Guernsey Weekend

Recommended days	2
Budget	£
Difficulty	Easy

This was another trip under the guise of ‘work’. We did actually have quite a busy trip here but due to ferry timings we were able to get a couple of days for sightseeing. As we visited in February it was quiet which was lucky as the roads are generally B roads! The car was actually unnecessary as there is an excellent bus service that seems to visit all the main sites.

Guernsey

There is a lot of history on the island but the main sights we focussed on were the German occupation and the Martello towers. The island is very much like time travelling to 1950’s Britain, it really was an idealised view of British society. There may be a lot more to it but that was my impression from our fleeting visit. I think I read that the island is still almost a feudal state with several families having almost hereditary roles as the ruling People’s Deputies.

St Peter Port

We spent the afternoon wandering around St Peter Port and walking along the jetty to look at Castle Cornet. This was actually closed but it apparently has a nice history museum inside. It was very pleasant to wander around the town and enjoy the winter sunshine and sea air.

German Occupation Museum

The next morning we had a packed day of sightseeing so we headed off to the German Occupation Museum as soon as it was open. This was an excellent museum with the history of the occupation but also lots of personal stories that made it seem far more real. The impression given was that there was still a lot of bad feeling against those that were seen as collaborators.

Pleinmont Observation Tower

From here we drove to the Pleinmont observation tower. This was one of several huge German towers built for spotting and observation for the shore batteries. There was quite a lot to see with some of the battery pits, accommodation blocks and other emplacements all part of the museum.

Fort Grey

Our next stop was Fort Grey. This was a Martello tower that has now been adapted as a shipwreck museum. It was a pleasant place to have lunch on the beach and is apparently a lovely place to watch the sunset.

Fort Houmet

Our last stop before heading back to St Peter Port was Fort Houmet and its nearby Martello tower. This was another extensive series of fortications ranging from the 17th century through the Victorian era and onto the German occupation.

We then headed back to the hotel for dinner and the next day was work and the ferry home. It was a fantastic Guernsey weekend and lovely that in one day we managed to see most of the highlights of the island. I’m still tempted by the island hopping passages the ferry companies do so you can visit Jersey, Guernsey and St Malo and have a day in each.

2012