Channel Islands Travel Guide

Jersey Coastline, Channel Islands

Introduction and Overview

The Channel Islands Travel Guide highlights local visitor attractions, places of interest and includes tourist information for visitors. The area guide features travel information on local sights, entertainment and accommodation. The Channel Islands are located in the English Channel between the UK and France.

They are made up of the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Herm, Alderney and Sark and despite being located closer to France than the UK they are British Crown Dependencies that are legally separate from the UK as they are locally administered.

This rather unusual arrangement has meant the Channel Islands are of unique character and have a mix of European cultures.

The Channel Islands have an image of being exclusive and a haven for the wealthy jet set. They have a relatively mild climate throughout the year and makes visiting the islands an attractive proposition especially in the summer months.

The peace and tranquillity will greet visitors to the islands, along with sandy beaches, stunning sunsets and whitewashed houses.

Walking and cycling are popular activities here and touring the compact islands is relatively easy, with some great scenery to admire including the wonderful coastline walking and cycling touring can give visitors a great insight in to the beauty and landscape of the Channel Islands.

The islands are popular with bird watching and golf enthusiasts.

Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands and is around 10 miles by 6 miles in size.

The capital is St. Helier that has influences from the English, French and the Portuguese that combine to give the place a unique European feel and is blessed with a milder climate than mainland Britain.

Elizabeth Castle in Jersey overlooks St Helier and was built by Sir Walter Raleigh when he was Governor of Jersey.

The coastline has many Martello Towers that were used to defend against French attack led by Napoleon. Jersey Zoo is a leading visitor attraction and has animals in natural living habitats and is famed for its breeding programmes and conservation work. Jersey is also known for being the setting for the popular BBC detective series Bergerac.

Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands after Jersey and is around 9 miles by 2 miles. It has plenty of sunshine throughout the year making it a hit with visitors.

The island has its own unique identity and character. St Peter Port is the capital and its attractions include the Royal Court, Notre Dame du Rosaire church and the market. Guernsey has a number of cliff walks for walking enthusiasts and provides great views of its beaches.

Alderney is one of the smaller Channel Islands and is only 6 miles off the coast of France. It is just one mile wide, the island is a popular place for walkers and cyclists who can enjoy the unspoilt nature of the island and its landscape.

For those wanting to get away from it all; the sandy beaches here are great places to relax and unwind. The capital is the small town of St Anne.

The Isle of Sark is known for its renowned peace and tranquillity, many visitors will enjoy the scenery that includes sea birds and plenty of wildflowers.

Its unusual feature is that there are no cars allowed on the island, leaving visitors to appreciate the scenery, wildflowers and sea birds. Sark has also been referred to as the last remaining feudal state in Europe. The lack of road traffic does give this charming little island a unique feel to it.

Herm Island is a short boat trip from Guernsey, it is a particularly picturesque island boasting white sandy beaches and plenty of flowers. It is a popular holiday spot for tourists including day trippers and campers.

The unusual feature of no vehicles also operates here leaving the island as a tranquil haven.

The Channel Islands offer visitors a place that is tranquil and ideal for those wanting to get away from it all and relax. Its appeal lies in the fact it is an oasis of calm and gives people a sense of isolation helping them get away from the stresses of everyday life.

The lack of crowds and fine scenery added to the mild weather make the islands a great place for a quick break.

There are plenty of flights available to the islands and visitors can also get there by ferry leaving from destinations from the south coast. To UK visitors the Channel Islands are in close proximity making it possible to enjoy a weekend or long weekend break there.




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