This week, former Sark summer season worker and regular Guernsey visitor Alexandra Wood shares her top tips with VisitGuernsey on day trips to the islands of Herm and Sark.

Visiting Sark from Guernsey

Sark is like nowhere else so I suggest that you get the early boat, that way you allow yourself plenty of time to explore, discover, and still get the boat back in time for tea. And the ferry takes approximately 55 minutes leaving from St Peter Port.

Sark Venture arriving at the Maseline Harbour

You arrive at the Maseline Harbour and walk through an archway, I love this part, it automatically transports you to a place of a peace and tranquillity, well away from the stresses and strains of modern living.

Cars aren’t allowed on Sark- it’s just bicycles, tractors and horse and carriages for islanders. The top speed for the island’s tractors is 10mph and sometimes even this seems fast!

Once you have arrived you can choose to either walk up the hill or take the tractor driven ‘toast rack’ which carries you up and stops by the Bel Air Inn.

At the top of the hill you will see horse and carriages waiting, they can take you on a tour of the island with the journey time depending on what you arrange with the driver. Along with taking a carriage drive, you can also hire a bicycle or simply walk.

La Collinette Crossroads

At the top of the hill at La Collinette Crossroads you will find La Petite Poule Bistro, which is an excellent place for coffee, cake and lunch. The shops in the Avenue are all worth a visit, and the only post box on the island can be found in front of the post office known as The Gallery Stores and I am sure that they still hand stamp the mail!

La Seigneurie Gardens, especially the walled garden, are delightful and you may even be lucky enough to see the Seigneur and his wife in the garden. If you visit in the spring time the bluebells which cover the Dixcart Valley are a wonderful sight and the path through this valley leads down to lovely Dixcart Bay.

La Coupee, which is the narrow isthmus that connects Big Sark with the delights of Little Sark has stunning views – on a clear day you can see Guernsey, Herm, Jethou and Brechou.

La Coupee

But just before you get to La Coupee you will find Caragh Chocolates, here you can see the chocolates being made and they are well worth sampling! Although a little advice – if you are buying a box of Sark chocolates for a present, get two as then hopefully you will still have some left by the time you get home to give to the intended recipient!

If you are staying on the island overnight you can go on one of the excellent evening garden tours, or you may even be lucky enough to have a tour of the Lighthouse or view a painting exhibition (check with the Tourist Office). There are also many events throughout the year, my two favourites being Candles on the Creux and the fantastic sheep racing – ewe bet!

• For more information on visiting Sark and events check out www.sark.info and www.welcometosark.com. And for sailing times to Sark visit www.sarkshippingcompany.com

Visiting Herm from Guernsey

Herm is the perfect destination for Enid Blyton style family days full of fun, discovery, beaches and lashings of ginger beer. The weather is often very kind to Herm and I have had some lovely weather in September and October.

Herm Harbour

The ferry takes just 20 minutes from St Peter Port, you land at either the Rosaire landing steps or Herm Harbour depending on the tide.

Unlike the shingle beaches of Sark, Herm has sandy beaches which are much more suitable for building sand castles and walking barefoot.  I usually have a browse in the Italianate style gift shops and then walk towards Belvoir Bay via The Common (look out for the Antony Gormley statue) and Shell Beach.  I like to take a stroll on Shell Beach stopping every now and again to pick up and admire a cowrie shell or two.  Belvoir Bay (along with Shell Beach) has a beach café with ice creams, freshly made sandwiches and cups of tea, and the wooden steps lead you down to a beach of white sand and a turquoise sea.

Even bumble bees like a visit to the beach

You can go paddling, rock pooling, fishing and there are also the popular garden tours with the Herm gardeners, sadly, you can no longer see wallabies whilst on Herm – yes, I did say wallabies – as these have died out, but there is still lots of wildlife, flora and fauna to be seen.

Definitely go and visit the tiny 11^th century St Tugual’s Chapel and see the wonderful stained glass window commissioned by Peter and Jenny Wood.  You can walk back to the Mermaid Tavern or The Ship Inn for lunch or afternoon tea and imagine yourself here for a bit longer than a day trip.

There is a particular beach which is much quieter than others and I enjoy its peace and tranquillity. And no, I’m not going to tell you which one it is, as it is my little secret, no matter how much hot buttered toasted gauche you bribe me with!

• For more information visit www.herm.com. And for sailing times to Herm see http://www.traveltrident.com.