A new series of tours has launched on the Channel Island of Guernsey. The self-guided trails by Visit Guernsey allow visitors to explore the fascinating history of the island, which includes Napoleonic towers built to defend against the threat of French invasion, relics from World War Two and Neolithic burial chambers Guernsey is its own outdoor museum.
The guides are downloadable from www.visitguernsey.com and can also be found in the tourist office in the capital of St Peter Port and Rousse Kiosk in Le Grand Harve Bay, The Beachhouse at Pembroke and The Bella Luce Hotel.
The Guernsey tours also give practical information on the terrain and difficulty of the trails, as well as symbols to highlight points of interest and historic sites to look out for. There are also details of nearby bus routes and services if walkers decide they’ve filled their quota of miles for the day.
Example trails include:
Wild West
Starting at the most southerly beach, Portelet, and exploring the rugged south west coast, the trail heads north to Fort Grey, the site of a Martello tower then onto Lihou island – dramatically cut off from the mainland at high tide. The trail finishes at the site of one of the island’s most ancient sites; the Neolithic burial chamber Le Trepied Tomb – later used as a gathering place for witches!
The Historic North
This flat trail discovers the historic heartland of Guernsey. Starting at the 700-year-old Vale Castle, beside Bordeaux Harbour, the trail meanders around the northern coastline before finishing at Pembroke Bay, one of Guernsey’s most beautiful beaches.
