Visiting Guernsey was one of many highlights throughout my current cruise aboard the Sky Princess. I used to be so excited to go to this lovely little island and get a style of island life.
Guernsey was the primary cease on my Sky Princess cruise. We departed from Southampton the earlier afternoon and awakened on the sunny shores of Guernsey.
You possibly can learn extra about my departure right here: Cruising from the UK and boarding the Sky Princess in Southampton
Guernsey has a small port so we wanted to take smaller tender boats from the ship to Albert Pier the place we have been welcomed with dazzling sunshine and a bustling Sunday market.
I immediately fell in love with Guernsey and I rapidly knew that visiting Guernsey for an extended journey sooner or later was on my bucket checklist.
The small island was a part of the Duchy of Normandy and is simply 48km from France so it has this lovely mixture of French class mixed with British attraction.Â
Guernsey felt virtually like being overseas however with the acquainted consolation of house.Â
It has British seaside vibes, solely just a little prettier, just a little hotter, bluer, clearer and just a bit extra thrilling for this British journey blogger who likes to go overseas!
I rapidly realised I might fortunately spend an extended weekend on Guernsey however we had simply 6-7 hours to go to Guernsey from a cruise ship, so each second counted!
The way to get round Guernsey when visiting from a cruise ship
You’ve gotten a few choices when visiting Guernsey from a cruise ship:
- E book an organised tour by way of the cruise
- Use the native bus service – which might be an incredible possibility however we visited on a Sunday when buses have been restricted. I like to recommend utilizing Google Maps to navigate the native buses.
- Take an area tour
- Rent a motorbike (simply bear in mind that the island is hilly and a few roads are slender)
- Take a taxi
- Take a tuk tuk! (extra on that under)
The primary concern when visiting Guernsey from a cruise ship is that you must be again to the ship on time! In the event you’re late, the ship will go with out you! So simply bear that in thoughts and don’t go too far off the crushed path.
I used to be visiting with my buddy, Jen, and we determined to rent a tuk tuk to see the close by highlights.
Tuk tuks from Tuk Tuk Guernsey have been ready on Albert Pier after we bought off the shuttle boat and we hopped straight in with our information, Tim. The usual tour travels round St Peter Port however we additionally wished to see The Little HCapel, so we requested to increase our tour to go to the chapel too.
This made the tour 1 hour and 45 minutes and value £90 for each of us.
We have been in a position to pay by way of card and the tuk tuk had a moveable roof and blankets within the again in case it bought chilly. Fortunately, it was a good looking day and we beloved breezing across the streets of Guernsey with the roof down.
What to do in Guernsey
There are such a lot of issues to do in Guernsey. I’m going to start by sharing what I did and add a few further choices on the finish.Â
Guernsey’s Victorian Baths
We started by visiting La Valette, Gurney’s Victorican bathing swimming pools. These historic swimming swimming pools have been in use since 1865. They’re submerged within the sea and so they’re flushed out with contemporary water twice a day at excessive tide.
The swimming pools have been lately renovated and a big cafe and altering rooms have been added.
Throughout our current scorching summer season (summer season 2022) the water within the swimming pools even reached 20 levels C, which could not appear so much in the event you’re visiting from overseas however for us Brits that’s positively tropical!
Mignot Plateau
Our second cease was Mignot Plateau the place we loved unimaginable views throughout St Peter Port and the harbour. This was a beautiful place to start and get our bearings and we might even see throughout to the close by islands of Sark, Jersey and we might nearly see France!
Fermain Bay
We whizzed previous Victor Hugo’s home (who famously wrote Les Miserables throughout his 15 12 months keep on the island) earlier than visiting Fermain Bay, which was not solely a good looking pebble seashore however a surprising drive down a steep, tree-lined lane. You really want a allow to drive down this steep hill so this was the place the tuk tuk was an enormous benefit!
This felt like an actual hidden gem and a world away from St Peter Port.
The Little Chapel
The Little Chapel was our subsequent cease and was my private spotlight when visiting Guernsey. I’d come throughout this tiny shrine after I learn the novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The chapel didn’t make it into the movie adaptation of the ebook, which appears a disgrace as a result of it’s such a dainty but unimaginable masterpiece.
The Little Chapel is someplace between a tiny church and a grotto. From a distance you may virtually consider that it’s full measurement nevertheless it’s truly tiny!Â
Constructing of the chapel started in 1914 by Brother Déodat however that is truly the third model of the chapel. Brother Déodat constructed the primary nevertheless it was criticised by his brother so he rapidly knocked it down and began once more. His second model of the chapel stood for just a few years however Brother Déodat was mortified when the Bishop of Portsmouth came over and couldn’t match by means of the door! Brother Déodat rapidly knocked it down and commenced a brand new chapel with a much bigger door, which is the completed chapel we see at this time.
It’s fantastically embellished utilizing fairly pebbles and bits of damaged china. Throughout development, Brother Déodat truly referred to as for donations of damaged china and he was inundated with containers of China from everywhere in the world.
The Little Chapel was just a little out of the best way nevertheless it was effectively value making the additional effort to go to it.
Church Sq.
Subsequent up we drove by means of the gorgeous Church Sq. which seemed so fairly embellished with bunting and flags.
Our tuk tuk driver, Tim, identified a document breaking pub and church within the British Isles. Look out for this pub and church whose shut proximity makes this the closest pub to a church in all of Britain! Hold your eyes peeled for the gargoyle on the prime who ensures the 2 buildings are simply inches aside.
Lunch at Octopus
We left our tuk tuk and strolled over to Octopus, a seaside restaurant only a brief stroll alongside the coast.
The setting for this restaurant is perfection and we loved fish and chips with crisp glasses of rose.
Sunday market
Whereas we have been visiting Guernsey we have been fortunate sufficient that a big and bustling market was arrange. One part was crammed with native crafts whereas the second part was reserved for meals, drink and native musicians. It was a superb alternative to attempt some native meals and take in the environment.
We then had a stroll alongside the coast earlier than returning again to the ship however there are many different issues you are able to do when visiting Guernsey from a cruise ship.
What to do when visiting Guernsey from a cruise ship
That’s what I bought as much as when visiting Guernsey however if in case you have just a little extra time then listed below are another nice issues to do in Guernsey.
Go to Guernsey’s seashores
There are many lovely seashores on Guernsey. I hear Cobo Bay is without doubt one of the greatest!
Go to the neighbouring islands
It’s fast and straightforward to hop on a ferry to one in every of Guernsey’s neighbouring islands. Many individuals hop on over to Sark which is a 50 minute ferry journey away and is thought for its white, sandy seashores. Sark is usually thought-about to be the nicest of the Channel Islands and appears lovely.
Go to (and climb) Victoria Tower
Whereas we noticed Victoria Tower from our tuk tuk tour, we didn’t have time to climb to the highest.
That is the place you’ll get one of the best views within the metropolis nevertheless it’s additionally an uncommon one as a result of you must accumulate the keys from the museum in Candie Gardens!
There are 99 steps to the highest and also you’ll take pleasure in unimaginable views over Guernsey.
Wander round Candie Gardens
The Victorian Candie Gardens are spectacular and so they’re only a brief stroll from St Peter Port. The gardens have been established in 1894 and so they’re nonetheless free to enter at this time.Â
Go to the German Underground Hospital
The German Underground Hospital was the most important WW2 construction on the island. There are 75,000 sq. toes of tunnels and it’s a eerie and heartbreaking place to go to however a significant reminder of the German occupation on the island.
