Cherbourg peninsula, it is not surprising that Guernsey and its little sister islands have a heady mix of French and British cultures. Author Victor Hugo, exiled to Jersey and then to Guernsey, where he wrote Les Misérables, felt perfectly at home in the Channel Islands, describing them as ‘morsels of France fallen into the sea and gathered by England’. It was