A relaxing break in Guernsey & Sark, The Channel Islands

Itinerary

Day 1, Bletchley Park en-route, overnight stay Winchester

With a civilised departure time of 10.00 from Shrewsbury we will break up our travel to Guernsey with a visit to Bletchley Park, the once top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers and an overnight stay at 4* Norton Park Hotel, Winchester.

Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes, coffee on arrival and lunch

Explore this extraordinary place and discover the amazing stories of the World War Two Codebreakers. You will find immersive films, interactive displays, museum collections and faithfully recreated WW2 rooms that will guide you on a journey to discover the past at Bletchley Park. Exhibitions, set within beautifully restored historic buildings, tell the story of this once top-secret operation. Find out more about the brilliant minds and complex machines that made this vital work possible, and discover the global impact Bletchley Park had on the outcome of WW2.

You can book on to a free walking tour on arrival. Multimedia guides are available on a first-come, first-served basis and tell the history of Bletchley Park.

Day 2, Traveling to Guernsey, provisional arrangements

With an early start we will travel to Poole Harbour and check-in our luggage ahead of the 3-hour crossing to Guernsey. (You won’t see it again until we collect it as we disembark.) Enjoy the Horizon Lounge with its panoramic views of the sea. On arrival we will be met by a local coach company for transfer to our hotel. Lunch today will be either on board, or on the island, depending upon our sailing time.

Explore the hotel and the lovely seafront views, maybe take a dip in the outdoor pool, then join us in the lounge for per-dinner drinks on our first eventing we will have a 3-course buffet dinner served slightly earlier than usual just in case some of us need an early night.

Day 3, Island coach tour visiting historic and cultural locations

Today we are getting straight down to some serious exploring. Our 10.00 departure from the hotel gives you time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, have a stroll, take a dip then join the coach for a fascinating tour of the island.

Our driver is also an expert guide and as we make our way around the island, taking in the many pretty villages, he will tell us about its history and stop at viewing points. We will visit some of Guernsey’s historic sites where we will get off the coach and explore.

Sites include the fascinating Little Chapel, beautifully decorated with seashells, pebbles and broken china, a miniature version of the famous grotto and basilica at Lourdes in France. We will visit a well-preserved coastal fortification built by German soldiers and hear something of its history and how sites are being preserved today.

Touring is hungry work and our lunch stop today is the Hotel Jerbourg, a spectacular cliff top location with panoramic sea views over the neighbouring Channel Islands and on clearer days the French mainland.

Arriving back at the hotel between 15.30-16.00 allows time to relax and make the most of our lovely hotel and its location. A 3-course dinner will be served in the restaurant.

After dinner there is the option to meet up with Jacky and Sue to hear more about our trip to Sark so you can make the most of your time on this wonderful island.

Day 4, A day on the Isle of Sark

Visiting Sark will leave you with a lasting impression of times gone by. Although it is a small island there is plenty to fill your time. The crossing to Sark takes just under an hour and is a beautiful journey with spectacular views.

The Tractor Bus will take us to and from the harbour, via the tunnel and Harbour Hill. For those that prefer to walk there is a charming hill path through the woods.

There are so many things to do on Sark and we mention just a few below. We will have around 4 hours on the island. A carriage ride around Sark is perhaps the best way to see the island is included as is entry into beautiful Seigneurie Garden. The rest of the time you are free to explore at your leisure.

La Seigneurie Gardens – Set between flower-strewn granite walls and the towers and crenellations of one of the most historic buildings in Sark, the gardens provide a tranquil contrast to the windswept wildness of the island’s beautiful coast. The walled garden is over-flowing with fascinating flowers and shrubs and the beautiful granite walls shelter many plants that can only survive under glass in other parts of the British Isles.

War-Time Exhibition – This fascinating and very moving exhibition is held in the old Island Hall, near St Peter’s Church. The Hall was used during the Occupation for most, if not all, community gatherings. The old Hall was also used during the intervening period by locals and Germans alike for social events such as drama group plays and indoor sports.

Take a walk to Little Sark and don’t forget to stop off at Caragh Chocolates, Café and Shop for some tempting home-made treats as well as hot and cold drinks, including our famous House Hot Chocolate.

Option to meet with Jacky and Sue after dinner regarding our day in St Peter Port and what to do while you are there.

Day 5, St Peter Port

Today is a combination of an optional guided walking tour and free time to explore St Peter Port, known locally as the jewel in the crown of Guernsey. Our coach will pick up at the hotel in the morning and drop us back later in the day.

The walking tour will start at the Tourist Office and head slowly uphill, taking in sites, pointing out places to visit and ending at Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery in the Candie Gardens.

Acclaimed French author and poet Victor Hugo spent 15 years on Guernsey during his exile from France. We will book a tour to visit his fascinating home, Hauteville House, now a museum, in the heart of St Peter Port.

Explore independently

Herm Island is a 20-minute boat ride from St Peter Port, with its long stretches of white sand, cliff paths and and superb views.

Castle Cornet is an 800-year-old castle standing at the mouth of St Peter Port harbour just a short walk from the centre of St Peter Port. The castle offers a fascinating insight into hundreds of years of history, including the Story of Castle Cornet and its military history, five museums, four gardens and spectacular panoramic views of St Peter Port and our sister islands.

Guernsey’s network of accessible public transport makes it easy to explore the island. Follow the link to see historic sites, and major attractions that are just a short bus ride away.

Picking us up at the Tourist Office our coach will take us back to the hotel with time to relax before dinner at 19.00.

Day 6, St Peter Port and travel to Shropshire

Today will be finalised once we know our sailing time. Lunch will be included. Our arrival in Shrewsbury may be around 00.30 (just after midnight on Saturday morning), depending upon the ferry sailing.

Accessibility & Mobility

The pace of this tour will be relaxed, however there are some considerations regarding mobility. You will need to be able to:

Transfer your luggage a short distance from the coach to ferry check-in point where you will leave it for the duration of the crossing
On arrival in Guernsey transfer your luggage a short distance from the ferry to the coach, from the coach to the hotel and to your bedroom. Porterage is not available but the hotel does have a lift.
Visiting Sark involves climbing up and down a number of steep steps from the quayside to the boat at both Guernsey and Sark. The number of steps each way depends on the tidal range at the time. Footpaths to some of the coastal historical sites are sandy and uneven.
The walking tour St Peter Port, includes a relatively steep hill which we will take at a gentle pace. The seafront is flat and there is lots to do if you don’t want to join the guided walk.

Do call Jacky to discuss in more detail.

Booking your place

Condor Ferries sailing dates and times will be confirmed in December 2024 when the company publishes its 2025 sailing schedule from Poole. The fast ferry doesn’t sail to Guernsey every day so the dates of this tour may vary a couple of days either side of the dates shown. Destinations will be finalised as soon as the ferry dates are confirmed.

Two people sharing a twin or double room is £1975 per per person. A supplement for sole occupancy of a double room is £125.

£100 non-refundable deposit is payable on booking. Full payment is due 10 weeks before departure.

Travel arrangements

Departing Shrewsbury 10.00 on Sunday 15 June. Depending upon the ferry crossing we could be arriving back in Shrewsbury around 00.30, early Saturday morning. All timings are provisional and will be confirmed 7-days before travel.

Roads on Guernsey are narrow and we will use a local coach company with smaller coaches that suit the driving conditions. The tour will therefore be limited to 35 passengers. Lakeside of Ellesmere coaches will look after us when we are in the UK.

And finally…

You do need to have your own travel insurance to cover you for any emergency or cancellation or loss of luggage etc.

We have an ‘All Weather Policy’ which means the tour will go ahead come rain or shine unless the Met Office announces it is unsafe to travel. You are advised to check the weather forecast and bring appropriate clothing and footwear.

Please look at the Hotel Information and Mobility & Accessibility sections further down this for information on venues.

The Peninsular Hotel

Peninsula Hotel, Les Dicqs, Vale, Guernsey GY6 8JP. E: info@peninsula.gg T: + 44 (0) 1481 248400

The Peninsula Hotel, situated on a peninsula on the north west coast of Guernsey, sits on a picturesque headland with beautiful views over Grand Have Bay from the front and the sands of Port Grat beach to the rear.

There is a lovely outdoor pool which is heated between May to September. There are also plenty of seating areas to sit outside and enjoy the quiet. The hotel does have a lift.

The Peninsula Bar Du Nord and Restaurant offer a unique dining experience with its with its nautical theme and doors wide open in the summer, bringing the outside in. Curated by Chef Rabie the menu is created using the best of locally sourced produce where possible.

Accessibility & Mobility Information

The pace of this tour will be relaxed, however there are some considerations regarding mobility. You will need o be able to:

Transfer your luggage a short distance from the coach to ferry check-in point where you will leave it for the duration of the crossing.
On arrival in Guernsey transfer your luggage a short distance from the ferry to the coach, from the coach to the hotel and to your bedroom. Porterage is not available but the hotel does have a lift.
Visiting Sark involves climbing up and down a number of steep steps from the quayside to the boat at both Guernsey and Sark. The number of steps each way depends on the tidal range at the time. Footpaths to some of the coastal historical sites are sandy and uneven.
The walking tour St Peter Port, includes a relatively steep hill which we will take at a gentle pace. The seafront is flat and there is lots to do if you don’t want to join the guided walk.

Do call Jacky to discuss in more detail.

A relaxing break in Guernsey & Sark, The Channel Islands

Tour Information

Express your interest in this tour by completing the form and we will contact you when bookings open September 2024.

So many customers have requested we visit Guernsey so last year we went to check it out. As soon as we got off the ferry we could see why!

Planned Itinerary

A lovely island location