10 things to do in Guernsey

I visited Guernsey for the first time this summer, a short two day visit. The island is the perfect size for short breaks and has many secrets to discover. We felt at home from the moment we came off the ferry; the people of Guernsey are incredibly friendly, the food is excellent and the small island has many treasures to explore. Here are my top 10 things to do in Guernsey.

Guernsey Tapestry

If you are interested in tapestry and needlework…or even not…I think the Guernsey tapestry is a must on any sightseeing list. Allow a little time for it as you will be blown away by the artwork and craftsmanship that has gone into making the 10 panels.

A tribute to the millenium, this amazing work of art features representations of the past 1,000 years of Guernsey’s history. Each panel contains symbols for every century and each one was assigned to a different parish of Guernsey, their emblem stitched into the frame.

An amazing act of community spirit and an incredibly inspiring work of art.

Little Chapel

This is a place of beauty, a place of worship and a place of prayer.

The tiny chapel, claimed to be the smallest in the world, has been completely decorated inside and out with shells and a beautiful mosaic of broken tiles. Begun in 1923 by Brother Deodat, an enormous amount of work has gone into making this chapel unique and utterly awesome modelling the chapel on the grotto in the Church of Lourdes.

Hauteville House

Victor Hugo, the famous French writer, lived in Guernsey during his exile and wrote Les Miserables amongst other works of art whilst here. The City of Paris has completely restored his home and gardens and they are open for viewing but only guided tours are allowed inside the house. I turned up too late, so well worth booking in advance.

Guernsey ice cream

All over the island you will find the typical brown cows chomping on the green grass alongside the roads. The butter made from their milk is very yellow and anyone would imagine tinted with saffron but I am assured that’s not the case. Delicious milk, delicious butter and yummy ice cream –  a must.

Lihou Island

Guernsey’s own Mont St Michel. A tiny island separated from the mainland during high tides and now a nature reserve noted for its seabirds and wildflowers. Also home to the 12th century Notre Dame de Lihou. On the northern tip you can climb over rocks to the Venus Pool.

Vazon Bay

A splendid beach that stretches as far as the eye can see which also enjoys a massive tide. We arrived as the sea was still going out and left us with a good 500 foot beach to play on. We were amazed how far the tide came in and how quickly too. Crabby Jacks on the beach road is a family-friendly place to stop for a meal.

Guernsey Gauche

The one thing to be eaten whilst exploring the island is Guernsey Gauch (pronounced gosh). I bought some from a market stall in St Peter’s Port. It’s like a tea bread with lots of raisins and currants in, delicious with tea, coffee or fruit juice, as my girls will tell you.

Pembroke Beach

Situated right at the top of the island, Pembroke beach is a clean, wide beach sheltered on both sides by rocks and a high sea wall that tells of rough seas come winter time. We stopped off here for lunch before traveling back down to St Peter’s Port to catch our ferry back to France. When we were there, the sea was as still as a mill pond and dad says it had the best sand for making sand castles.

Guernsey Wrap

You must have seen them before? They are ‘portable wardrobes’ made out of toweling and an absolutely fantastic idea for getting changed on the beach. A pull tie at the top allows you to close the wrap around your top half with your arms inside. The wrap is made large enough to allow ample room for changing comfortably out of your clothes and into your swimsuit underneath, et voila! Once changed, open the tie and your wrap falls away from you, you are ready to swim or sunbathe.

La Gran’mere de Chimquiere

I have to go back to Guernsey again as I didn’t get to see this 4,500-year-old granite carving standing in St Martin’s churchyard. If you visit after a wedding, she may have flowers on her head from the couple who place them there for good luck.

About Marianne Weekes

BLOGS AT: Mari's World; TWITTER: @maris_world. Mother of four and nana to three, Marianne Weekes has spent half her life in the UK and the other half in Italy. Blogging since Jan 2010, she finds it hard to drag herself away from her laptop and writes about food, travel and lifestyle. Always on the lookout for the next thing which takes her down many surprising lanes.

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