This week, former Sark summer season worker and regular Guernsey visitor Alexandra Wood shares some tips with VisitGuernsey on how she would spend her perfect day.

Guernsey Harbour

I first came to the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the summer of 1988 to work in Sark and I still vividly remember my taxi ride from Guernsey airport to the harbour to catch the boat to Sark. Everywhere seemed very familiar to me, almost like coming home even though I had never been to the Channel Islands before. I enjoyed working in Sark for the summer and have since returned to the Bailiwick many times to ‘come back home’, as that is what it feels like.

For me, it is the sounds of the Channel Islands that stay with me. In Sark, it is the sound of bicycle brakes and bells, tractor noises and the clip clopping of horses and their carts. In Herm, it is the peace and quiet and walking down the wooden stairs to the sand at Belvoir Bay. In Guernsey it is waiting for a bus whilst hearing all the harbour sounds and eating wholemeal Gauche from Senners Bakery and (even!) walking into the supermarket in St Martin!

Overlooking Saint's Bay

I think the beauty of the Channel Islands is how accessible they are. Visitors can easily take in large parts of Guernsey, Alderney, Herm and Sark during a short break.  So here is how I would spend 24 hours in Guernsey:

Breakfast

I often take a pre-breakfast walk down to Saint’s Bay in St Martin. Whilst the road down to the bay may be a little steep, it is worth the early walk and seeing what the tide may have washed ashore is always interesting. It could be a piece of sea bleached wood which has worn soft around the edges or any of the varieties of seaweed which look somewhat bedraggled out of the water, but come back to life to dance around when the tide comes in and covers them.

Morning

After breakfast, take a trip into St Peter Port to do a spot of shopping. You can hire cars at an affordable price but I tend to use the buses. They are very economical and I would suggest you get a ‘Multi Journey Card’ so that you are not always looking for change.

Once in town, have a coffee at Creasey’s department store; their café is upstairs and has a fabulous view overlooking the harbour and on towards Jethou, Herm and Sark.

Lunch

Sausmarez Manor

Grab lunch from one of the many kiosks around the island, each one offers local produce and a variety of snacks. I have been recommended (but not as yet got around to trying!) the food at La Barbarie Hotel, as their seafood is reputed to be excellent and also the Bella Luce Hotel who use local, seasonal and organic produce where ever possible.

Afternoon attractions

Depending on how many hours or days you plan to spend in Guernsey, I would recommend taking in at least a few of the following:

• The Little Chapel: a great unique tourist attraction that is covered in pieces of broken china, pebbles and seashells

Moulin Huet Bay

• Moulin Huet bay: popular with Renoir during his time!

• Sausmarez Manor: On a Saturday there is a lovely farmer’s market in the grounds where you will also find a fabulous shop called Mon Petit Mond which sells items that are recycled, revamped, vintage and retro local arts and crafts.

Evening

For something a little bit different for your evening meal try a visit to Herm and a table at one of their restaurants.  Herm has a boat service that returns to Guernsey mid and late evening – I would strongly advise you to check the return boat times (click here for details ) as the boat times vary, depending on which day it is and also what time of year it is.

It is certainly well worth the effort as you can have a little walk before or maybe (if time allows) even after your meal and use this walk to justify having a dessert!