Sea Sark Summer 2015
Things to do Where to eat What to see What’s Happening
The Isle of Sark Shipping Magazine 1
Sark Island Hall Open Monday to Saturday
Facilities include badminton, table tennis, snooker, pool & darts
The Sunflower CafĂŠ
Breakfast 9 - 11.30, Lunch 11.30 - 2.30 Afternoon teas until 4pm
Tea, coffee & cakes, delicious homemade soup, toasties, jacket potatoes & sandwiches
Evening meals
Wednesday & Saturday 6pm - 7.30pm, Friday 6pm - 8pm Specials - Friday nights, fish & chips Sautrday nights, pizza - both eat in or take away
The Maple Bar WiFi
Open Monday to Saturday until 10pm
Selling off sales 10am - 9pm Phone 01481 832666 to book or for more information Email info@sarkislandhall.co.uk 2
Inside This Issue Useful information 5 Dolphin Magic 6 Top 10 Things To Do 8 Exploring Sark 10 Walking on Sark 14 Creative Sark 16 Adventure Sark 17 A Year of Celebrations 18 La Seigneurie Gardens 20 Map of Sark 22 Eating on Sark 24 Rocquette Cider & the Sark Folk Festival 30 Events On Sark This Year 32 Sark Weddings 34 Staying on Sark 36 Seeing Stars on Sark 38 Exploring Little Sark 40 Our thanks to: Lydia Bourne Jan Guy Sally Hutchins La Sablonnerie
A Small Island Publication for the Isle of Sark Shipping Company Ltd
Sark Tourism Stocks Hotel Andrew Tortice
Photography & design by Sue Daly LRPS
To advertise contact marketing@sarkshipping.gg
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Welcome Aboard
Explore & Enjoy
Thank you for travelling with us and welcome to the Isle of Sark Shipping’s On Board Magazine, where you can find information about your stay on Sark. We are delighted to continue providing a vital role in transporting people and goods between Guernsey and Sark, as well as taking visitors on unforgettable holidays, uniting friends and loved ones. Owned by Sark islanders, our ferries carry over 45,000 passengers on up to 100,000 sailings each year. Isle of Sark Shipping is the only shipping company in the British Isles that belongs to those it serves. It is no surprise then that the sight of the tough little Bon Marin ploughing its way through the swirling winter seas off Bec du Nez or the sturdy Sark Viking coming alongside Maseline Harbour laden with cargo fills many Sarkese with pride. We are constantly looking to improve satisfaction, so please feel free to complete our On Board Customer Feedback forms or ask a crew member for details. Thank you once again for choosing to travel with us, enjoy your trip and we look forward to welcoming you onboard again soon.
Sark Tourism is delighted to welcome you to our beautiful and unspoilt island. Whether you are on a day trip or enjoying a longer holiday here, we hope you will be enchanted by Sark’s spectacular scenery and intrigued by our tranquil and unique way of life. There’s a great deal to enjoy in Sark this summer with an exciting range of events planned including the 70th anniversary of Sark’s liberation from the German Occupation at the end of WWII and 450 years since the creation of Sark’s first Seigneur, Helier de Carteret. You are, of course, invited to join us in celebrating these historic events. We also have a full calendar of other fun things to see and do including Sheep Racing, Wildflower Fortnight and the ever popular Sark Folk Festival. If it’s peace and quiet you are looking for then we also have plenty of that with a whole island drenched in natural beauty for you to explore. Please come and see us at the Visitor Centre for more information about all of our fascinating and exciting activities planned this year and let us help you get the most out of your stay. We hope you enjoy your visit to Sark and look forward to seeing you again.
From the Isle of Sark Shipping Company
From the Sark Tourism Team
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Useful Sark Information
Randalls at the Reins
Guernsey Ticket Office 01481 724059 Sark Ticket Office 01481 832450 Sark Tourism 01481 832345 Sark Constable (Emergency) 07781 101908 Sark Occupation Museum 07781 113386
Real ale fans are in for a treat thanks to Randalls of Guernsey taking over the popular Bel Air.
Sark Island Hall 01481 832666 Jimmy’s Carting Services 01481 832573
The Brewery group will be offering a regularly changing selection of real ales and the Bel Air will also be serving delicious home-made lunches, snacks and a full range of other drinks.
Useful Guernsey Information Island Taxis 01481 700500 Alpha Taxis 01481 244444 Hertz Hire Cars 01481 239516
Perfectly situated at the top of Harbour Hill, the pub and off licence provide an ideal place to start and finish a day in Sark - or you could simply stay in the sunny garden for the whole of your visit!
Guernsey accommodation - special rates for Sark residents at Les Cotils Call 01481 727793
Book Online at www.sarkshippingcompany.com
www.randallsbrewery.com
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On your journe y to Sark, in ad dition to the stunning views of St Peter Port , Herm and Sark, if you ke ep an eye out yo u may be lucky enough to catch sight of th e dolphins that are often seen in Sark w aters.
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Dolphin Magic Sark-based natural history photographer Sue Daly shares her thoughts on Sark’s most enchanting wildlife. With a whoosh of exhaled breath and a spray of salt water a dolphin erupts from the sea a yard from the boat then plunges back beneath the waves. I’m all fingers and thumbs with my camera. Another leaps on the other side of the boat, far too quickly for me to even aim the lens, but I’m left with a mental snapshot of an intelligent eye looking back at me and a mouth-line that so much resembles a smile. At the bow another two dolphins surf effortlessly just beneath the surface like pieces of the sea made solid. After a few minutes of magic though the dolphins regroup and almost as one take a vertical dive returning, presumably, to the important business of fishing. In the past both bottle-nose and common dolphins have occasionally been seen around Sark but over the last year bottle-nose dolphins seem to have made themselves very much at home here. George Guille has had passengers on his round the island boat trip almost falling overboard in their efforts to get closer, people canoeing with Adventure Sark have had dolphins almost within touching distance and passengers on the Isle of Sark Shipping Company’s inter-island ferries have had amazing views of these most endearing wild animals. Someone else asked me if I thought the dolphins were aware of the effect they have on us. If they do think about us at all I imagine they have us down as noisy imbeciles for the way we shout and point and jump up and down at the first sight of a fin or two. As if to prove my point the Sark Belle (below), packed with passengers inside and out, pulls away from Maseline Harbour and heads towards Point Robert. The dolphins appear from several hundred yards away and make a bee-line for the ship, the youngsters leaping clear of the water in their excitement. A combined shriek of delight erupts from the hundred and eighty passengers on board and, I suspect, the crew too as the sleek, grey missiles surf effortlessly alongside the ship and swirl in and out of the bow wave. Watching them, I can’t help but think that the dolphins are enjoying life around Sark as much as we are all enjoying having them here! ge to the The ima o ailable t left is av ter from pos buy as a Visitor a the S rk £7.50 rice Centre p
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Peer Through Window in the Rock
Take a Carriage Ride
The window was created by order of the Victorian Seigneur WT Collings to perfectly frame the stunning view of the west coast.
Your driver will take you to some of the island’s best view points and tell you all about Sark’s fascinating history and unique way of life.
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Cross La Coupée & Explore Little Sark
The tiny isthmus that connects Little Sark to the main island is simply stunning with views of Jersey from one side and Guernsey from the other.
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Picnic on the Gouliot Headland
Our Top 1 To Do O Explore Sark on a Bike
With very few hills and no cars Sark is perfect for pedal power. There are three cycle hire shops with tag-a-longs and trailers for children.
Sark’s first Ramsar Site, this spectacular headland is smothered in wildflowers in spring and summer and offers fabulous views all year.
Round The Island Boat Trips
with George Guille - the perfect way to see Sark’s seabirds, dolphins & caves Call George on 01481 832107 or 07781 112502
Sue’s Bed & Breakfast Make yourself at home!
Call 01481 832107 Email sueguille@hotmail.com
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Visit La Seigneurie Gardens
Discover the Buddhist Carving
Beautiful walled gardens, a maze and an exhibition explaining the history of Sark’s Seigneurs and Dames.
Carved in 2000 by Buddhist monks, this prayer written in granite is near the end of the wild and unspoilt Eperquerie Common.
10 Things On Sark 9
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Swim in Dixcart Bay
A great place for swimming, rock pooling, a picnic or just a paddle with sand uncovered as the tide retreats and a gracious rock archway.
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Discover Sark Henge
The 9 stones above Derrible Bay celebrate Sark’s 450-year long connection to Jersey and line up with key locations or positions of the sun.
Go to Prison
One of the smallest in the world, it has two cells but you’ll have to take our word for that because you can only go inside if you are arrested!
Sark Life
The magazine for people who love Sark Available at various outlets in Sark & the other Channel Islands or by subscription online.
We also have a growing range of books relating to Sark including our walking guide ‘Sark Strolls’
www.smallislandpublishing.sark.gg 9
Exploring Sark
Horse Power If there is one sound that perfectly captures the essence of Sark it must be the clip clop of hooves accompanied by the rumble of cartwheels and when you arrive at the top of Harbour Hill and see the horses and carriages waiting you know straight away that this island is different; a place where horse power rules the roads and mostly comes in single units. Of the forty or so horses on Sark at the moment just over half work for a living, pulling carriages of various sizes from two-wheeled buggies that carry a couple of passengers to the larger wagonettes and vans that take twelve. The gentle pace allows the driver plenty of time to point out the most interesting sights and talk about island life and the elevated seating position provides an excellent view over hedges and garden walls. Just as importantly,
a carriage ride gives anyone visiting Sark the chance to engage with someone who lives here, an opportunity lacking on a coach tour or other large, impersonal ‘visitor experiences’ offered elsewhere. A horse drawn carriage is also the perfect way to show royalty and other important visitors around the island and a night-time ride, with the carriage lit by oil lamps, is a magical way to visit a favourite restaurant. For weddings too this most traditional form of transport is ideal. Both horses and carriages are beautifully turned out and trimmed with ribbons and fresh flowers and custom dictates that the bride and groom are driven along the Avenue after the knot is tied, whichever direction their reception lies. The working season for the horses starts gradually as the spring weather improves and visitors start returning, building to a peak in July and August. In autumn the horses continue working as long as there are visitors but at the end of the season their shoes are removed and they are turned out into their fields. Although their owners still have plenty of work to do feeding and caring for their four-legged employees, winter is a time for the horses and their drivers to take a wellearned rest.
Above - Cooling off in Creux Harbour after work
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Horse and carriage tours start and finish from the top of the Harbour Hill. There are two sight-seeing tours on offer: a one-hour tour taking in the north of Sark, or a twohour tour which covers the north of the island and then goes south to La Coupée. Most tours stop at La Seigneurie Gardens. If you are not with a tour group ask any driver if they are available. Prices can vary depending on the tour, so check before setting off. It is also possible to pre-book a carriage trip by contacting them before you arrive. The drivers will also do private tours and night taxis by prior arrangement. Fred Bracewell - 07781 462749 Rossford De Carteret - 07781 405470 Philip Perrée - 07781 106058 Danny Wakely - 07781 113386 Stocks Hotel - 01481 832001 Carriage rides to Little Sark - 01481 832061
See Sark on a Bike
AVENUE CYCLE HIRE LARGEST SECLECTION OF CYCLES ON THE ISLAND CHILD TRAILERS, TAGALONGS & CHILD SEATS FAMILY DISCOUNT AVAILABLE
01481 832102 avenue.cycle.hire@cwgsy.net www.avenuecyclessark.co.uk Avenue Cycles, The Avenue, Sark, GY10 1SF 11
Exploring Sark
Pedal Power
On a small island without cars there’s no better way to explore than by pedal power. Given a single day and a set of wheels you can cover the island from one end to the other. The lanes are not tarmacked but the gravel surface makes the going easy and there are few hills to slow you down. A bike gives you the freedom to go where you want, when you want and stop off wherever takes your fancy. The distance between the beautiful Eperquerie Common at the northern most tip of Sark to the coast of Little Sark on the south of the island is just three and half miles with fabulous scenery to enjoy along the way. From east to west the island is just a mile and half wide with stunning views
over Point Robert lighthouse and Maseline Harbour on one side and the gorgeous Gouliot headland on the other. There are few restrictions on where you can ride your bike, just the Harbour Hill and on the Coupée for safety reasons, and there are plenty of parking areas for you to leave your wheels and explore the smaller paths on foot. But cycling on Sark isn’t just for visitors. For those who live here it’s a way of life and you’ll see locals carrying all sorts of things on their bikes. Gardeners tow trailers laden
There are three cycle hire centres on Sark all providing a range of bikes including mens, ladies and all sizes for children. Tag-a-longs are popular for parents with small children and there are child trailers for babies and toddlers to ride in in comfort while an adult does all the work. Trailers are also available to hire if you need to carry any type of equipment. All of the hire centres provide helmets and baskets as required and if you fancy a bicycle made for two you can even hire a tandem! A to B Cycle Hire - 01481 832844 Avenue Cycles - 01481 832102 Sark Cycle Hire - 07781 454375 12
with strimmers, spades or even lawn movers Sark Post Office and Sark’s window cleaner can often be seen cycling along with a ladder over his shoulder - not something for the beginner biker to try! Some of the island’s growers deliver sacks of potatoes and other vegetables by bike and Sark’s resident Foreign Exchange doctor is a familiar sight pedalling along on his calls with his stethoscope around his neck and Tous nos prix sont nets Gebuhrenfreier Geldwechsel his medical bag strapped behind his saddle. One of the many advantages of cycling Opening hours Monday - Saturday: everywhere is that it is so much more sociable 8.30am - 5.30pm (winter closing 5pm) than being trapped inside a car. It’s impossible not to acknowledge a fellow pedaller coming www.batif.gg the other way and easy to stop for a chat. Not owning a car means no expensive fuel, maintenance and repair bills and no worries about having a drink or two and getting home. There is one expense involved in owning a bike on Sark though. Like the carriages and tractors each one must have a licence but at just £11 a year it makes travelling around the island one of the cheapest transport systems in the world. And of course, it keeps you fit!
0% Commission
A to B Cycles The freedom to enjoy Sark at your own pace Flexible cycle hire -Competitive prices. -Wide range of cycles for all ages -Childseats & trailers -Tag-alongs -Adult tricycles -Tandems. - Guided cycle tours - free breakdown service
Prices from £6.50 a day
10% discount with advance booking
Contact us today to discuss your hire requirements.
01481 832844 bookings@atobcycles.com www.atobcycles.com
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1Hr min notice for cycle booking 24Hr min notice for cycle tours
Exploring Sark
Walking
At just three miles long by a mile and half wide, Sark is the perfect size to explore on foot. There are tranquil lanes and gently sloping paths for those who enjoy an easy stroll but for the more energetic walker there are steep descents to the island’s gorgeous beaches and hidden bays to test those leg muscles. Either way, you will be treated to breath-taking views of Sark’s stunning coastline, woodlands and countryside every step of the way. Little Sark, just across La Coupée, is also stunningly beautiful and the perfect size to explore on foot so don’t forget to bring your walking boots! Gouliot Passage. The walk described here does not take in the caves, which are quite a clamber and require a good knowledge of tides, but does allow you to experience the wild and wide open feeling of this dramatic area. With your back to the Chapel, follow the minor road signed Port à la Jument. Continue down this road for about ten minutes, admiring Port à la Jument house, a classic Jersey style farmhouse on your right. Also on your right there are
The Gorgeous Gouliot Headland
This walk is from Sark Strolls published by Small Island Publishing, a beautifully illustrated guide to 11 fabulous walks around Sark by Jan Guy and Sue Daly. It takes about 45 minutes and starts and ends at the Methodist Chapel. The Gouliot Headland is Sark’s first Ramsar Wetland Site, recognised world wide as having special animal and plant life, particularly marine life in the Gouliot Caves, a large sea cave system on the Sark side of the
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grand views over Jethou and Herm, and even a bench to admire them from. At the entrance to Le Vieux Port bear left then right on a track signed Port à la Jument. Follow this track, noticing, on your right, Jaydn’s Wood, a stand of young trees planted to celebrate the birth of a young Sarkee who is, at the time of writing, aged ten. Leaving a corrugated barn on your left and a stone barn on your right continue on the track signed Port a la Jument. Ignore the next sign to Port a la Jument on your right unless you want to head down to the bay which can offer a lovely low tide swim although the descent is steep. Pass through the gate and skirt the field keeping on the right. You should see the finger-like obelisk of the Pilcher Monument in the distance, slightly off to the left. Go up to the next gate and pass through it bearing left on a wide grassy track going down towards the Island of Brecqhou. Pass through a gap in the bank with a bench on your left continuing on the grassy track bearing left towards the monument. The spur on your right is over the Gouliot Caves and it is well worth walking a little way down this to watch wheeling fulmars. The rocky outcrop on
the top of the spur also offers one of the most wonderful picnic spots on the island: no benches, no picnic tables though, just amazing views over Brecqhou, or Little Sark or watch the wildness of the Gouliot Passage where the tide can run up to 7 knots. Continue on the main track as it bears left through two stone gate posts. (The gate is usually open). Shortly after the next gate, which you go through, you will join a road. Bear right, pass through the gate, then almost immediately bear left. Pass Le Petit Beauregard and the duck pond on your left. The pond is little used, except by the mallards and the moorhens, but on Good Friday morning there is a long tradition that the children of the island come out to sail their model boats. Continue on the road until you reach a T junction at which you turn left to return to the Methodist Chapel.
Jan Guy is available to lead personalised guided walks for small groups. Contact her on 07781 128631 or janguy@ cwgsy.net to see the real Sark and enhance your visit.
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Made On Sark
Ever wanted to throw your own pot? Or record a song? Or write the story of your grandmother’s life? Perhaps you simply want to experience a range of exhibitions, demonstrations and open workshops, on an island of stunning natural beauty. On Sark, you will find not only the peace and tranquility to explore your own creativity, but also a great number of talented people who can guide you on your way.The ultimate getaway? It might just be so. Creative Sark is non-profit organisation which highlights the availability of creative activities and workshops here on the beautiful island of Sark in the Channel Islands. Creative Sark acts as a platform from which local artists, craftspeople and photographers can show what they can offer you and when. As a place to stay, live, and create, Sark truly Your online guide to everything is unique. Sark’s artists and crafts people have to offer Contact us at creativesark@gmail.com creativesark@gmail.com and like us on Facebook. www.creativesark.co.uk Creative Sark is a registered non-profit organisation.
Creative Sark
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Ad ve ntu re Sark Coasteering, sea kayaking, archery & team building exercises
To awaken your curiosity and thirst for exploration book your coasteering adventure by calling the team on 01481 832356 or visit their website for a closer look at www.adventuresark.com 17
2015 - A Year of Cel This year sees two exciting anniversaries on Sark as the island celebrates 450 years since the appointment of Sark’s first Seigneur in 1565 and the Liberation from the German Occupation seventy years ago at the end of the Second World War. We find out about the background to these events and how they are going to be commemorated.
450 Years of History
in this family ever since with descendent Michael Beaumont OBE being the 22nd to bear the title as Seigneur of Sark.
On the 6th August 1565 the Sark Charter, known as the Letters Patent, was signed and granted to Helier de Carteret by Queen Elizabeth the First, establishing the structure of our island that remains, in many ways, unchanged today. Helier, from St Ouen on the west coast of Jersey, became Sark’s first Seigneur and settled the island with forty families most of whom were also from Jersey. The de Carterets ruled the island until 1720 when, after a few years without a Seigneur, the Le Pelley family from Guernsey bought the title, known as the Fief. In 1852 the Fief was sold to the Collings family when the Seigneur of the time, Pierre Le Pelley, was bankrupted by the failed silver m i n i n g ventures on Little Sark. It has remained
Treasure, a henge & a pageant
To celebrate this historic anniversary islanders have planned a whole series of events. A henge consisting of nine Jersey granite gatestones has been placed on the headland above Derrible Bay to celebrate Sark’s links with Jersey with each stone aligned to a key location or position of the sun. A historical treasure hunt has been designed with clues to gather all over Sark this summer. (The souvenir map seen to the left and entry forms will be available from the Visitor Centre for £1.) On 6th August there will be a children’s pageant at the Manoir, the home of Sark’s first Seigneur, and the children’s hand sewn patchwork map of Sark will be on display. There will also be displays commemorating the 450th anniversary at the Visitor Centre and La Société Sercquaise’s Cider Press Barn. On Friday 7th August Sark Cricket Club will play against an MCC eleven and a guided walk called ‘In Search of Helier de Carteret’ will start from the Visitor Centre at 2.00 pm. (Booking advised).The next day, Saturday, may see a real one off: a Jersey to Sark rowing race. If you feel like taking to the water yourself there is an evening cruise on our vessel, the Sark Belle, which will circumnavigate Sark. A commentary will help you learn more about what you are seeing. Embarkation and disembarkation can be made from either
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lebrations on Sark Image reproduced courtesy of the Imperial War Museum
Guernsey or Sark and tickets, which must be booked in advance, are available from the Sark Visitor Centre or call Isle of Sark Shipping on 01481 724059. (Please note that these tickets are only for the special cruise and cannot be used for single embarkation to or from either Guernsey or Sark). Sunday the 9th of August is a day for all the family with games, fancy dress, food and competitions for all ages on The Millennium Field. Bring a picnic or avail yourself of the tea tent. The 450th celebration reaches its finale in September with ‘Fantasie’, a son et lumiere presentation in the grounds of La Seigneurie. It promises to be a light hearted romp through Sark’s history from 4000BC to 1852 and takes place on the 4th and 5th September. Tickets for this exciting event are now on sale from the Sark Visitor Centre (call in or phone 01481 832345) and Hathaway’s, the restaurant near La Seigneurie, is offering a special pre-performance dinner.
British troops arrivng in Sark‘s Creux Harbour in 1945
Liberation 70th Anniversary
Earlier in the year Sark remembers the more sombre events of the Second World War and the Liberation from the German Occupation of the Channel Islands seventy years ago. Sark was liberated on the 10th May 1945, a day later than Jersey and Guernsey. The celebrations will be based in Creux Harbour where the first German forces landed on the 3rd July 1945 and from where they left as prisoners of war almost five years later. At 11.15 the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will overfly the harbour followed by a United Church Service and at midday Mrs Nellie Le Feuvre, the last remaining deportee still living on Sark, and Mr Dudley Bradley, will unveil a plaque to commemorate those from the island who were deported to Germany. There will then be a marquee reception for invited guests. Food and drinks outlets available for everyone.
Sark’s Golden Boy While you’re out and about on Sark look out for the island’s only postbox that is outside the Post Office at the end of the Avenue. It was painted gold in August 2012 in honour of Sark equestrian Carl Hester’s gold medal win in the team dressage event of the London Olympics.
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History & Horticulture A visit to the famous Seigneurie Gardens is not just a horticultural treat but a tour through Sark’s fascinating history. The Gardens surround La Seigneurie, the traditional home of Sark’s Seigneur. The main house dates from 1675 and although the current Seigneur and his wife, Michael and Diana Beaumont, now live in a smaller house in the village, it still belongs to the Beaumont family. The crenelated clock tower and ornate drawing room wing were Victorian additions built by the Reverent WT Collings, the great great grandfather of the present Seigneur, who also built the beautiful dovecote. (Keeping doves was one of many Seigneurial privileges.) Close to the dovecote is the battery with yet more reminders of the island’s intriguing past. The brass cannon was presented by Elizabeth I to Helier de Carteret, Sark’s first Seigneur, in 1572 and the iron ship’s cannon are 18th century and come from a trading vessel owned by John Allaire, another of the current Seigneur’s forebears. The field gun was left behind by the German forces who occupied the island during the Second World War and the nearby signalling tower was used in the early 19th century to communicate with Guernsey.
On the adjoining wall there are plaques to commemorate the much-loved pets of the Dame of Sark. Beyond the battery are the ponds and well originally created by the monks of St Magloire’s Priory that occupied this part of the island many centuries ago. Other interesting features include a maze and the building known as the Chapel although in fact it was never consecrated. It now houses an exhibition and artefacts describing the history of Sark and its Seigneurs and is also used for civil wedding ceremonies and other celebrations. The walled garden is aligned with St Peter’s Church, the central arches once framing a view of the church tower until the new Island Hall was built. The high granite walls provide a gentle micro climate and shelter from the wind allowing half-hardy plants such as the Australian Bottlebrush and New Zealand Teatree to thrive. Other notable plants in the extensive collection include the large climbing geranium on the south-facing wall, the giant Echium pininana that can reach over ten feet high and the abundance of St Peter Daisy and Geranium Maderense. There is also a Victorian vine house and outdoor vegetable
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and fruit growing areas that generate produce for sale and a recent venture into bee-keeping results in Seigneurie Gardens honey that sells out in days. Probably the oldest surviving feature within the walled garden is the formal rose garden edged with box hedging. The circular rose
garden is much more recent, designed in 2000 by Michael Beaumont. Like his wife Diana he worked most days alongside the other gardeners until their retirement in 2008 when a trust took over the running of the Gardens. La Seigneurie Gardens Trust also oversaw the conversion of a ruined building near the gates to create the cafÊ and bistro, Hathaways, named after the previous Seigneur, Dame Sibyl Hathaway. It’s the perfect place to end your exploration of these enchanting gardens.
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Hathaways CafĂŠ & Bistro, near La Seigneurie Gardens, Sark
Morning coffee, light or long lunches, afternoon teas or evening suppers for a full Ă la carte menu using the best of Sark produce & seafood.
Open from Easter to September every day from 10am to 5pm & Saturday to Wednesday for suppers from 6pm.
By Day
By Night
Local Pork Rillettes, Local Fish & Chips, Ploughmans, Local Lamb Faggots & Mash, Lobster Thermidor
Sark Lamb Trio, Sark Beef Duo, Lobster & Crab Salad, Lobster Thermidor, Local Fish & Chips
Vegetarian & vegan meals available, children welcome
Booking not essential but recommended to avoid disappointment
Tel - 07781 446437 & 01481 832209 Email - hathawaysrestaurant@yahoo.co.uk
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Eating Local Chef Andrew Tortice of Hathaways CafĂŠ and Bistro in Sark is classically trained in the French tradition but describes his menu as being modern and eclectic with French, Italian and English influences and a hint of the oriental flavours he loves. He is also passionate about using local produce as much as possible and many of his dishes include the name of the fisherman or farmer who supplied the main ingredients. Here he shares one of his favourite recipes, Sark Lamb Faggots, using lamb raised by Sark shepherd Dave Scott.
Ingredients
50g of flat-leaf parsley chopped 6 sprigs of fresh thyme, stripped 1 onion 1 garlic clove 1 egg 50g of oats salt & pepper 1 dash of port
400g of minced lamb, breast 250g of lamb heart, minced 200g of lamb liver, minced 250g of pork belly, minced 50g of caul fat, optional coriander seeds, roasted and ground cumin seeds, roasted and ground
Method
To make the faggots, cook the onion and garlic with the spices in a little butter and let cool. Add all the meat to a bowl, mix in the remainder of ingredients until well combined. With wet hands shape into 12-15 meat balls and chill. Wrap each ball in caul to help hold its shape if using. Carefully sear faggots over a medium heat being very carefull not to split them then cook in a moderate oven (170) gas 5/6, for 20-30 minutes. Serve with mash and gravy..... Scrumptious!
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Eating Out On Sark One of the joys of visiting any where new is trying out the local cuisine and food lovers won’t be disappointed on Sark. As an island it’s not surprising that seafood features high on most menus. Local fishermen use pots to catch lobsters and crabs and with a closed season for five months over
the winter the stocks of shellfish are protected from over fishing. You can have an equally clear conscience if you choose fish as the delicious bass, pollack, bream, turbot and other fish landed on Sark are all done so from the small boats that make up the island’s tiny fleet. Scallops are another delicacy from local waters and, with a ban on dredging, Sark scallops are only taken by divers which means there is absolutely no damage done to the seabed or other marine life. Meat eaters are in for a treat too. Pork and beef are raised in small quantities and there are four farmers raising lamb. All will tell you that their animals lead stress-free lives and, when the time comes, are slaughtered on the island. Eggs are also produced on Sark both by a small-scale commercial
June is Taste of Sark Month Pick up your special guide and map and enjoy delicious breakfasts, lunches, teas and dinners. This month celebrates the best dishes on Sark which showcase some of the most tempting local produce such as lobster, cream tea with Sark cream, fish chowder, fruit preserves and local lamb to name a few.
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operation and by many of the islanders themselves. Home raised hen and duck eggs feature in many a Sark breakfast and you will see them for sale outside several houses. Sark’s climate also lends itself to growing fruit and vegetables. There are two commercial growers supplying fabulous fresh, seasonal produce all year round and many residents enjoying growing their own. This passion for home grown produce is best seen in the two hotly contested flower and produce shows that are held on Sark, one around midsummer and the other in early autumn. Sark has its own dairy too. It is run by the Nightingale family whose herd of pedigree Guernsey cows supply the island with fresh, top quality milk and cream. An afternoon tea with homebaked scones and jam topped with a dollop of rich, thick Sark cream is a treat not to be missed. Diets certainly
go out of the window on Sark but then again, with all the lovely fresh air, it’s easy to work up an appetite. Tuck in!
Where To Eat & Drink See the map in the centre pages for locations
Stocks Restaurant & Poolside Bistro La Sablonnerie Restaurant & Tea Garden Nicole’s Restaurant Hathaways Café & Bistro Island Hall Sunflower Café & Bar AJ’s café Bel Air Inn Caragh’s Chocolate Factory Clos de Vaul Creux Tea Garden Fleur de Jardin Tea Garden Harbour Café Le Vieux Clos Tea Garden Mermaid Tavern PetitBeauregard (bookingessential) Petite Poule Café & Bistro
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Island Food - Sally’s Sark Seafood Chowder by Sally Hutchins of Vieux Clos Guesthouse & Tea Garden Chillies, salt & pepper to your taste 1 large head of celery 3 large leeks 3 onions 6 large carrots 2 courgettes (optional) 4 large main crop potatoes (optional) 3 cloves garlic 4 peppers of assorted colours
Fish stock (see below) + fish stock cubes to make up the amount One large white fish 1 lb smoked haddock or cod Sweetcorn (optional) Milk to serve, mixed with potato or corn flour to thicken to your taste, or mashed potato A few prawns or some white crab meat to serve & Sark cream if required
This recipe makes a large pot of chowder and works with whatever seafood and vegetables are to hand. The proportions aren’t critical, just enjoy what is in season. Sally uses her home-grown chillies that have been preserved in olive oil and uses the chilli oil to sweat the vegetables. Poach a large fish, something tasty such as bream or conger, on a low heat for about half an hour. Remove fish from the pan and carefully remove the flesh and sieve the stock to make sure there are no bones. Prepare vegetables as you would for soup then sweat with olive oil on a very low heat for 10 minutes. Add the sieved stock. Cook on a slow heat until the vegetables are well cooked then add chunks of fish. Gently stir in the milk and potato or flour and add the prawns or crab meat if required. Serve with crusty bread and a swirl of Sark cream if desired.
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Nicole’s Restaurant Just 50 metres from the top of Harbour Hill with beautiful garden & conservatory dining areas
Our varied menu includes freshly caught Sark seafood and local meat and produce as well as Mark’s delicious authentic Indian curries. Tel 01481 832302
Sark Cream Tea Competition throughout August
Savour the best cream teas on Sark! Restaurants and cafés will be serving up the yummiest teas and you can vote for your favourite. Pick up a leaflet from the Visitor Centre in August for more information.
Le Vieux Clos Licensed Tea Garden & Conservatory Restaurant
Open every day for morning coffee, lunch & afternoon tea. Home made bean jar, Guernsey gâche, quiches & cakes. Evening meals by arrangement with homegrown produce & Sark seafood, lamb & pork.
Tel 01481 832341 or 07781 453709 email sallyonsark@gmail.com
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Rocquette cider & The Sark folk Festival Isle of Sark Shipping caught up with brewer James Meller at his organic orchard to find out more about Rocquette Cider, proud sponsors of Sark’s annual Folk Festival. Taking place this year from Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th July, the festival will be in its 6th successful year, showing no signs of slowing down. The music event is the brainchild of Simon Harvey (pictured to the right), along with his team who put together a magical line up of both local and international acts year after year, making Sark Folk Festival one of the most-talked about celebrations of folk, roots and acoustic music. ‘We’ve been sponsoring the Festival in Sark since it started,’ explains James, preparing a much-needed cup of tea after a late shift tending to the farm’s sheep. ‘We’re right in the middle of lambing season, so it’s very busy round here,’ says James, who has a close connection with Sark. ‘I always go to the festival and we have a couple of the boys come over
here from Sark to shear our sheep for us,’ he says. James and his team at the Rocquette C i d e r Company produce quality, local cider from the organically g r o w n trees he planted, quenching thirsty locals in the Channel Islands and beyond since 1998. When we caught up with him he was preparing to plant a few thousand more trees and also keeps lambs and bees. James provides festival goers with a specially brewed still cider, Bec du Nez, an extremely popular blend and a real
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crowd pleaser. ‘We brew it about a week before the event,’ explains James who sends around 44 casks over to the island for the live music event. Judging by last year’s consumption he may have to send a few more, as it was so popular, festival goers ran out of
cider. But they were able to grab a pint or two from the Bel Air and Stocks, who also supply Rocquette’s Cider on draft, and the Mermaid, in bottles. Check out this year’s line up. www.rocquettecider.com www.sarkfolkfestival.com
Real cider Real taste Fermented from 100% apples, Rocquette is a full bodied cider free from artificial flavours, colours and sweeteners. Guernsey’s unique climate of long summer days and fresh Atlantic breezes help produce the intense fruit flavours that Rocquette is famous for. Complete your visit to Sark by sampling a refreshing glass of this local speciality.
www.rocquettecider.com
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Events On Sark This Year Wildflower Fortnight 25th April to 9th May Liberation 70th Anniversary 10th May A Taste of Sark Throughout June Midsummer Flower Show 24th to 25th June Sark Folk Festival 3rd to 5th July Sheep Racing Weekend 17th to 19th July
Cream Tea Competition Throughout August Sark Fief 450th Anniversary 6th to 9th August Dog & Pet Show 16th August Grand Autumn Show 2nd & 3rd September Fantasie Son et Lumière 4th & 5th September Autumn Starfest 9th to 11th October
Plus guided natural history, garden & historical walks as well as street markets, concerts & exhibitions throughout the season.
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www.sark.co.uk
Sark Post Office
Send a postcard from Sark! Along with all the standard postal services Sark Post Office can also provide you top-ups for your mobiles, foreign currency, cashback and Sark souvenirs.
Have your photo taken next to our gold postbox!
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 8.30 - 5.30pm (Winter closing 5pm) Guernsey Post has issued its own stamps since 1969 and is renowned for designing and produce new issue stamps and associated products. In 2013 we issued this commemorative miniature sheet to celebrate Carl Hester’s gold medal success in London the summer before. In July 2015 we will release a new issue celebrating Sark’s 450 years as a Fief of the Crown. All stamp issues are available from the Post Office or can be bought online from www.guernseystamps.com
Telephone: 832005 www.guernseypost.com 33
Sark, the Perfect Wedding Destination With a choice of venues for your service and reception, stunning scenery for photographs and the added bonus of horse drawn transport, Sark is a wonderful wedding destination. With a change in the law last year you now need only three days residency on the island to be married here. Here’s the information you need to help you plan your perfect day.
that need to be made for your wedding ceremony.
Civil Ceremonies
There are several venues for civil ceremonies on Sark. The Assembly Room is a lovely old stone building near the centre of the island where Sark’s government meets and the court is held. Stocks and La Sablonnerie Hotels are able to host civil wedding ceremonies as well as receptions in their beautiful grounds and buildings. Both also have their own horses and carriages. The Island Hall is also a civil wedding venue and offers receptions inside the elegant main hall or outside in a marquee. The newly renovated ‘chapel’ building at La Seigneurie Gardens is also a wedding venue and caters for small weddings. Couples and their guests are able to have their photographs taken within the Gardens and Hathaway’s, the café and restaurant within the grounds, offers receptions from light lunches and special high teas to a full sit down evening dinner. For any civil ceremony if you are not ordinarily resident on Sark you will need to contact the island Deputy Registrar-General, Trevor
Church weddings
There are two churches on Sark both steeped in history and character with beautiful stained glass windows. St Peter’s is a C of E church and dates back to 1820. St Peter’s Church welcomes requests for marriage and couples need only contact the local Vicar Revd. Julia Dallon on 01481 832040 for more information. Sark’s Methodist Chapel was originally built near the east coast but in 1925 was moved brick by brick to its current location near the centre of the island. Pastor Karen Le Mouton (01481 832115) is only too happy to guide you through the arrangements
Wedding Photography by Lydia Bourne Lydia is available for small or large weddings & other celebrations on Sark. Also picture framing. See the Wedding Gallery at www.bournephotography.me.uk Tel - 07781 445167
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Hamon, to obtain a licence and fulfil the other legal requirements. His office is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2.30 to 4pm and you can contact him on 01481 832012 and by email on greffier@gov.sark.gg.
carriage operators on Sark who all offer beautifully presented horse drawn transport. Their contact details can be found on the Sark website (www. sark.co.uk) in the ‘About’ section. The website also has full listings of the accommodation available on the island. Book well in advance, especially if you plan to get married in the middle of summer. Fiona Bird (fionabird@ cwgsy.net) is the island’s resident florist and a regular winner in the floral display categories of Sark’s flower and produce shows as well as doing fabulous arrangements for weddings. Both churches also have their own flower ladies.
Photographers, Carriages, Accommodation & Florists There are two experienced wedding photographers on Sark, Lydia Bourne and Rosalie Smith. Stacey Upson, based in Guernsey, is also able to offer a full wedding package on Sark and is a member of the Society of Portrait and Wedding Photographers. There are six
Upson Fine Art and Wedding Photography
Telephone:
07781 461603 email:
stacey.upson@cwgsy.net
The Wedding Chapel at La Seigneurie Gardens
r
The perfect venue for a fairytale wedding
Romance - Simplicity - Style
r
v www.laseigneuriegardens.com v 35
Staying on Sark Could Sark be the best place in the Channel Islands to retreat, relax and rejuvenate? From its award-winning hotels to its stunning scenic campsites, Sark should be on your top 10 places to stay list! Sark boasts the beautiful Stocks Hotel recently awarded Trip Advisor’s ‘Traveller’s Choice Award 2015’. The stunning, family-run hotel dates from 1741 and is just 10 minutes from Dixcart Bay, surrounded by acres of bluebell woodland, meadows and gardens. Whether it’s a long, romantic weekend or a simple dip ‘n’ dine in the hotel’s pool, all the family will enjoy their home baked breads, home smoked fish and meats. Also worth a try is their homemade sloe gin and Sark apple brandy. Word of mouth and exceptional cuisine coupled with a list of awards has made La Sablonnerie Hotel on Little Sark an exquisite hotel. Owned and managed by Elizabeth Perrée, the hotel is nestled in gorgeous gardens where guests and non-residents can enjoy a glorious cream tea or lobster salad. Most notably it has received the ‘Most Romantic Hotel’ from Condé Nast Johansen for its excellent service and idyllic setting. There are also several guest houses, B & Bs and campsites available on Sark. For the adventurous family who love the outdoors, the Pomme de Chien is a family-run campsite that provides campers with fully equipped tents as well as welcoming families with their own tents. It’s a fun, laid back way to enjoy Sark. If you prefer self-catering there is also plenty of choice from quaint cottages that sleep two to larger houses with four or more bedrooms. Whilst you enjoy your stay on Sark, be sure to visit the Island Hall and join in with the thriving local community activities held there such as badminton, table tennis, pool and darts. They also serve delicious breakfasts with fresh Sark eggs in the Sunflower café and Maple Bar and Friday night is fish and chip night to eat in or take away. Booking is essential! (Tel 01481 832666) For full list of accommodation available on Sark collect a copy of the Sark Visitor Guide from the Sark Visitor Centre.
For further information on accommodation on Sark please call in at the Visitor Centre to collect the latest Visitor Guide or visit our web site 36
www.sark.co.uk
Clos Princess B&B
Port es Saies & the Dower House
Self catering accommodation
Breakfast includes eggs from our own hens & homemade marmalade & jams
Your home from home on the beautiful island of Sark
Contact Diane Baker on 01481 832112 email baker.sark@cwgsy.net
Tel 01481 832324 - Email linda.williams@cwgsy.net
www.closprincess.co.gg
Where To Stay Clos Princess B&B
Pomme de Chien Campsite Tel 01481 832316
Clos de La Tour Apartments Port es Saies & the Dower House
La Carrière (self catering) Tel 01481 832002 email j.baker@cwgsy.net
Le Vieux Clos Guest House Stocks Hotel Tel 01481 832001
Mr Hesters (Self Catering) www.mrhesters.com
La Sablonnerie Hotel Tel 01481 832061
Dunromin B&B Tel 01481 832257 email elsieg@cwgsy.net
Le Vieux Clos Licensed Guesthouse & Tea Garden
Centrally situated, open all year with seven rooms including double and family. 5 mins walk from the village and within easy reach of cliff walks and beaches. Evening meals by arrangement with foods sourced locally whenever possible.
Tel 01481 832341 or 07781 453709 email sallyonsark@gmail.com
LUXURY HOLIDAY APARTMENTS ON SARK Our apartments are set in the private gardens of Clos de la Tour & offer a peaceful retreat with the luxury of a home away from home. For further details visit
www.closdelatour.gg 37
Seeing stars on Sark
In 2009 Sark resident Felicity Belfield was inspired by news that Galloway Forest in Scotland was designated as the UK’s first Dark Sky Park. She gathered up a group of fellow islanders and stargazers and together they set about getting Sark’s beautiful inky black night sky the recognition it deserves. Scientists from the International Dark Sky Association were invited to the island to measure the darkness of the night sky and plans were put in place to keep to a minimum the lighting used around the island. Advice was given on how to avoid light
pollution and the very few lights that were wrongly set were adjusted. Sark Astronomy Society (SAstroS) came into being to help with the project and, after a huge amount of work and with the help of Sark’s government and people, Sark was officially designated as the World’s First Dark Sky Island in February 2011. The news brought media interest from around the world including a write up in National Geographic Magazine. SAstroS now hold regular Starfest weekends which have attracted some of Britain’s best known astronomers including
Sark Trek
An Astronomical Adventure
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A stargazing weekend break based on the World’s First Dark Sky Island, 9th - 11th Oct 2015 Weekend packages available from Stocks Hotel or course only options. For more information visit www.sastros.sark.gg
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the BBC’s Sky at Night presenter Professor Chris Lintott and Dr Marek Kukula, the Public Astronomer for the Royal Observatory Greenwich. SAstroS now have their own telescope and by summer this year will have it housed in a small observatory. Sadly, Felicity is no longer with us but thanks to her passion for Sark’s An hour long exposue to show the motion of the stars above Sark Henge. wonderful starry sky, the island has another. (Don’t forget to bring a torch the recognition it deserves as one of the though – Sark really is dark!) The best best places in the world for stargazing. views are when there is little or no moon so check out the dates of the new moon How to see the stars on Sark With no cars or street lighting and very when you plan your visit. Full moon few outside lights on buildings, the view nights though hold their own beauty and of the night sky over Sark is spectacular walking home by moonlight is one of the from just about anywhere on the island. many magical experiences to be had on Over seven thousand stars and planets Sark. are visible with the naked eye and the In Autumn 2015, SAstroS is holding a Star Milky Way stretches from one horizon to Fest the highlight of which is ‘Sark Trek, an Astronomical Adventure’, a weekend course run by Cosmos Planetarium. (See the box on the facing page for more information.) Stocks Hotel is offering a fabulous weekend package and, with a planetarium on hand, even the weather won’t be able to spoil the fun. What better place to learn about the wonders of the universe than on the World’s First Dark Sky Island?
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Exploring Little Sark high ridge, which is a staggering 80 metres (262 ft) above the sea and some three metres in width. La Coupée is also reported to have been haunted and most notably, Dame Sibyl Hathaway’s donkey refused to cross it. The current roadway and railings were built in 1945 by German prisoners of war under the direction of the Royal Engineers. Sark’s ancient history is also recorded on Little Sark with two dolmens; an intact one on the south coast and another in ruins on the west, both thought to be around four thousand years old. The remains of a windmill, built in the 18th century to challenge the Seigneur’s monopoly on milling flour, can be seen close to La Sablonnerie.
Mill ruins
Sark’s fascinating history is written in its landscape. There is no better way to see this than to visit Little Sark, joined to the main island by a narrow isthmus known as La Coupée. Early descriptions of the passageway aren’t complimentary, with islanders too afraid to cross in case they were blown off by a strong wind. This was, however, before the protective railings were built in 1900, after much deliberation between locals and the Seigneur of Sark as to whose responsibility it was to maintain this
Sark cream tea at La Sablonnerie
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The coast of Little Sark is noted for its fine scenery, caves and inlets. La Fontaine Bay, named for a small spring located nearby, is particularly well known for its views and is a lovely spot for swimming. Venus and Adonis pools are also popular bathing spots although finding them can be something of adventure and only recommended for the sure-footed. Named as such by Victorian artist William Toplis, great care should be taken when
visiting these pools due to the deep and fast flowing race of water that fills the pools upon high tide. Little Sark is also synonymous with the illfated silver and copper mining ventures of the Mine chimney early nineteenth century. Although the mines were abandoned due to flooding and the lack of ore, there is still evidence of them and worth a visit before heading to Little Sark’s only hotel, La Sablonnerie, for a refreshing cream tea or lobster lunch.
Venus Pool Little Sark - Ideal Honeymoon Destination
reservations@sablonneriesark.com
For a truly memorable day or stay, be sure to enjoy the magical beauty of this famous haunt. Rest and refresh yourself at La Sablonnerie Hotel and Tea Gardens, where a delicious Gourmet Luncheon or a superb Sark Cream Tea is served in this idyllic setting. Also, dine romantically by candlelight in the 16th Century restaurant, renowned for its excellent cuisine. The hotel is highly recommended by leading hotel guides for its comfort and good food. Own horses and carriages for hire. La Sablonnerie was recently highlighted by the hotel guide Which? as “The place to stay in the Channel Islands”. For further details and reservations call Elizabeth Perrée on (01481) 832061 or Fax (01481) 832408 www.sablonneriesark.com Don’t leave the Channel Islands without visiting Sark and Little Sark. ‘It will be an experience that will live with you forever’.
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5 Days - 5 Bays 5% Visit 5 bays in 5 days between now and October 2015 and save up to 25% on future In conjunction with Sark Tourism‛s “5 Bays in 5 Days” selfie challenge, we are offering any participants a discount for each selfie they take, which can be redeemed against the cost of their next return ticket to Sark.
Terms and conditions apply - see our website or call in to the Guernsey office for further details. www.sarkshippingcompany.com
Les Cotils
Situated on the top of the hill just outside the centre of St Peter Port, enjoying fine views over the harbour and neighbouring islands. With twelve acres of grounds to enjoy, a coffee shop, restaurant and bar as well as 26 ensuite bedrooms it is well worth a visit.
telephone: 01481 727793 e mail: reception@lescotils.com web: www.lescotils.com 42
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Isle of Sark Shipping Company
Coastal Cruises
Our amazing coastal cruise trips are back by popular demand! We have put together some wonderful cruise packages again this year giving islanders and visitors the opportunity to experience some of Guernsey’s most spectacular coastline and beautiful bays whilst spotting puffins, oystercatchers, gannets, razorbills and guillemots. Whether you bring a picnic or not, this is the perfect trip for families, friends and those just looking for something a little bit different whilst visiting Guernsey. We have added Sark to our cruises and if you’re lucky you may even see the dolphins. Representatives of Guernsey RSPB are on board giving a live commentary and to help you spot and identify the birds, answering your questions along the way.
The Sark Belle offers a panoramic view from ample seating both inside and out for all those who wish to enjoy these wonderful cruises. Freshly ground coffee plus tea, hot chocolate, soft drinks and confectionary snacks are available to purchase throughout the cruise and there are toilets on board. Coastal cruises last approximately 2hrs 15 mins and depart at 1pm from the Inter Island Quay. We recommend that you book your tickets for this cruise in advance by telephoning 724059 or emailing bookings@sarkshippingcompany.com For the latest schedule information and to keep updated on our special offers visit our website
www.sarkshippingcompany.com
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