Guernsey (St Peter Port)

St Peter Port, the Channel Islands harbour town with Victor Hugo's house of exile, Castle Cornet and clifftop paths – and the jumping-off point for car-free Sark and Herm.

Guernsey is the second-largest of the Channel Islands in the English Channel, a self-governing British Crown Dependency (part of neither the UK nor the EU), about 50 km off the coast of Normandy, France, and roughly 65 sq km in area. Its capital, St Peter Port, climbs the hillside above the harbour and is the island's hub for accommodation, dining and transport; the Bailiwick of Guernsey also includes the smaller islands of Herm, Sark and Alderney. English and sterling are used throughout (with locally issued Guernsey pounds), the culture blends in Norman French traditions, and Victor Hugo spent 15 years in exile here. The climate is mild and damp, with summer temperatures around 20°C; May–Sep is best for sightseeing and island hopping, while Apr–May brings wildflowers and camellias into bloom. Winters are windy, and many attractions and ferry services are reduced. The island divides into four areas: St Peter Port (the old town, the harbour, Castle Cornet, Hauteville House and Candie Gardens); the granite cliffs and bays of the south coast (Fermain Bay, Moulin Huet Bay, Icart Point, Petit Bot Bay and Sausmarez Manor); the centre and west (the Little Chapel, the German Underground Hospital and Occupation Museum, sunsets at Cobo Bay, the tidal island of Lihou, Fort Grey and Pleinmont); and the north (L'Ancresse Bay and the Déhus Dolmen). A 20-minute boat ride takes you to car-free Herm for a day trip, and Sark is about 50 minutes away. Getting there: Guernsey Airport has flights to London Gatwick, Southampton, Birmingham and other UK cities, as well as Jersey; ferries link Poole and Portsmouth in England, Saint-Malo in France, and Jersey. Island buses cover the whole of Guernsey and are cheap, or you can hire a car or bike; roads are narrow and speed limits low. Allow 3–4 days. Note: entry follows UK rules (a UK visa is valid for entry); some attractions open only Apr–Oct; always check the tide tables before visiting Lihou or other tidal spots.

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Itineraries