Island Hopping in Guernsey: Herm, Sark & Alderney

Scattered across the English Channel, the Islands of Guernsey offer a rare opportunity to experience several distinctive destinations within a single trip. White-sand beaches, dramatic coastal paths, car-free country lanes, abundant wildlife, and centuries of history are separated by surprisingly short journeys across the water.Guernsey makes a natural starting point. Easily reached from the UK, with direct flights taking as little as 40 minutes and ferry connections from the south coast, the island combines excellent transport links with plenty to discover in its own right. From here, the smaller islands of Herm, Sark, and Alderney can all be reached by boat or plane, making it possible to wake up in St Peter Port and spend the day exploring a fresh landscape.A Collection of Islands with Centuries of History For travellers planning an island-hopping escape, it helps to understand what makes this corner of the British Isles so distinctive. The Channel Islands sit in the English Channel, just off the coast of Normandy, and are divided into two self-governing Crown Dependencies: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. They are not part of the United Kingdom, although their centuries-old relationship with the British Crown dates back to the medieval Duchy of Normandy.Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands and the principal island of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which also encompasses Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Lihou, and several smaller islets. Each has developed its own character, traditions, and landscape, shaped by a fascinating combination of Norman heritage, proximity to France, and historic ties to Britain.This unusual geography makes Guernsey particularly rewarding for island hopping. From a base in St Peter Port, travellers can cross to tiny, car-free Herm for beaches and coastal walks, explore Sark by bicycle or horse-drawn carriage, or venture north to Alderney for wildlife, historic fortifications, and a wilder stretch of coastline. Despite their proximity, each island offers its own experience.Here is how to make the most of the islands of the Bailiwick of Guernsey.Begin Your Island Adventure in GuernseyBefore setting sail for the neighbouring islands, allow time to explore Guernsey itself. The capital, St Peter Port, is an ideal base, with its picturesque harbour, cobbled streets, independent shops, restaurants, and historic waterfront.Castle Cornet has stood guard over St Peter Port harbour for more than 800 years and offers an excellent introduction to Guernsey’s eventful past. Further inland, Hauteville House reveals another chapter of the island’s story as the former home of French writer Victor Hugo, who spent 15 years in exile here. Guernsey’s more recent history is equally compelling, particularly its experience as one of the Channel Islands occupied by German forces during the Second World War.Guests keen to delve deeper can join The Old Government House Hotel & Spa’s Guernsey Half Day Tour, led by Silver Accredited Tour Guide Amanda Johns. The four-hour experience travels from St Peter Port to Fort George and Jerbourg, where viewpoints across the neighbouring islands sit alongside reminders of the German Occupation. The itinerary continues to the German Occupation Museum and includes a guided visit to either Batterie Mirus or Batterie Scharnhorst, before following the west coast past further wartime fortifications. Advance booking is required.Guernsey’s coastline provides a striking contrast to these historic sites. The island is fringed by beaches and coves, ranging from the white sands and clear waters of Cobo Bay to the sheltered Petit Bot and pebbled Fermain Bay, which can be reached on foot from St Peter Port along the east-coast cliff path. The latter is particularly rewarding for walkers, with sea views towards the neighbouring islands along the route. Guernsey’s beaches are also an important part of local life, with swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, rock pooling, and beach cafés providing plenty of reasons to spend time beside the water.Away from the beaches, walking is one of the best ways to appreciate the island’s landscapes and heritage. Guernsey’s network of routes takes in dramatic clifftops, wooded valleys, fishing harbours, and sheltered coves, while the Ruettes Tranquilles provide a network of country lanes where pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders have priority.For a more local perspective, guests can also enquire about The Old Government House Hotel & Spa’s Secrets of Guernsey Walking Tour, an opportunity to discover stories and details that can easily be missed when exploring independently. Together with the hotel’s half-day island tour, it offers a rewarding way to understand the history, landscapes, and distinctive character of Guernsey before setting out to discover the other islands of the Bailiwick.Meet Guernsey’s Neighbouring IslandsHerm: White Sands and Coastal Walks20 minutes from St Peter Port by boatHerm is the easiest of Guernsey’s neighbouring islands to incorporate into a day trip. There are no cars on the island, and its compact size makes exploring on foot part of the pleasure.A walk around the coastline reveals some of the finest beaches in the Channel Islands. Shell Beach, on Herm’s east coast, is known for its pale sand and clear water, while nearby Belvoir Bay occupies a sheltered cove reached along the coastal path. On warmer days, both make inviting stops for swimming before continuing around the island.Those keen to see the coast from a different perspective can hire a kayak or paddleboard, with guided excursions offering opportunities to look for local marine life. Herm is also home to Europe’s most southerly puffin colony, while dolphins are regularly seen in the surrounding waters.With regular boats returning to St Peter Port, Herm works particularly well as the first island on an itinerary, offering a gentle introduction to the archipelago before venturing further afield.Sark: Explore a Car-Free Island by Bicycle35-50 minutes from Guernsey by ferryDespite being located so close to Guernsey, Sark’s landscape and pace feel remarkably distinct. Cars are prohibited, leaving bicycles, tractors, horse-drawn carriages, and walking as the principal ways to travel.Hiring a bicycle on arrival is one of the best ways to explore Sark, with country lanes leading towards secluded bays, viewpoints, and some of the island’s best-known landmarks. La Coupée, the narrow causeway connecting Sark with Little Sark, is an essential stop, with dramatic views along the coastline.For a more traditional way to discover the island, guests of The Old Government House Hotel & Spa can also arrange the Sark by Horse & Carriage experience. Accompanied by a local guide, the experience offers an opportunity to travel along Sark’s country lanes while hearing more about the island’s history, landscapes, and way of life along the way. It is a particularly memorable way to experience Sark’s character and scenery, while gaining insights that can be easily missed when exploring independently.Allow time for La Seigneurie Gardens, which surround the traditional residence of the Seigneur of Sark, before visiting The Avenue for independent shops, cafés, and local produce.Sark also holds the distinction of being the world’s first designated Dark Sky Island. Travellers staying overnight can experience skies largely free from artificial light, although the regular ferry connection with Guernsey means the island is equally suited to a full-day excursion.Alderney: Wildlife, History, and Wild Coastline15 minutes from Guernsey by planeThe northernmost of the Islands of Guernsey, Alderney rewards travellers who venture a little further. A short flight from Guernsey takes mere minutes, while seasonal ferry services also connect the two islands.Alderney’s landscapes encompass golden beaches, coastal grassland, woodland, and miles of walking trails. Hiring a bicycle or e-bike is a particularly useful way to explore, allowing you to travel between the island’s historic sites, beaches, and the cobbled streets of its capital, St Anne.History is visible across the landscape. Alderney Museum traces the island’s story from prehistoric settlement through to the Second World War, while Roman, Victorian, and German fortifications can be found around its coastline.The island is equally rewarding for wildlife enthusiasts. Puffins and gannets can be seen during the breeding season, dolphins inhabit the surrounding waters, and Alderney is famous for its rare blonde hedgehogs. For time beside the sea, Braye Beach is conveniently close to the harbour and St Anne, while Longis Bay combines an expansive sandy beach with nearby historic sites.A Guernsey Base for Exploring the Bailiwick One of the advantages of island hopping from Guernsey is the ability to experience somewhere new each day without repeatedly changing hotels. St Peter Port sits at the centre of many inter-island connections, with boats departing for Herm and Sark from its harbour, while Alderney can be reached by a short flight or seasonal ferry.Staying at The Old Government House Hotel & Spa places guests within easy reach of St Peter Port harbour and the connections to the neighbouring islands, while providing an elegant base to return to after each day’s adventures. As Guernsey’s only five-star hotel, it has been part of island life for generations, occupying a historic position overlooking the capital and harbour. Individually designed rooms and suites are complemented by landscaped gardens, an outdoor heated swimming pool, and a spa with treatment rooms, sauna, steam room, and whirlpool.Time at the hotel can become part of the island experience too. The Sunset, Fizz & Chips experience offers a particularly memorable way to enjoy one of Guernsey’s summer evenings. Guests are driven by the hotel’s chauffeur to a carefully chosen west-coast location to watch the sun set over the sea, accompanied by traditional fish and chips and a chilled bottle of Champagne. It is a wonderfully simple celebration of the island’s coastal setting, and an atmospheric way to round off a day spent exploring.Dining at the hotel also draws inspiration from its location. The Brasserie champions seasonal ingredients, with Guernsey produce and locally caught seafood appearing across its menus. For something different, The Curry Room serves Indian cuisine inspired by traditional flavours and recipes in an intimate setting. Afternoon tea can also be enjoyed in the hotel or gardens, providing a relaxed pause between sightseeing and an evening exploring St Peter Port.With the harbour, shops, restaurants, and historic streets of St Peter Port within walking distance, and the hotel’s concierge team on hand to help arrange island excursions and local experiences, The Old Government House Hotel & Spa provides a natural starting point for discovering both Guernsey and the wider Bailiwick.Plan Your Island Hopping EscapeFor travellers keen to experience several islands during one stay, The Old Government House Hotel & Spa's Island Hopping Escape brings some of the highlights of the Bailiwick together in a thoughtfully planned three-night break. Available until 31st October 2026, and again from 1st April to 31st October 2027, the seasonal offer is particularly well suited to the warmer months, when days can be spent exploring beaches, coastal paths, and neighbouring islands.The package includes three nights’ accommodation for two guests sharing a room or suite, with a traditional English or Continental breakfast each morning. Return ferry tickets for day trips to both Herm and Sark are also included, making it easy to experience two very different sides of island life without having to arrange each crossing separately.The three-night format leaves time to discover Guernsey itself too. Explore St Peter Port and Castle Cornet, follow a section of the island’s clifftop paths, or spend an afternoon at one of Guernsey’s beaches before returning to the hotel. Those extending their stay can venture further afield to Alderney, reached by a short flight or seasonal ferry, to discover another distinctive corner of the Channel Islands.With Guernsey as your base and The Old Government House Hotel & Spa to return to at the end of each adventure, an island-hopping break offers an effortless way to discover just how much these small islands have to explore.

Island Hopping in Guernsey: The Ultimate Escape

Discover Guernsey Together