The stunning UK island that feels more like the Med – with golden sand and amazing seafood

I had always thought that a holiday in Guernsey was only for the Blue Rinse Brigade.

And while this beautiful island is popular with slightly older tourists, I gotta tell you now they definitely have something on the trail.

5

With its turquoise waters, golden sandy beaches and incredible scenery, Guernsey ticks all the boxes for a superb family holiday.

I traveled in April with my husband Nick and three children, Jacob (eight), Olive (six) and Ivy (two).

And I couldn’t understand why I’ve never been there before and why more families don’t do the same.

First, there is no need to lug the kids on an airplane.

You can avoid the hassle of the airport and reach it in under three hours by ferry from Poole, Dorset.

If you forgot to renew your passport before the strike action, there’s good news too, because you don’t need one to get there.

We continued on to the Condor Liberation ferry with our car loaded with all the kids stuff, which is a much more relaxing way to travel than by plane.

In the Horizon lounge, which costs from £7.50, we had a table seat with sun loungers and a bar serving snacks and drinks as well as Costa coffee.

Upon arrival in St. Peter Port, you will be greeted by turquoise waters and a picturesque harbor more reminiscent of the Mediterranean than the UK.

Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands and covers an area of ​​just 30 square miles – you could walk around it in just 45 minutes.

It’s an oasis of quaint villages, rugged coastline and beautiful, picturesque beaches.

At the northeasternmost tip is Pembroke Beach, with its pristine, endless white sands and balmy winds that make it a popular spot for windsurfers and yachtsmen.

Also on this stretch is the excellent Beach House café, which looks rather plain from the outside but serves fantastic dishes – including the best seafood chowder on the island – to devour while overlooking the bay.

Another popular family beach spot, Cobo Beach is great for paddling and exploring rock pools.

In fact, there are endless bays and crab fishing opportunities all around the island.

Extraordinary landscape

We stayed two and a half miles from Cobo Beach at the three-star Hotel Les Rocquettes – a former country mansion that now has more than 50 rooms, as well as a pool, gym, sauna, steam room and award-winning restaurant.

Located just 20 minutes’ walk from St. Peter Port, the hotel is an ideal base for exploring the island.

Whether you’re interested in history or not, the 800-year-old Castle Cornet is a must-see, with costumes for children and soldiers firing cannons at midday.

There’s also Oaty and Joey’s Playbarn, one of the best soft play areas we’ve been to, with ball pits, great slides, and arcade games.

Another highlight was the Pirate Bay Adventure Golf, just a ten minute drive from the port.

Named 19, the restaurant also offers great family-friendly dishes.

Meat lovers should head to The Slaughterhouse, a top restaurant on the edge of Guernsey Harbor serving burgers, steaks, chicken and ribs – all with sea views.

If the extraordinary scenery gets you somehow bored, there is much more of it on the island of Herm.

The 20-minute ferry ride between Herm and St Peter Port Harbor costs just £9 per adult each way (£4.50 for children; 75p under twos).

The kids were amazed to see a pod of dolphins dive in and out of the water along the way and Olive, five, tells everyone it was the best part of our week.

Only 60 people live on Herm and cars are banned, making for a relaxing stroll along the stunning coastal path to Shell and Belvoir beaches on the east side of the island.

But the real reason to visit is for the seals and puffins that can be seen in the sea or on the sandbanks of The Humps off the northeast corner of the island.

Unfortunately we weren’t lucky this time.

Well, that’s just an excuse for another visit!

5

5

5

5