There are many reasons to visit Jersey and Guernsey, but here are the top 10.
Breathtaking walks
Walking in the Channel Islands is an absolute dream. Dramatic cliff paths, quiet green lanes and stunning valleys provide plenty of opportunity from keen ramblers to those who want to take a meandering stroll. Both islands’ tourism bodies Visit Jersey and Visit Guernsey provide detailed routes for ambitious treks to easy walks.
Walk the dramatic cliff paths in Guernsey
The friendly locals
Friendly locals who bend over backwards to make you feel at home add to the island experience. You won’t be stood with a map in your hand for too long before a kind-hearted islander will point you in the right direction or give you a tip about where to visit.
The constitution
The islands’ unique constitution: Only the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are classed as Crown Dependencies. They have their own laws, governments and money and as they owe allegiance to the crown rather than Parliament, they are referred to being as part of the British Isles rather than the UK.
Ancient history
With a history that dates back to Neolithic times it’s easy to be swept away by the culture and heritage in the islands. Family-friendly museums, impressive castles, ancient grave sites and moving Second World War exhibitions all add to the Channel Islands’ rich history tapestry.
Great food and drink
Don’t let the size of the islands fool you – despite being small you’ll be spoilt for choice on where to eat with award-winning restaurants commonplace. And after you’ve tasted what Jersey and Guernsey have to offer gastronomically, there are dozens of quirky bars and cosy pubs in which to enjoy a drink.
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- Elizabeth Castle has defended Jersey for more than 400 years
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- There are dozens of bars and pubs in which to enjoy a drink
The climate
With almost 2,000 hours of sunshine annually the climate in the Channel Islands is amongst the mildest and sunniest in the whole of the British Isles. Temperatures in the summer are between 20°C and 25°C whilst even the winters are mild making the islands perfect destinations to visit all year round.
The beaches
From pebbled beaches to golden sands and from isolated bays to popular resorts there’s a beach to suit everybody. The beautiful blue seas surrounding the islands makes swimming a dream and because of the islands’ compact size it means that you’re never too far from the coast.
Sublime gardens
Beautiful gardens and tranquil parks are dotted around the islands. Although there are too many to list, of particular note are the well-kept gardens at Samares Manor in Jersey with its hundreds of species of plants and flowers, and Candie Gardens in Guernsey with its subtropical plants is also well worth a visit.
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- Jump into the sea at Fermain Bay
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- Explore the beautiful gardens at Samares Manor
The language
Despite being a short flight away from most UK airports, the Channel Islands have a distinctive French rather than British feel and taste. Both islands have their own version of ancient Norman dialect Jèrriais and Guernésiais, many of the road names are in French, whilst a lot of the architecture is inspired by their Gallic cousins.
Sporting opportunities
From paddle boarding to kayaking, and from blokarting to mountain biking, islanders pride themselves in keeping themselves fit in a variety of fun and interesting ways. There are plenty of businesses within the islands that hire out equipment so you too can try out a daring new hobby.
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