Channel Islands, Guided Island Hopping Holiday

Today we leave St Peter Port on foot and enjoy views of the harbour and the imposing Castle Cornet. After ascending to Clarence Battery and Fort George we join a much more rural path to Fermain Bay, with its loop-holed tower. Crossing into St Martin’s parish we continue with stunning coastal views to Jerbourg Point. On a clear day this corner of the island offers fine views of the other Channel Islands and France. From Jerbourg, we join the south cliff path passing high above Moulin Huet Bay and Saint’s Bay en route to Icart Point and the incredibly pretty beach at Petit Bôt, before completing our walk close to Le Gouffre Nature Reserve. This is quite a tough, but beautiful walk. The coastal bus service offers an earlier return option for anyone who finds the complete walk a little long.

11 miles (18km) with 2,550 feet (780m) of ascent and 2,350 feet (720m) of descent.

Our boat journey from St Peter Port takes us directly to Sark in less than an hour and we begin our walk directly from the Maseline Harbour tunnel. Pretty country paths and car-free lanes quickly reach the south coast and our path meets extensive views over Derrible Bay. We soon reach Dixcart Bay and follow the rising cliff path, which offers wonderful views out to sea before crossing La Coupée – a narrow isthmus leading to Little Sark. Little Sark offers quiet lanes, cliff views, charming houses and the remains of silver mines. Back on Sark, we follow the Rue du Sermon into the village and pass La Seigneurie before looping the island’s rocky northern headland. Returning to the village initially, our route then drops back to the harbour for our return boat.

10 miles (16km) with 1,400 feet (440m) of ascent

A morning sailing takes us over to the tiny island of Herm, to the east of St Peter Port, in just 15 minutes. Despite being so close to Guernsey, the smallest island on the Channel Island Way is a world away from bustling St Peter Port. Regardless of whether the boat lands at the harbour or Rosaire Steps we progress south with views to Jethou Island (privately leased by philanthropist Sir Peter Ogden). The undulating cliff path winds around to the island’s east coast and the views are often inundated with seabirds. From Belvoir Bay the walk levels out and we pass pretty Shell Beach and loop across the green. With our circuit complete, the quaint harbour village offers a souvenir shop and refreshments at the Mermaid Tavern.

4 miles (6½km) with 500 feet (140m) of ascent and descent.

Our second walk on Guernsey continues from Le Gouffre and rejoins the rugged south coast. The cliff path here has some fairly steep ups and downs but the Pleinmont Headland rewards us with wonderful views out towards Hanois Lighthouse, nature reserves and commanding historic towers. After the mysterious-looking Fairy Ring, we re-join civilisation at Portelet Harbour. From here we can enjoy the contrast of walking on Guernsey’s west coast, which features a succession of wide sweeping bays with views of defences like the iconic Fort Grey and Lihou Island, the most westerly point in the Channel Islands. Our final destination for the day is pretty Vazon Bay, which is protected by the imposing Fort Hommet. This is quite a tough, but beautiful walk. The coastal bus service offers a return option for anyone who finds the complete walk a little long.

12 miles (20km) with 1,600 feet (500m) of ascent and 1,750 feet (540m) of descent.

An early flight takes us to Alderney, the closest island to France geographically, and set apart from the rest of the Channel Islands.  Its isolation offers a completely different feel to its visitors. Walking around the island can be done in the day and this route offers spectacular cliff paths brimming with military history and an abundance of wildlife at every turn. From the airport, we head for the noisy and stunning gannet colony at Les Etacs and then progress around the island’s south coast, passing Telegraph Bay and a converted WW2 communications bunker displaying the island’s natural and military history.  The cliff path leads to the sweeping horseshoe of Longis Bay, and Mannez Lighthouse at the north-east end of the island.  After a succession of pretty bays, the path passes by Fort Albert and onto sweeping Braye Bay below St Anne (Alderney’s town).  Passing Braye Harbour with its enormous breakwater, the circuit of the island concludes with views of romantically situated Fort Clonque, before heading back to the airport.

12 miles (19½km) with 1,300 feet (400m) of ascent and descent

Continuing from Vazon Bay, our final walk on Guernsey completes our circuit of the island. We carry on along the islander’s playground, past sandy beaches and seagrass dunes dotted with rocky granite outcrops. At Le Grand Havre we reach Vale, which, before human intervention, was once separated by water from the rest of Guernsey. Now at the north of the island, we pass the Megalithic passage grave of La Varde and the beautiful L’Ancresse Bay en route to Fort Doyle. From here the pretty harbours of Bordeaux and St Sampson lead us back to the Esplanade in St Peter Port and our starting point.

15½ miles (25km) with 700 feet (200m) of ascent and 750 feet (220m) of descent.

Enjoy breakfast before making your way home.