Showing posts with label Guernsey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guernsey. Show all posts

Friday, 26 August 2016

Book a walk on Guernsey

THE GUERNSEY AUTUMN WALKING FESTIVAL (September 3-18) will offer visitors a choice of more than 50 morning, afternoon, and evening guided walks to explore the island –and Herm – and learn from local experts about their history and attractions.

Organised by Bailiwick of Guernsey Guild of Accredited Guides, the walks range from rambles through the island’s interior scenic landscape to exploring the rugged coastal paths.

Prices start from £7 per person per walk and are led by Guernsey’s gold and silver accredited guides. The walks vary in difficulty and length (ranging from one to six hours) and are suitable for all ages and abilities.

Examples of walks include:

Coast to Coast – East to West – The guide takes visitors across the length of the island from Jerbourg in the south-eastern tip to Lihou Island in the west, passing quiet green lanes and Ruettes Tranquilles – Guernsey’s network of rural roads. Price: £15, Ability level: Ramble, Length: 11 miles.

Ready or Not – This walk explores the island’s 18th and 20th century fortifications, traversing Houmet headland through the eyes of Captain Basset who was overseeing fortification of the headland at the end of the 18th century under the threat of invasion by the French. The guide will also cover the occupation of the island by the Germans in WW2. Price: £8, Ability level: Amble, Length: 1.5 miles.

Where the Sea No Longer Reaches – The guide invites visitors to uncover what Georgian troop movements, leprosy, burial chambers, German railway and labour camps, salt extraction, the Battle of Hastings, rabbits, and carp have in common in a circular walk that traces the old western shoreline of the Braye du Valle before the two islands of Guernsey were joined in 1805. The walk includes the La Garenne d’Anneville nature reserve. Price: £8, Ability level: Medium, Length: 4 miles.

Herm Above & Beyond – Herm Island resident Lesley Bailey will lead a walk around the northern part of Herm, visiting areas not normally accessible to the public. The walk offers the chance to hear stories about life on Herm and enjoy the views looking back to Guernsey and out to sea. Price: £8, Ability level: Ramble.

Pre-booking is advised to guarantee a place. For more information on accredited guides and individual walks, go to www.guernseyguidedtours.com.

Getting to Guernsey: Direct flights to Guernsey operate year-round from London City, Gatwick and Stansted, as well as many regional UK airports with Aurigny (www.aurigny.com), Blue Islands (www.blueislands.com) and Flybe (www.flybe.com). Condor operates ferry services from Poole and Portsmouth, and takes approximately three and seven hours respectively.



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Saturday, 13 August 2016

Guernsey Food Festival programme grows

MORE events have been added to the #Guernsey International #FoodFestival programme (September 23-October 2). 

The ten day festival celebrates the quality and variety of island food with Guernsey’s producers and chefs combining forces to showcase produce and cuisine from Guernsey, Alderney, Herm, and Sark.

With its full programme of events, promotions, and local markets, there will be opportunities to sample the one-of-a-kind gastronomy which has grown from the archipelago’s geographical position between England and France, allowing it to fuse English and French cuisines.

Latest confirmed events include:

Cigars, Cocktails and Canapés (September 23) – Ziggurat, Guernsey’s Moroccan-themed hotel and restaurant, hosts an early evening reception on its terrace with views of the island’s capital and out to sea. Tickets are priced at £35. www.hotelziggurat.com

Dinner with Jean-Christophe Novelli (September 23), St Pierre Park Hotel – Chef and restaurateur Jean-Christophe Novelli returns to the festival for the second year, joining forces with chef Tony Leck of The Pavilion at St Pierre Park Hotel. The chefs will work together to create a special menu to be served at a gala dinner. Tickets from £50 to £75. www.thepavilion.co.gg

The Big Guernsey Market (September 24-25), Crown Pier, St Peter Port –
This will be the festival’s focal point in St Peter Port featuring stalls from local producers and chefs. The market incorporates the Children’s Food Festival, where little foodies can get hands-on with local produce. Guernsey’s chefs will be on the Live Food Show stage to showcase their culinary skills, alongside guest chefs from France, India, the UK, and the US, who will talk through the step-by-step preparation of their dishes before giving the opportunity to sample tasters. Free entry. www.visitguernsey.com/event/big-guernsey-market

Beach BBQ Cook-Off (September 24-25), Crown Pier, St Peter Port –
Former Masterchef contestant and Aussie barbecue supremo, Kieron James, hosts the Guernsey Beach BBQ Cook Off at St Peter Port’s Live Food Stage, where local chefs compete to produce the tastiest barbecue dish. The winner is decided by the audience, which gets to sample the meats and judge the chefs’ dishes. Free entry. www.visitguernsey.com/event/beach-bbq-cook

Guernsey Gourmet Bus Tour (October 1) Island wide – This whistle-stop tour of Guernsey’s producers goes behind-the-scenes at some of the island’s leading food and drink makers and includes a two-course local produce lunch. Tickets £65 from www.guernseytickets.gg

Wild Foraging Workshop (October 2) Rocquaine Bay – Wild Guernsey offers a festival workshop, taking budding foragers to gather wild food, taste it raw, and then transform the ingredients into a recipe worth remembering for a family picnic or dinner party. Foragers will learn to identify Guernsey’s sea herbs and vegetables and then sample a treat made up from the ingredients found on the tour. Tickets £20 from wildguernsey.wordpress.com

www.visitguernsey.com/food-festival


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Thursday, 21 July 2016

Those boots are made for walking … on Guernsey

THE #GUERNSEY AUTUMN #WALKING FESTIVAL launches in September, with more than 50 expert-guided walks. 

The festival (September 3-18) has morning, afternoon, and evening guided walks to explore Guernsey and its neighbouring islands and learn about their history and attractions.

The walks range from rambles through the island’s interior scenic landscape to exploring the rugged coastal paths. Led by Guernsey’s gold- and silver-accredited guides, they vary in difficulty and length (ranging from one to six hours).

Prices start from £7 per person per walk.

Getting to Guernsey …

Direct flights to Guernsey operate year round from London City, Gatwick, and Stansted, as well as many regional UK airports with Aurigny (www.aurigny.com), Blue Islands (www.blueislands.com), and Flybe (www.flybe.com).

Condor operates ferry services from Poole and Portsmouth, and takes around three and seven hours respectively. Return car ferries from Poole to Guernsey in September are from £190, carrying two passengers (www.condorferries.com).


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Sunday, 26 June 2016

Wildlife cruises to Guernsey


A TEAM from wildlife charity MARINElife has been training volunteers on board Condor Ferries ships as they prepare for a summer season of wildlife spotting on the cross-Channel service. 

Training to become Wildlife Officers for MARINElife, the volunteers will be on a number of day trips to the Channel Islands offered by Condor Ferries. Sailing from Poole to #Guernsey, the trips offer passengers the opportunity to see marine mammals and seabirds.

MARINElife is a Dorset-based research, education, and conservation charity conducting year-round scientific surveys of whales, dolphins, and seabirds.

Alicia Andrews at Condor says: ‘We’re delighted to offer MARINElife day trips to Guernsey this summer, and give our passengers this fascinating experience. There is a wealth of wildlife just waiting to be discovered on our sailing routes, and with a wildlife officer on hand, the trip will not only be enjoyable but also informative. We hope all our wildlife watching daytrippers have a wonderful day out and are delighted that these trips will also help to raise funds for MARINElife to continue this important work.’

MARINElife day trips with Condor Ferries will run on these dates from Poole to Guernsey on Condor Liberation: 

June: 23, 29

July: 7, 13, 18, 27

August: 1, 10, 16, 24, 30

September 8, 14, 22, 27

October: 6, 12, 21

Daytrip tickets cost £20 per person, which includes a £5 donation to MARINElife when booked online using the promotion code 'MARINE' at www.condorferries.co.uk/day-trips/view-marinelife-day-trips


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Tuesday, 17 May 2016

Guernsey’s Petit Train on track for May arrival 

#GUERNSEY is set to welcome a new visitor attraction – its own Petit Train – from the end of May 2016.

The on-road train service will tour sites in a seasonal, non-stop 35-minute narrated circuit operating from the island’s capital, St Peter Port.

Although initially aimed at cruise liner passengers, the French-made train is expected to appeal to all visitors of the island.

Tickets will cost £5 for adults and £3 for children.


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Tuesday, 3 May 2016

Novelli stars at Guernsey food festival


FOLLOWING his appearance in 2015, the award-winning chef and restaurateur Jean-Christophe #Novelli will return to #Guernsey for the island’s second international #foodfestival (September 23-October 2).

He will be on the island on September 23 and 24 to kick off the ten-day festival with a gala dinner and cooking demo.

On September 23, Novelli will join forces with Guernsey chef Tony Leck at his restaurant, The Pavilion, to create a menu to be served at a gala dinner that evening.

The following day, fans of the French chef can watch him action at a demonstration.

For more information on the Guernsey International Food Festival, go to www.visitguernsey.com/food-festival.



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Friday, 22 April 2016

Dates Announced for the 2016 Guernsey International Food Festival

THE #GUERNSEY INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL will return on September 23 to October 2, following the success of the inaugural event last year.

The festival will showcase the very best of island food, with promotions in restaurants and cocktail bars, live cooking demonstrations, cook-offs, chef masterclasses, gastronomic tours, and gala dinners.

Guernsey's island producers and chefs will combine forces to showcase exceptional produce and cuisine from Guernsey, Alderney, Herm, and Sark.

Getting there …

Direct flights to Guernsey operate year round from London City, Gatwick, and Stansted, as well as many regional UK airports with Aurigny (www.aurigny.com), Blue Islands (www.blueislands.com), and Flybe (www.flybe.com).

Return flights from London Gatwick to Guernsey with Aurigny in September 2016 are available from £100 per person.

Condor operates ferry services from Poole and Portsmouth. Return car ferries from Poole to Guernsey in September are from £190, carrying two passengers (www.condorferries.com). 


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Monday, 18 April 2016

British adventurer prepares for Channel Islands triathlon

ENDURANCE athlete and adventurer #LauraKennington will circumnavigate three of the #ChannelIslands in June in her own Channel Islands Triathlon, supported by VisitGuernsey. 

The 29-year-old British athlete will swim around Sark, kayak around Guernsey, and cycle around Jersey over three days in a challenge never before attempted.

Laura aims to inspire and encourage others to take on their own adventures, and to showcase Guernsey as a leading adventure sports destination.

Laura’s toughest challenge to date will begin on June 11 with the five-mile swim around the island of Sark, just off Guernsey’s east coast. The Channel Islands have one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world, and water temperatures in June expected to be around 12C/53.6F.

After circumnavigating Sark, Laura will kayak 28 miles non-stop around Guernsey on June 12, followed by a 45-mile cycle ride around Jersey on June 13.

www.lauraexplorer.com
www.visitguernsey.com


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Thursday, 17 March 2016

Channel Isles ready to celebrate heritage

THE full programme of events for the 2016 Channel Islands Heritage Festival across #Guernsey and #Jersey has been completed, featuring exclusive openings, guided walks, family adventures, and coastal tours from March 25 to May 10.

Marking the shared history of a group of small islands in the English Channel, the festival will take a maritime focus in celebration of the islands’ coastal significance and naval traditions. Across the islands, there will be 55 events and activities, 42 guided walks, four cycling tours, two coach tours, three boat tours, and 11 exhibitions.

The full list and details of all activities can be found in the comprehensive festival guide, available to download from VisitGuernsey.com at www.visitguernsey.com/sites/default/files/2016_channel_islands_heritage_festival_booklet.pdf

Among the latest events added to the programme are:

Resistance Nest Schonbucht Mitte
Belle Greve Bay Bunker – March 25 : Festung Guernsey, a group of local volunteers dedicated to restoring and preserving the island’s wartime defences, will be giving a guided tour of the German defences of Belle Greve Bay. Admission is free. www.visitguernsey.com/event/resistance-nest-schonbucht-mitte-1

 Seafarers coach tour
Liberation Monument, Guernsey – March 28-May 2: From famous admirals to Bordeaux, the fishing port that inspired Victor Hugo’s Toilers of the Sea, this day-long tour around the island delves into Guernsey’s maritime heritage. It will include visits to two working harbours, entry to La Vallette Underground Military Museum, the Shipwreck Museum at Fort Grey and lunch. The price is £55 per person. www.visitguernsey.com/event/seafarers-tours-coach-tours

The Sea Around Us – guided walk in Sark
Sark Visitor Centre – April 7 and 21, May 5: A two-hour guided walk on the island of #Sark, a 45-minute ferry from Guernsey, to explore the island’s fishing methods, local navigation, and pilotage, and the natural history of the archipelago’s seas and shores. The fairly easy stroll will finish at Pilcher Monument on the island’s west coast. The price is £4 for adults and £2 for children under 14. www.visitguernsey.com/event/sea-around-us-sark



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Picture Credit: www.flickr.com/photos/28370443@N08/21152051638">Sark</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">(license)

Sunday, 13 March 2016

Tickets on sale for the Victor Hugo in Guernsey Festival

TICKETS are now available for events in the first Victor Hugo in Guernsey Festival (April 2-10).

The festival celebrates the 150th anniversary of the publication of Toilers of the Sea, Hugo'novel inspired by and set on Guernsey, where he spent 15 years in exile from 1855.

The festival will explore some of the historic events that influenced the book and celebrate the writer’s life and work.

Exhibitions, paintings, talks, walks, films, performances, photographs, and a one-day seminar with four experts on Victor Hugo will all feature over the eight days, taking place at Guernsey landmarks, Hugo's favourite haunts, and places that provided the inspiration for Toilers of the Sea.

The Victor Hugo in Guernsey Festival is part of the wider Channel Island's Heritage Festival 2016 (March 25-May 10), which this year has a maritime focus, celebrating Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Herm, and Sark's relationship with their coastline and their seas.

Getting there … Return flights from London Gatwick to Guernsey with Aurigny during the Victor Hugo in Guernsey Festival are priced from £100. www.aurigny.com

Tickets for all events are available to purchase at www.Guernseytickets.gg. For more information on the festival, visit www.victorhugoinguernsey.gg 


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Friday, 11 March 2016

Kent tops trending UK & Ireland destinations list

TRAVEL search site momondo.com has done an analysis of its search data in order to make its UK domestic travel predictions for 2016. The data showed that domestic destinations accounted for 10% of all searches made on the site in 2015.

Kent topped the list of the seven trending destinations they expect to see growing in popularity this year. Waterford in Ireland and Dundee in Scotland came second and third respectively. Searches for Cambridge were up by 288%, Bournemouth by 200%, Guernsey by 149%, and Kerry by 89%.  

Lasse Skole Hansen at momondo.co.uk, said: ‘Our findings suggest that cultural breaks may be on the up for Brits. This is due to a rise in interest for specific domestic destinations known for historical tourism.

‘For example, in Kent, Canterbury was once itself a pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages. Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city, and Dundee in Scotland is home to the 15th century Broughty Castle. Cambridge is home to arguably the world’s best university.

‘It seems many Brits do still like a view, though, as scenic destinations County Kerry and Guernsey, which both boast striking coastal terrain, are both also trending destinations.’


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Picture Credit: www.flickr.com/photos/65272231@N00/10625980414">Cathedral in Canterbury</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin

Monday, 7 March 2016

Condor celebrates National Ferry Fortnight

CONDOR FERRIES is offering two-for-one day trips to #Guernsey – from Poole – as part of National Ferry Fortnight (March 5-19), meaning passengers pay £30 and can take a friend for free. 

Justin Amey, head of Marketing at Condor Ferries, commented says: ‘We’re delighted to be taking part in National Ferry Fortnight once again, and to offer customers an opportunity to enjoy a great day out with a friend or loved one for free.

‘Day trips are an ideal way to visit somewhere new, and with our special offer, we hope to encourage a new wave of passengers to try ferry travel for the first time and enable even more people to discover the delights of the Channel Islands.’

www.condorferries.com


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Sunday, 7 February 2016

Victor Hugo takes centre stage at Channel Islands Heritage Festival

THE 2016 Channel Islands Heritage Festival (March 25-May 10) marks the 150th anniversary of Victor Hugo’s novel, Toilers of the Sea, which was inspired by and set in #Guernsey on which island the writer spent 15 years in exile from 1855.

To celebrate the anniversary of the novel, the festival will run a series of commemorative events. 

These include a guided walk of Portelet, the fishing port that inspired Toilers of the Sea. The walk will include exclusive access to the roof of the iconic Guernsey landmark Fort Grey (locally known as the Cup and Saucer) and a visit to Hauteville House, the house in which Hugo wrote the novel.


‘Hugo’s Banquet’ is a six-course lunch for 200 guests with live music and drama performances. It will be held at Guernsey Market Buildings in St Peter Port to replicate a dinner given by Hugo for his friends at Hauteville House.

The Guernsey Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Club, the first amateur dramatics group to receive the amateur performing rights for Les Misérables, will be putting on a musical production of Hugo’s novel during the festival. 

The full list of events and activities can be found at www.visitchannelislands.com/heritagefestival

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Picture Credit:By Man vyi - own photo, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.By http://www.flickr.com/photos/91845206@N00/ - Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.

Monday, 18 January 2016

Family fun on the Channel Islands


THIS year’s #ChannelIslands Heritage Festival (March 25-May 10) will celebrate a group of small islands with a big history, offering five weeks of family-friendly events across Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Herm and Sark. 

There will be nautical tours of castles, towers, and lighthouses, guided walks, cycle rides, kayak adventures, and vintage bus tours.

Events include:

Land Sailing with Pure Adventure, Jersey 
April 2, 4, 8 and 23
The fresh winds and five mile stretch of beach along Jersey's St. Ouen's Bay offer perfect conditions for adrenalin-fuelled land sailing. Families can try out the sport and race each other around a triangular course. Land sailing is suitable for children over nine and costs £25 per adult and £15 for children. To book, visit www.purejersey.com

Island Explorers Treasure Hunt, Guernsey
Throughout the festival

With the help of an explorer's map, adventurers young and old are challenged to find clues across the island's historic sites. The map is free to download from the VisitGuernsey website and all completed treasure hunts that are returned to Guernsey Museum will receive a small gift and be entered into a prize draw. www.museums.gov.gg 

Through the Looking Glass – A Kayak Exploration of Jersey's Maritime Jungle, Jersey
March 28, April 4, 11, 18, 26 April, May 2


Families can explore one of Europe's most diverse marine ecosystems on a sea kayak tour and observe marine and bird life. All kit is supplied and beginners are welcome. The cost is £40 per adult and £27 for children. Advance booking is essential through Jersey Kayak Adventures - info@jerseykayakadventures.co.uk

Bunkers at Night – Evening Tour, Jersey
March 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5


Learn about Jersey's WWII heritage with a visit to various sites at night to light up Jersey's Military Heritage in a new way. The cost is £30 per adult and £15 per child aged 7-15. Booking is essential through Jersey War Tours - www.jerseywartours.com

Sea to Sea Cycle Tour, Jersey
March 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5


Families are invited to join local Blue Badge Guide Arthur Lamy on a cycle tour from St Helier along Jersey's south coast to Les Platons, on the north coast, which offers views of the nearby coast of France and the other Channel Islands.  Along the 15 mile route, the tour stops to discover dolmens, manor houses, and even where the Jersey Royal early potato was created.  The tour costs £15 per person.  www.arthurthebluebadgeguide.com


Beau Vallon Maritime Family Fun Day, Guernsey
May 1


A jam-packed day of activities including a pirate treasure hunt, free scuba diving taster sessions (age eight upwards), and maritime stalls. www.beauvallon.co.uk

www.visitchannelislands.com


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Wednesday, 28 October 2015

Guernsey wins cruise industry award

#GUERNSEY has been named Best UK Port of Call in the Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards. 

Taking the title from Liverpool, which won it last year, Guernsey was selected for its ‘substantial on-island developments to cater for cruise passengers and its rapidly increasing popularity as a port of call’.

Guernsey’s #cruise industry has seen strong growth in recent years, with a 74% increase in cruises over a four-year period from 2012 to 2015. While 62 liners tendered docked there in 2012, the total so far this year is 105.

The judges highlighted the port’s re-sited arrivals area – which now has free Wi-Fi and a welcome team for disembarking passengers – and a widening range of on- shore excursions.


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Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Eat out on Guernsey for a tenner

GUERNSEY will be holding its 18th annual Tennerfest from October 1 to November 11, when more than 170 restaurants on Jersey, Guernsey and its sister island Sark offer three course menus starting from £10 – £12.50, £15, £17.50, and £20 menus will also be available.
The special menus represent savings of almost 50% on normal prices and include Guernsey's fresh seafood and locally grown produce. 

Tennerfest is one of Guernsey's most popular foodie events with an estimated five million Tennerfest meals consumed since the festival began in 1998. More than 300,000 covers are served at each Tennerfest.

Restaurants participating offer menus focusing on Guernsey ingredients and specialties such as Guernsey Gâche, a fruit loaf often served with Guernsey butter; the traditional 'bean jar', a one pot meal cooked overnight and made of beans, pork belly, and onions, and Gâche Méléé, which is similar to apple cake. Guernsey-made cheese is also offered for dessert on many menus, along with locally-brewed beer and cider.

www.visitguernsey.com/event/tennerfest 

Looking to stay over and sample even more?  Try one of the beautiful apartments at La Pompe Country Apartments, Les Mouilpieds, St Martin.






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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49970491@N07/6378823015">Sweets</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

Sunday, 4 October 2015

Guernsey’s 10-year game plan for tourism

VISIT GUERNSEY’S marketing and tourism chief, Mike Hopkins, director, marketing & tourism, #VisitGuernsey, outlines the main goals of the island’s ten-year tourism strategy. 

Targets: ‘In 2015, we are aiming for 320,000 visitors with a GDP contribution of £4 million, rising to 350,000 (£14.8 million) in 2020 and 400,000 (£32.8 million) in 2025. Our vision is to be a top destination of choice, ensuring that every visitor is delighted with their trip to Guernsey.’

Cruises: ‘More than 110 cruise liners stop in Guernsey each year – that’s 130,000 passengers coming on shore to explore the island. It’s a market we are trying to target by encouraging these cruise visitors to come back for a holiday on the island at a later date.’

Getting there: ‘Most scheduled flights to and from Guernsey are operated by Guernsey-based airlines – Aurigny and Blue Islands – but UK-based Flybe operates services from many major gateways across the UK, too. In 2014, 60% of visitors travelled by air and 34% by sea. The new Condor Ferries three-hour service from Poole, Dorset, to Guernsey, operated by the Austal 102 trimaran is definitely good news for the island. We are also receiving more air charter services from European destinations such as Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. One of our key strategic aims is to evaluate new sustainable and competitively priced routes from the UK and Europe to the islands.’

Essential islands: ‘Our strategic aims broadly focus on strengthening the unique product offering of Guernsey and smaller islands such as Alderney, Sark and Herm. One focus will be to promote the entire Channel Islands experience through ‘better together’ messaging, demonstrating what all the islands have to offer. We also feel the island-hopping experience is a USP that is currently under-exploited.’

*Almost 90% of visitors to Guernsey are from just places: 70% from the UK, 11% from Jersey, and 8% from France. Approximately 5% of visitors are from Germany, and 1% from The Netherlands.


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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22446827@N02/7353938538">Nr Jerbourg Point on Guernsey</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Friday, 14 August 2015

Coming up on Guernsey …

Beachside outdoor cinema, August 25-31: The ultimate outdoor cinema experience hits Guernsey each summer with the Sure Big Screen at Cobo Bay, one of the island's best sandy bays on the west coast. The outdoor screen on the beach will show three to four films a day, with movies for children in the early afternoon, followed by family films in the evening and adult films later on. The screenings are free and good seating is on a first-come-first-served basis.

Guernsey Beer & Cider Festival, September 26-27: Guernsey is a small island but locals enjoy a multitude of locally-brewed beers and ciders, which can be enjoyed at the first Guernsey Beer & Cider Festival in the capital, St. Peter Port.

www.visitguernsey.com


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Picture Credit: "Little chapel (inside), Guernsey (1993)". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Sunday, 9 August 2015

A world on the move …

IRELAND’S Central Statistics Office reports that almost 3.9 million foreign tourists visited the republic in the first half of 2015, up by 11.7% on the same period last year. 

More than 1.6 million of them were from the UK, up by 9.4%, while numbers from the US and Canada rose by 15%.

VIENNA registered 6.3 million visitor overnights between January and June 2015 – 5.4 per cent more than for the same period in previous year and an all-time record. 

Vienna’s top markets in the half-year included Germany, the US, Italy, and the UK.
ST. LUCIA has seen a surge in holiday bookings, says the Expedia Group. Overall, demand increased by more than 20% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2015.

GERMANY recorded 27.1 million overnight stays by foreign visitors between January and May this year, a 4.1% increase on the same period last year. Tourists from the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Great Britain accounted for almost half of the increase.

GUERNSEY reports strong Q2 results, with the total number of staying visitors up 6.2% year-on-year. Total overnight stays were up 10.7% and the average length of stay increased by 4.3%. This follows healthy visitor numbers in Q1, which saw a 7.3% increase. From January to June, there was an overall increase of 6.5% – to 102,000 – in the number of staying visitors.


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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54238124@N00/1413904048">Lough Leane, Killarney National Park, Kerry, Ireland</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/33174580@N00/7337171826">Smugglers Cove</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/8851994@N05/3488379497">Vienna at Night</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Saturday, 25 July 2015

Garden delights . . .

COMBERMERE ABBEY ESTATE in Whitchurch, Shropshire, is hosting a series of Open Garden Afternoons this summer, providing a rare chance to see this privately-owned historic estate.

They will be held on August 26, and September 23.

Visitors will be able to explore the estate’s Victorian walled gardens and glasshouse, its pleasure garden and garden wood, fruit tree maze, and lake.

The estate’s team of gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and share tips.

Tickets are priced at £5. Gates will open at 1pm, with the last entry at 4pm. Dogs and picnics are not permitted.

The abbey was built in 1133 as a Cistercian monastery. Now a family home, it is a venue for weddings, corporate events, and has ten holiday cottages.
www.combermereabbey.co.uk


AN open-air gallery of contemporary sculpture in the grounds of a Georgian mansion is the centrepiece of the first of an occasional series of visitor trails published by Congham Hall Hotel, near King’s Lynn, Norfolk. 

The Magnificent Seven… Norfolk #Gardens – the hotel's illustrated trail – features the collection, which is on display at nearby Houghton Hall.

The 90-mile self-guided circuit of the seven gardens begins with Congham Hall's herb collection. Others include Gooderstone Water Gardens, a naturalistic re-interpretation of a wet meadow, and Sandringham Gardens, a chronicle of the changing tastes in horticultural design over the past 150 years.

The trail can be download online or obtained from the hotel's reception desk.
www.conghamhallhotel.co.uk



GARDENERS and walkers – and #gardeners who like walking – might be interested Adagio's Channel Isles walking tour of the gardens of Guernsey, Sark, and Herm.

Highlights include strolls in St Martin to #SausmarezManor with its sub-tropical gardens, a ferry ride to Herm to meet the head gardener for a private tour of the island's gardens, and a private tour of the #LaSeigneurieGardens on Sark, with its Victorian glasshouse, hedge maze, and stone walls.

The company’s UK manager, Amber Parish-Smith, says: ‘We couldn't miss out on visiting both the small islands of Sark and Herm for a day each. Traffic is prohibited on the islands, so horse-drawn carts, cycling, and walking are the ways to get around. It really does feel like you are stepping back in time when one visits these islands.’ 

Price are from £1,155 per person, including return flights, transfers, half board at a three-star hotel on Guernsey.   www.adagio.co.uk


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Picture Credit: Combermere clocktower by Espresso Addict - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Gooderstone Water Gardens, Gooderstone, Norfolk - geograph.org.uk - 794060 by David Mills. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Sark-aerial by Phillip Capper - Sark, Channel Islands, 17 September 2005. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons