Cruises from Guernsey

One of the beautiful Channel Islands, the island of Guernsey is located in the English Channel between the southern shore of the United Kingdom and the northern shore of France. The island chain is actually within the bay of St Malo, 70 miles from Britain and 30 from France.

Even though the island chain is geographically closer to France, the island of Guernsey is still loyal to the United Kingdom. This loyalty goes back to the days of William the Conqueror and the Normans when the Channel Islands were first claimed for Britain. Guernsey is a self-governing and independent island that benefits well from its association with its neighbour. When visiting the island, you will be able to use British pounds there, but the island’s currency is not usable anywhere else. Its economy is primarily fishing, flower growing, and dairy farming, and there are a few light industries, offshore banks, fund managers, and insurance companies also established there.

Guernsey truly is a mixture of stunning scenery and modernisation, spreading perfectly across the island. From one beach coast to the other, visitors will be mesmerised by the different types of landscape that can be seen in such a small space. The middle of the island rises up into a nice range of cliffs and vegetation that is surrounded by over 100 miles of sandy beaches and dunes, rock pools, coves, harbours and cliff walks. The interior holds small lanes and private gardens, nature reserves, and over 449 flowering plants that bloom all year round, even in the winter.

Guernsey’s unique island environment provides visitors with plenty to do. From walking the beaches and enjoying the waters of the Atlantic Ocean to taking in the stunning scenery along the cliff walks, there is a lot to see! The cliff-side paths run for approximately 28.5 miles and that’s not including paths along the bays, the common roads, or the many rural lanes. Walking around Guernsey provides you with a chance to see semi-tropical plants and the picturesque town of St Peter Port, the island’s capital. From April to September there are guided walks available and off-season guides can be arranged as necessary.

St Peter Port itself is an interesting place to visit and it is the premier port of the Channel Islands. Many have influenced the city and the architecture of the buildings truly shows it. Visitors can enjoy shopping for a variety of items including jewellery, perfume, electronics, and clothing, and if you are a collector of antiques, you will want to browse the stores in the Old Quarter. You will also enjoy the wide array of restaurants in St Peter Port, and the food is as varied as the architectural influences. The city also has an active nightlife, but spending time along the beach and watching the sunset is an alternative to club hopping.

The island has its own museum and art gallery as well as a museum chronicling the German occupation of the island from 1940 to 1945. The unique telephone museum is located here and it chronicles the life of the telephone up to the present day, including mobile telephones. Visitors can also explore the many different animal and wild bird sanctuaries on the island or for a slightly different taste of island living, visit one of Guernsey’s neighbouring islands for a beautiful day trip.