I struggle to choose adjectives to describe this place, there are too many I could use. In fact, I’m struggling to write the intro to this post as it’s hard to encapsulate all I feel about the island of Jersey into words. Quaint, special, humble, laid back, tranquil, relaxing, romantic, beautiful – are a few that instantly come to mind. How could there be so much to say about such a small part of the world?
There is so much to say and more!
Jersey is the largest of The Channel Islands, followed by Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and some smaller Islands (Herm, Jethou & Brecqhou.) Prehistorically connected to France but eventually disconnected due to rising sea levels, Jersey has maintained strong connections with the country, evidence of this being that all place and street names on the island are French.
Image: Can Burak Bizer
Although Jersey is self-governing, it is also a British Crown Dependency so is classed as being in the UK but isn’t officially. It was occupied by the Germans in World War II and has a fascinating history that can be discovered through the various castles, museums and ruins around the island. Jersey is quite small, though not as small as some of it’s neighbour islands. It is only 5 miles long and 9 miles wide, smaller than Leeds, the city I live in.
In one day you could easily drive all around and get a great idea of all that it has to offer. We were once lucky enough to have someone chauffeur us all around the island and it was an amazing insight into it. It is classy and endlessly beautiful.
I’ve just returned from my third trip to Jersey, my partner has family there so we try to visit every year. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit multiple times and to have seen a great deal of the island but there is always more to see and do.
Jersey makes for a fabulous holiday, it has so much to offer holiday makers, honeymooners and travellers alike; beautiful, well kept beaches, stunning cliff walks and views, immaculate, pastel buildings, colourful flowers, beach bars and cafés by the dozen, locally produced food, historic castles and ruins, romantic pier walks, adventure activities, amazing charity shops, an excellent zoo and last but not least, Jersey cows! They are the cutest.
Image: American Committe for KEEP
It’s a nice, short flight if you’re travelling from the UK, no more than an hour so you’re there in no time and when you arrive, you feel like you’re further abroad than you actually are. Obviously with Jersey being so close to France this is to be expected but it still feels quite strange. On this lush island, palm trees are plenty, exotic flowers grow, beaches are clean and litter free, fresh seafood is commonly served in the various eateries.
Here are a few reasons why you should visit Jersey
The Beaches
I have always had a wonderful time in Jersey and this time we stayed in a different area which was nice. We had previously stayed in an old farm house turned guest house in the area of St Ouen but this time we stayed in a lovely little area with a very different feel about it called Havre des Pas, two minutes walk from the beach. I love how all the parts of Jersey all have such different personalities. Havre des Pas is a beach great for dog walkers with not many rocks or rock pools but very vast and pretty with fresh turquoise sea, clear, smooth sand and a romantic pier leading to a seawater pool.
Compare this to St Aubins beach, home to St Aubin’s Fort and next to a harbour, where large rock clusters, pebbles and shells dominate the sand and the contrast between the large growths of lime green seaweed with the speckled growth of pink, visually excites. I like this beach as it kind of looks quite unusual due to all the pebbles and rock formations, like you could be on another planet, especially on a drizzly day when no one else is around. It makes for a very interesting experience.
The Parks
One morning, we decided to have a little stroll around Howard Davis Park that was just around the corner from our accommodation. Not knowing what to expect, I was blown away. It was an absolutely beautiful park with lots of interesting features and turned into one of my favourite parts of our trip.
A baby seagull fishing among the reeds and lily pads.
The war cemetery. In fact, the park itself is a memorial to a soldier killed in World War I, which makes it even more special.
The Cliffs
Meet Gronez, one of my favourite parts of the Island. When you visit, you find yourself unable to stop making impromptu sounds such as oooh, aaah woah, oh my goodness, look – or maybe that is just me. But there is a reason for this – it is spectacular. Speckled with delicate purple flowers, characterised by the dramatic, rugged cliffs and topped with the ruins of Gronez Castle, it is a perfect area for cliff walking, wildlife spotting and pondering.
For further and more in depth reading please see my updated post about Jersey that was published in Go World Travel Magazine.
Have you ever been to Jersey? I would love to hear about it!
