With another bank holiday weekend coming up at the end of the month, summer just around the corner and long school holidays on the horizon, thoughts turn to golden sandy beaches and sunny getaways. A trip away is a chance to completely unwind and create happy memories with friends and family.
Staying on an island with pretty coves and crystal clear waters sounds like a dream holiday. But it’s one you’d expect to involve expensive flights and a long journey.
Yet you can actually visit a gorgeous island much closer to home. Guernsey is the second largest of the channel islands and you can fly there from Manchester Airport in 90 minutes - quicker than getting the train to London.
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The island boasts dozens of beaches, from vast sandy bays to sheltered coves. Cobo Bay is one of the island’s most popular beaches and could easily double for the Caribbean on a sunny day. Located on the north-west coast of the island, it has a long stretch of white sand and, at low tide, several rock pools you can explore.
If you fancy somewhere off the beaten track, then Fermain Beach is the one for you. It’s a small pebble beach surrounded by cliffs and woodland and it's accessed by boat or via a cliff-top path.
Found on the south-eastern side of Guernsey, this one is perfect if you want to escape the crowds. After going for a dip a visit to Fermain Beach Cafe is a must.
Beaches aside, the island is only 27 miles away from Normandy, France and offers an interesting mix of British and French culture. As a self-governing Crown Dependency it’s not part of the UK, although the British government does oversee certain aspects.
This means that you don’t need a passport to visit Guernsey if you’re arriving from the UK - so it’s an excellent destination if you’ve struggled to renew your passport this year amid delays. You will need a form of photo ID, though.
Thanks to its location in Mont Saint-Michel Bay, the island enjoys a temperate climate with mild winters and sunny summers. You might not be guaranteed Mediterranean weather, but chances are you’ll enjoy sunnier weather in Guernsey compared to the rest of the UK.
From history and culture, to outdoor activities, the island is full of things to do. St Peter Port is the capital of Guernsey and it’s here you’ll find a great selection of restaurants, cafes and shops. The charming town has cobbled streets and harbour views.
Overlooking St Peter Port is the impressive Castle Cornet, which is 800 years old. It has incredible views of Guernsey's east coast and the other Channel Islands.
Guernsey is in fact made up of not one but several islands, including Sark which has no cars, Herm, Alderney and Lihou. All of them can be easily reached from Guernsey by boat or plane, allowing you to ‘island hop’ between them all.
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