GUERNSEY

COUNTRY CODE: GB

Currency:
Pound Sterling. £1 = 100 pence

GUERNSEY

This fantastic little island, known for its Guernsey cows, lies
just off the coast of France. Part of a group known as the
Channel Islands it is famous for flowers, fishing and financial
connections. Although linked to the UK it is self governing.
Very different from the British mainland it has an air of
tranquillity and calm. A great place to get away from the
stresses and strains of daily life it oozes charm. Many of the
island’s roads twist and turn through delightful villages and
take you down to some spectacular beaches and coves. Once
a major flower producer today the finance industry accounts
for at least 32% of its income.

THE ISLAND

Well served by planes and ferry services
you will find the island very rural.
Everywhere you go there are plenty of
wooded valleys, miles of rugged coastline
and beautiful walks. With flowers coming
out throughout the year in January alone
you are likely to see over 400 different
types in bloom. This is mainly due to the
frost free climate. Surrounded by the
Atlantic Ocean on all sides the sound of the
sea is never very far away. With top
quality hotels and guesthouses open all
year there is always plenty to see and do.
For the more adventurous traveller there
are also the nearby islands of Herm, and
Sark which each have their own individual
character.
Just minutes away and reached by boat
from the main island these are very
popular with visitors from all over the
world. Alderney bit further away is also
possible for day trips. However once the
sun goes down the island really starts
buzzing as it has a variety of excellent
restaurants, bars and night time venues.
For the more romantic a walk along a
deserted beach is always a draw or a
moonlight stroll along the promenade in St
Peter Port.

DO & SEE

With lots to see one of the most fascinating
places must surely be Hauteville House
in St Peter’s Port.The home of exiled
French author VictorHugo for over 14 years
it was here that hewrote many of his masterpieces.
Another gem that can be found in Guernsey is the
Little Chapel. Probably the smallest chapel
in the world, it was started in 1914.
Created in the image of the basilica and
grotto at Lourdes it is decorated with
seashells, pebbles and pieces of glass.
It can be found onRue de Boullion in St Andrews.
For thosewho enjoy a taste of the sea there is the
Cup and Saucer or more correctly Fort
Grey. Situated in Rocquaine Bay this
Martello tower was built as part of
Guernsey’s defences back in 1804. Now a
Shipwreck Museum it contains a variety of
objects and links the many wrecks which
can be found around the Guernsey
coastline. Make for here on a Wednesday
morning when a local group re-enact some
of the stories from Guernsey’s past.
Another fascinating place is the German
Occupation Museum where you will be able
to find out more about what happened to
Guernsey during the 2nd World War. The
Channel Islands were the only British
territory to be occupied during this time
and every year they celebrate their
liberation on May9th Younger
visitors might like to try the Beau Sejour
Leisure Centre in St Peters Port. This has a
special kid’s pool and gym. Open all the
year round there is a bar, café and
brassiere which can cater for all your
needs. A great way to spend the day.
The island also has excellent windsurfing
facilities and plenty of opportunities for
walking and horse riding. A new surf school
opened up in 2008.
A real bonus is the new extensive network
of buses with fares anywhere on the island
costing just 60 pence.

Food

Food is a very important part of daily life
on the island and so there are plenty of
places you might like to try. Fish is
obviously the main ingredient of many
dishes which range from simple fish and
chips to a more elaborate Michelin star
type meal. Mussels from the island of
Herm are a great delicacy and best eaten
on their own or with some tasty local bread
and butter. The best place to eat these is
of course at the pub on Herm, just across
the harbour from St Peter Port. A tiny car
free island this peaceful setting provides
the ideal place to unwind.
One of the best treats on the islands is
eating fresh fish and chips and drinking
local cider sitting on a wall over looking the
Atlantic Ocean or enjoying one of the many
farmhouse restaurants that exist all over
the island.
Sark lamb, Guernsey beef and red veal are
all popular meats and eaten with fresh
home grown vegetables they are a real
bonus. For a dessert why not try a
delicious apple pie covered in deep yellow
Guernsey cream. Not too good for the
waist line but absolutely delicious! Some
good eating places include the upmarket
Auberge Restaurant at St Martin, the
Waters Edge Restaurant in Torteval or the
ever popular Christies Restaurant in St
Peter Port which provides sensibly priced
top quality food.

BARS & NIGHTLIFE

Guernsey may be a small island but it has
a big heart and packs a real punch when it
comes to its bars and nightlife. It takes its
entertainment scene very seriously so you
will be able to rock the night away quite
easily at one of the bars or nightclubs
dotted around the island. The centre of the
action is in St Peter Port where you will
find pubs and bars everywhere you look.
Kosy Corner is a good place to start as it
has three floors and four bars. With good
food and a friendly atmosphere it is said to
be the closest pub to a church in the
British Isles! The Cock and Bull at Lower
Hautville has a good reputation for being a
swinging place to go and is very much like
a students bar during the summer months.
If you are looking for music venues then
you should try The Dog House at Rohais or
Rogues the largest dancing and live music
venue on the island. Rogues features local
and international DJs and is known locally
for its party atmosphere.
Another top club is Barbados. Situated in
the Lower Pollet , St Peter Port it is open
seven nights a week. With a range of
exclusive drinks and special theme nights
this is one place that is really hot! However
Guernsey’s oldest club Les Folies d’Amour
in North Plantation still considers itself to
be one of the best on the island. Whether
you want a relaxing drink or want to dance
the night away you are sure to find
somewhere suitable on the island.

Public Transport

A flat fare of 60p applies on journeys of
any distance on all routes. However multi
journey ‘ Wave and Save’ Smartcards offer
even better value and are available from
the Bus Information Kiosk in St Peter Port.
There is an extensive bus network all over
the island providing a good service to the
main shopping centres, beaches and visitor
attractions. Bus number 7 provides an
excellent island tour for just 60p! The last
buses finish at around 20.00 in the
summer and 19.00 in the winter. One day
rover tickets cost £5.50 for 10 journeys.
There are boat services to the smaller
islands nearby. Herm £9.50 return Sark
£14.00. Visits to Alderney are also possible
by sea and air but visitors need to check
timetables for details, prices range from
around £40.00 return upwards.

Taxi
Available all over the island prices are per
mile.

Airport

6.9 kilometres(4.3 miles) from the centre
of St Peter Port the airport is well served
by local buses(7 from town 7A(into town),
4) which run into the town two or three
times an hour. Buses from the town bus
terminus to the airport start at 6.30am
(weekdays) and the last one into the town
is at 19.37(weekdays) Journey time
around 18 mins. A flat fare of 60p per
journey applies to all services. The taxi
fare is £9.00 one way.

Telephone
Country Code: +44
Area code: 014581