Other Islands Take a trip to meet the neighbours

Island hopping

Take a trip to Jersey’s neighbouring islands and explore their individual beauty

Jersey is just one of eight inhabited Channel Islands, with Guernsey, Sark and Alderney all within easy reach by scheduled boat service or private RIB charter. If you have the opportunity to take a trip across the water to one of the other islands during your stay, do - you won’t be disappointed.

First up is Guernsey, the second-largest island after Jersey, which is renowned for its golden stretches of sand at Cobo bay, rugged coastline, rich history and a great range of places to eat. Top attractions include Castle Cornet, a 13th century harbour fortification in the capital St Peter Port, which houses history and military museums, and Candie Gardens, a stunning 19th century garden in the heart of St Peter that has spectacular views across the harbour to neighbouring islands.

Herm is just a short hop from Guernsey and is lovingly referred to by locals as the paradise island. With no cars, crowds or stress, this little island, measuring just three miles wide, is the perfect place to unwind. Visitors can enjoy its unspoilt beaches, explore the coastline and see breeding colonies of puffins, take in the view of the French coast, or visit Shell Beach.

Take a trip to Sark, nestled between Guernsey and Jersey, and step back in time. Like Herm, there are no cars on this island, but you can take a leisurely carriage ride around the island or hire a bicycle and explore it for yourself. Surrounded by dramatic cliffs, the coastline of Sark is a rugged mixture of

tiny bays and rock stacks, littered with offshore reefs and half-submerged pinnacles teeming with marine life.

Visitors to Sark can catch a scheduled boat ride from Guernsey or charter a private RIB boat through Jersey Seafaris or Island Rib Voyages which both offer a reliable service, comfortable boats and crew with plenty of experience of Channel Island waters.

There are several hotels on Sark, along with a reasonable selection of self-catering properties and a campsite. We would recommend

Jersey Seafaris

Sark’s stunning coastine

La Sablonnerie Hotel on Little Sark for visitors looking for tranquillity and scenic views. It also has its own mooring, ideal for those arriving by RIB direct from Jersey.

Alderney is known for its rich wildlife and miles of scenic walking trails and is home to the only working railway in the Channel Islands. Visitors to this small island will discover an ancient and varied history and an easy-going pace of life.

Les Ecréhous is a group of islands and rocks located just six miles north-east of Jersey and eight miles from France and is only accessible by Private RIB charter.

“Les Ecréhous is one of our most popular trips,” says Stef Stevens at Jersey Seafaris. “On a typical trip passengers will cruise around the reefs spotting birdlife, Atlantic grey seals and, if they’re lucky, bottlenose dolphins too.”

Les Minquiers, which, like Les Ecréhous, form a protected wetland site under the Ramsar Convention, are a group of rocks and islands situated nine miles south of Jersey and only accessible by private charter boat. Maîtresse Île is the largest island within Les Minquiers and is home to a small number of cottages, which are the most southerly buildings in the British Isles, and a wide variety of birds. The outer sandbank is perfect for paddleboarding, swimming and picnics.

Jersey has a lot to offer, but if you have the time do take the opportunity to visit the other Channel Islands – they’re well worth a look.