Channel Islands trip 2021

  We packed the car up and checked out of the hotel at 10 am and had at least 8 hours to kill before checking in for the ferry to Poole.  It was overcast but much less windy so felt a lot warmer.  We took some photos of the hotel and then went for a walk along the beach near the hotel where it was high tide. Wayside Cheer Hotel Paul on rocks at Cobo Bay Cobo Bay at high tide We then drove to nearby Saumarez Park as this was one place we hadn’t managed to get to.  The park contains a large house built in the mid 1800’s.  The owner had worked at the British Embassy in Japan and brought back a wooden shrine and a wooden house which he shipped and re-erected here but they were destroyed during the WW2 occupation.  The park had a walled garden where they grow all sorts of fruit and vegetables.  We then walked to the small lake where there were a lot of noisy ducks. Paul and scarecrow at Walled Garden Walled Garden Japanese Fishing Platform on lake ...

  We drove the short distance up the coast to Vale and parked near the church where there was a small lake showing as a nature reserve on the map.  We went to what we thought was the entrance but it was a bird hide.  Looking over the lake we could see that there was no way of walking around.  We saw lots of little egrets, a heron, coots, moorhens and a single shelduck asleep on one leg. Little egrets Shelduck Vale Church We then walked around the nearby village and went to a garden centre which was very hidden away but had an enormous gift shop area with mostly Halloween and Christmas things. After that we went to the second largest town on Guernsey called St Sampson.  It has a very large marina and a lot of shops.  We spent about an hour walking around and then decided to find somewhere scenic to park a little further north of St Sampson for lunch and coffee.   St Sampson Harbour St Sampson Clocktower  and RNLI Offices We found a nice quiet ...

  The winds eased overnight but it was a mix of sunshine and showers when we got up.   We started the day at St Peters Port and had a short walk around the shops until it became a lot brighter and more blue sky appeared.    We then drove to the Jerbourg peninsular on the south eastern corner of Guernsey where there is an observation platform looking down to a rocky outcrop with St Martins Lighthouse at the end.   This was a very small lighthouse which looked more like a concrete box.   We could have walked to the lighthouse but there were a lot of very uneven steps down and the path and steps were quite muddy and slippery from the overnight rain. so we decided against it.    St Martins Point from Jerbourg View from Jerbourg We walked up to nearby Doyle's monument which is an obelisk erected in 1953 to replace the one destroyed in WW2.   It is in memory of Sir John Doyle, former Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey in the early 19 th century....

  It was incredibly windy overnight and we didn’t sleep well. Rain was forecast for the whole of today with strong winds turning to gale force by early evening but contrary to the forecast, it did stay dry and often sunny.  When the sun was out it was very warm even in the wind. We decided to get the bus to St Peter Port.   We first walked along the harbour and up to the lighthouse and watched the 10.35 ferry from Herm battling the waves to get into Guernsey Harbour.     We then walked some of the back streets of the south of the town to see some of the houses that are visible in the hillside from the harbour.   We first walked up Cornet Street where all the houses are old and at least 3 storeys high.   The guidebook had mentioned 26 Cornet Street as an 18 th century shop with shopkeepers dressed in period costumes but unfortunately was shut for the season.    It is also the base for National Trust Guernsey. 26 Cornet St There were some ...

  We had an email from Condor Ferries today to say we are now booked on the Saturday night sailing to Poole, so brought forward a day.   We arrive at 23.40 so have booked the Premier Inn in Ferndown for the night and will drive to Hertford on Sunday morning. Now to make the most of our extended holiday. After a relaxing breakfast, we drove a short distance along the coast to Fort Hommet and the gun casements that were added in WW2.   There were some great coastal views as well. Fort Hommet Vazon Bay rocks Fort Hommet Gun Casements Fort Hommet Vazon Bay rocks After this we drove to the causeway from where you can walk to Lihou Island which is on the north west corner of Guernsey.   The causeway is open at low tide during hours of daylight.   At the moment it seems to be open for 2 3/4  hours for 7 or 8 days then closed for 2 days.   It opened at 11:39 today and closed at 14:14.   There were quite a few people waiting.   Most of the cause...