Catching the Fast Cat Condor from Poole this Monday - Campsite is booked and we plan to use our bikes or catch the Bus any recommends ? Planning a trip to Sark but would welcome anything from Pubs, to Beaches, Monuments etc
Pleinmont point (scuse spelling) it's down on the South-west tip, nice hotel, two beaches and a castle on an island. The WW2 underground hospital is worth a visit too. Cream teas are better than Devon and please let me know if they still have the ancient public transport buses. Official Notice: The time in Guernsey is approaching 1976, you have a new vehicle there!
It's about 5 years since we last went but prior to that we were going 2/3 times a year. The beaches are excellent with Pembroke Bay to the North and Vazon Bay and Cobo Bay to the West being the best. There are also a number of little bays on the north and west coast all with heir own little café huts. Port Soif on the west coast is were the surfers go (strangely my Mrs was talking about this place today as where she wants her ashes scattering as it's so nice) There is a coastal path around the island for views and a number of museums and gun batteries relating WWII which are interesting. If weather poor the Beau Sejour leisure centre has got a very good pool. There is also a outdoor lido when the tide is out just south of St. peter Port. Best fish and chips on the island are at Cobo Bay and is lovely to watch the sun go down. Had to be done every visit. Petrol is cheap as they don't tax it as much as here. Parking a St. Peter Port is at the port and you used to have a card clock to park. These can be obtained from the Tourist Info just across the road from the port parking. Bit of warning though. Don't be tempted to turn left out of the port and go up Les Val Des Torres. They use this hill for hill time trial races with hair pin bends. Recce it first to see if you trust your brakes downhill or engine power going up hill. Also something we call 'Guernsey driving'. The roads can get narrow in places so the cars mount the low pavement and carry on. Sark is even more retro with the only transport being feet, bikes or a tractor taxi. Not a lot else to do here but worth a visit. We are thinking of going back for a few days in August so you will have to let me know what you think of the camp sites. Have a good trip.
please take plenty of pics and record relevant info, costs of campsites , ferry, fuel etc.........we are hoping to go next year Jersey or Guernsey. Have a great trip
Arrived back last night. I will post some pics up when I get a few spare minutes but for a quick resume here goes. Not an auspicious start and for which I blame the Germany v Argentina match - set the alarm for 4.00 am but left the phone on the sofa - woke up a at 4.45! Loaded the bikes , kids , dog, and Mrs J,and away 10 minutes later foot to the floor and arrived just as the Fast Cat was loading. Lovely crossing to St Peter Port and we were second vehicle off - arrived Ballotair Campsite 10 minutes later , pitched up and tea in hand one hour after that. There's just the three campsites on the island . No marked pitches so pick your spot and by UK terms it wasn't any where anything like full. Using the Route Tranquil we could hit Pembroke , Ladies Bay in 10 minutes - loads of others just as close. The sea is an incredible blue and the sand is just like that in the Western Isles - fab! Most beaches have a kiosk and the one that gets my five star rating is that on Rouse Beach - home made grub fantastically well made. KPMG are sponsoring Music gigs at Castle Cornet and we managed the one last Saturday - what a great night with Guernseys Peter Frampton not lookie likely! Hill Climb up the Valle Terrace is a must see for petrol heads from 8000 yards in 30 secs or less and hitting 100mph at the top - all free as is the beach racing on Ladies Beach. Lille Chapel, Underground Hospital are worth a look as are the many many forts old and new around the Coast - there are loads! We were really lucky with the weather so if you do go there I hope you are just as lucky. Would I go back? Probably not but many people do, the only reason for not doing so is because there are many other places we would like to see first. Costs are comparable to the UK but petrol is cheaper - not that you can drive that far. Talking to a local there are 65000 residents and 80000 cars on the island and it's only about 11 miles long! Downside - it's the thick end of £400 to take you're Bus over there and we never made it to Sark as they want knocking on £90 for the three of us ( foot passengers).
last time I was in Guernsey was with the band I used to play with...we had a rapper called Desnya, who was a full on Rastafarian....couldn't believe the amount of casual racism he received wherever we went...lovely place, aside from the rednecks..... and the Nazi sympathizers...
I have to admit this is what eventually put us off going to Jersey, the cost of the ferry. When you can get to France for less and if you head south you get better weather. Sounds good from your write-up though. If only the crossing was cheaper........
