Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2013 | Page 114
FOOD
A bit of Island
hopping
Inevitably comparisons are drawn
between the Isle of Wight and the two
major Channel Islands of Guernsey and
Jersey. All have beautiful sandy beaches,
stunning countryside and the close-knit
communities you tend to find away from
the hustle and bustle of the mainland.
So I opted for a short break to Guernsey
to see what the Island, which is around
12 miles long with an area of 24.3 sq
miles, and is home to around 70,000
locals, really has to offer.
Perhaps its biggest advantage compared
to the Isle of Wight is its international
airport, making it extremely accessible
from all parts of Britain and beyond.
Although it is some 80 miles from
the south coast, trips to and from
Southampton Airport take little more
than half an hour. British passports are
not required to visit Guernsey, but it is
just as easy to take one as photo ID is
required to obtain boarding passes.
Low-cost regional airline group
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Flybe operate up to 26 return flights a
week from Southampton to Guernsey,
including up to four return flights a
day. Timings can be found on the Flybe
website. Lead-in prices are from a little
as £29.99 one-way, including taxes and
charges for a 28-day Advance Purchase.
Because of its size, nowhere in Guernsey
is that far away, so within a few minutes
of landing I was at my hotel in the small
town of St. Martins. Although there are
not as many guest houses on Guernsey
as there used to be there is still a good
selection, while a single room at a threestar hotel can be found for about £60 per
night.
Guernsey’s capital, St Peter Port is a
picturesque town, with its cobbled streets,
seafront marina, eclectic mix of shops,
and ample restaurants, cafes and bars.
On a hot, sunny day there are ample
opportunities to sit outside with a coffee
or beer and watch the world go by at
Guernsey pace. And just a few hundred
Peter White visits
Guernsey to discover
why it remains such
a popular holiday
escape.
yards out to sea is Castle Cornet, which
has stood guard over the town for some
800 years.
Saturday nights in St Peter Port are
vibrant and fun, and the following
morning it is nice to walk along the
seafront, browsing the street market, to
the backdrop of music from local bands,
groups and individuals cascading off pub
and cafe balconies. Maybe something a
number of Isle of Wight hostelries should
consider on a more regular basis.
Just as on the Isle of Wight, the
population soars during the summer
months with the arrival of tourists. Those
who wish to hire cars will find a blue and
white H sign plastered on the bonnet,
probably to let the locals know who to be
courteous to on the road.
Talking of roads, they tend to be narrow
and very busy. As I mentioned, nowhere
is very far away in Guernsey, but you
still need plenty of time to get there!
However, don’t be surprised to see a car