Sunflower Books: Landscapes of GUERNSEY, WITH ALDERNEY, SARK AND HERM: WALKS AND CAR TOURS

Guernsey (with Alderney, Sark and Herm), 3rd edition, 2003, updated 01/02/05

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Updates for walks and car tours (drives) on Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm given below supplement those provided in the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book and want to "upgrade" to the latest edition at half price, click here.)

Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes. If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you. Please send information, preferably in hard copy, by post, to Sunflower Books, PO Box 115, Exeter EX2 6YU (or if you prefer, by e-mail, to mail@sunflowerbooks.co.uk).

Now that Updates are online, it is possible to include colour images. There was insufficient space in Landscapes of Guernsey to include a photograph of the remarkable 600-year old wall painting of The Last Supper which can be seen at the Chapel of St Apolline which features in Walk 10. This is a detail from the painting. There is no charge for entry to the chapel.

Bus services
There is a web site devoted to Guernsey's bus services: www.buses.gg
Concessionary fares: a flat rate fare of only 60p per bus journey applies irrespective of the distance you travel, i.e. you pay just 60p whether you travel from one stop to the next or from one end of the island to the other. (There is just one exception: on services 7 or 7a, if you use the service to make a complete circular tour of the island you will be charged for two journeys at 60p. There are concessions that reduce the cost even further if you purchase a block "Wave & Save" card covering several journeys. Using this, you simply wave the card in front of the ticket reader by the driver and one journey is automatically deducted from your card. Cards are available for 10, 30 or 50 journeys. A 50-journey card at £15.00 reduces the cost of travel to only 30p per journey. Definitely worth considering if you are not hiring a car and plan to get around by bus. The buses were all new in 2003 and services are frequent and reliable.

General reminder: Those who don't live near the sea should read carefully the notes about tide tables on pages 20 and 21. This is especially important on the walk to Lihou.

Map: I is no longer possible to obtain the HMSO/OS/MOD detailed military survey map 1:25 000 referred to on page 13, which makes your map even more valuable. (User, 2/05)

Petrol
Up to 2003, the sale of petrol was not permitted on Sundays, but new legislation now enables you to buy petrol on Sundays.

Camping
For the benefit of those who would like to camp, the following are approved sites:
Castel: Fauxquets Valley (Tel. 01481 55460; fax 51797)
Vale: La Bailloterie (Tel. 01481 43636; fax 43225)
Vale: Hougue Guilmine: L'Etoile (Tel. 01481 44325)
Route de Vaugrat, St Sampson's (Tel. 01481 57468; fax 51841)
Herm Island: Herm Camping (Tel. 01481 722377)
For conventional self-catering apartments, etc see the official guide issued by the Tourism Department.

Walk/Picnic 6: Here's a short walk for motorists or bus users to a perfect picnic location. Although it is covered in Picnic 6 and the much longer Walk 6, the interesting Table des Pions and tiny Fort Pezeries can be reached in a 20 to 25min walk from Portelet Harbour (bus 7/7A; plenty of parking spaces for motorists - park near the Imperial Hotel). Some clarification may be helpful, however, as there is a notice near the beginning of the walk indicating that the route is private. This might deter some visitors. It's a linear walk, so allow a total of 40-50 min walking plus however long you plan to spend looking around or picnicking.  With the Imperial Hotel on your left and the sea on your right, start by walking along for some 300 yards to the end of the promenade. Then veer left up a slight gradient on a surfaced road (the route is on tarmac all the way, but you can also walk on grass verges much of the way and in any case there is virtually no traffic.) As you turn up this road you will see a notice indicating that there is no through road, that the route leads only to private residences and that there is no entry for vehicles. (This is true, but the route runs through Guernsey National Trust land and IS open to pedestrians.) Soon come to the barrier preventing motorists from driving any further but continue walking. Staying on the same road you will after around 20 minutes come to Fort Pezeries, just a few yards off to the right. This must be one of Guernsey's smallest forts - you can explore it and read an information board explaining its history. Returning to the road, you almost immediately reach the Table des Pions. Around here, as mentioned under Picnic 6, are plenty of options for picnicking, either on grass or sitting on rocks overlooking the sea. Go back the same way.

Walk 9: L'Ancresse Bay Apartments, used as a landmark in the walk description, is not yet identified as such. Up to 2001 it was the L'Ancresse Bay Hotel and in 2007 there are still notices on the building bearing the word hotel. Using the map on page 46 you should, however, easily identify where it stands. "L'Ancresse" in large old-English style lettering is on the front of the building and you can see where the letters "Hotel" have been removed. Fewer visitors to the island now opt for staying in hotels. Guernsey has always offered plenty of self-catering accommodation and the Pembroke Bay Hotel, just across the golf links, was also converted to apartments in 2003.

Walk 10: The German Tunnels referred to at the top of page 51 have been sealed and it is no longer possible to visit them. It seems unlikely that they will ever be accessible again.

Walk 11: The old mill illustrated on page 52 is no longer in use and some of the building and the water wheel are now obscured by a tree.