Channel Islands - Jersey with Leo, Naomi, Toni & Dave

 Channel Islands - Jersey

Our firs stop was to St Helier, Jersey's lively capital, to explore its charming streets, shops and historic buildings. There was plenty of time for browsing and souvenir shopping, with everyone finding something to take home. With the sunshine continuing, we stopped for a refreshing drink before making our way to the famous Jersey ice cream stall. It would have been rude not to! Everyone chose their favourite flavour, and we found somewhere to sit together and enjoy our treats in the sunshine.

Our sightseeing at the Maritime Museum and Occupation Tapestry Gallery. This was a fascinating visit, bringing Jersey's seafaring heritage and its experiences during the Second World War to life. The Occupation Tapestry was particularly moving, illustrating the hardships faced by islanders during the German Occupation. We also learned about the historic Pomme d'Or Hotel, which served as German naval headquarters during the Occupation. Today, it overlooks Liberation Square, where celebrations take place every 9th May to commemorate Jersey's liberation in 1945.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a leisurely walk along the promenade, taking in the lovely coastal views and fresh sea air.

One of the biggest highlights of our holiday was our full-day guided tour of Jersey. We made our way to Liberation Square, where our knowledgeable guide Tony met us and took us on a fascinating journey around the island. Jersey may be relatively small, but there is an incredible amount to discover. We began by exploring the area around St Helier, passing beautiful Victorian houses and an old open-air swimming pool before travelling along the coastline and admiring the spectacular Bay of St Malo. Tony explained that the island experiences some of the biggest tidal ranges in Europe, with the sea rising and falling by an astonishing 12 to 16 metres. It was fascinating to see just how dramatically the coastline can change. As we continued towards St Clement, we spotted the historic round coastal defence towers, built in the late 1770s. We also learned about Jersey's unusual policing traditions, including the honorary police officers who still serve each parish, and discovered that the island once had both land-based and sea-based pirates! 

Our journey continued along the dramatic eastern coastline before arriving at Gorey Pier, where we enjoyed a lovely wander, took photographs and browsed the souvenir shops. Heading inland, Tony pointed out Elizabeth Castle in the distance overlooking St Aubin's Bay. We also learned about Jersey's famous red squirrels and the clever rope bridges installed above some roads to help them cross safely. There were plenty of interesting local discoveries along the way, including the famous Jersey cows with their beautiful large eyes and long eyelashes, and the island's much-loved Jersey Royal potatoes.

After a relaxing lunch and a little more souvenir shopping, we continued to the spectacular Corbière Lighthouse. Despite the strong coastal winds, we managed plenty of photographs of this iconic landmark. Our final stop was St Aubin's Bay, where we enjoyed another refreshing drink and some time relaxing on the beach.

Our next excursion took us to the rugged west coast of Jersey and the windswept St Ouen's Bay, home to the fascinating Jersey War Tunnels Museum. Built deep inside an enormous concrete bunker constructed during the German Occupation, the tunnels offered a powerful insight into one of the most difficult periods in the island's history. As we explored the underground passages, we discovered hundreds of artefacts, photographs and personal stories that helped bring wartime Jersey to life. It was a moving and thought-provoking experience, giving everyone a much greater understanding of what islanders endured during those challenging years.

Another beautiful sunny morning greeted us as we enjoyed breakfast and discussed our plans for the day. We decided to return to St Aubin's Bay for a little more shopping and sightseeing before heading off to one of Jersey's most famous historic attractions – Elizabeth Castle. Situated on a rocky islet just off the coast, the castle has defended Jersey for more than 400 years. But getting there was all part of the fun! Rather than taking an ordinary boat, we boarded one of Jersey's famous amphibious Ducks, which can travel both on land and water. It was certainly an unusual way to reach a castle, and everyone enjoyed the experience. Once inside, we discovered a fascinating world of history, with costumed characters bringing the past to life. We explored the castle grounds, climbed into the turrets, wandered along the causeway and enjoyed some spectacular views across the surrounding sea.

The sunshine was still wonderful, so we made the most of the afternoon with another relaxing visit to the pool.

Our next day was all about wildlife as we headed off to the famous Jersey Zoo, founded by the renowned naturalist Gerald Durrell. With the sun shining brightly, it was the perfect day to explore the zoo and discover some of its wonderful animals. We began by admiring the playful otters and elegant flamingos before moving on to see the gorillas and orangutans. The tiny marmoset monkeys were particularly entertaining, watching us curiously through the glass and providing plenty of opportunities for photographs. After a relaxing lunch in the zoo café, we continued exploring the reptile house, where we discovered an amazing variety of colourful frogs, including some striking golden and bright blue varieties. We also visited the beautiful butterfly house, where delicate blue butterflies fluttered gracefully all around us.

Our final full day of sightseeing began with a visit to the Jersey Military Museum, where we discovered even more about the island's wartime history and the experiences of those who lived through the German Occupation. The displays of military vehicles, uniforms, weapons and personal stories made for another fascinating visit. Next, we crossed the road to Jersey Pearl, one of the island's best-known jewellery attractions. Inside, we were greeted by beautiful displays of sparkling pearl jewellery and elegant collections. There was plenty to admire, and everyone enjoyed browsing the different pieces.

                                                                

With crystal-clear water and beautiful golden sand, it almost felt as though we had been transported to the Caribbean! Many of the group enjoyed paddling and swimming in the sea, making the most of the wonderful weather. Vicky was certainly the bravest of us all, diving straight into the water and even swimming underwater!