Hampshire Hikes & Historical Sites
Bring intriguing coastal trails and history alive in South Hampshire.
The world's more beautiful on foot...
Call us on 01707 331133
Or, email us at [email protected]
Call us on 01707 331133
Or, email us at [email protected]
Enjoy the stunning scenery and heritage sites of Guernsey, and visit Sark and Herm for a day each. You’ll have the chance to visit public and private gardens, see wild flowers lining cliff paths and lanes and discover each of the Islands’ natural beauty.
Guernsey
Flora
Special Selection Hotels
Jul
Sep
Tour codes: 50110
Our range of Adagio leisurely walking holidays and sightseeing tours are designed at a slower pace than the average Ramblers Walking Holidays, perfect for those who would like to slow things down but keep active.
Overview
Only a short flight from England, Guernsey, your base for the week, is a small island located approximately 30 miles off the coast of France, forming part of the Channel Islands. It combines a rich and fascinating history with a vibrant modern mix of French and British cultures.
We stay in the parish of St Martin, only a 10-minute drive from Guernsey’s capital of St Peter Port. St Martin is a quiet rural village, ideally situated for the island’s popular beaches and south coast cliff views.
Two days of the holiday will be spent on the lesser-known islands of Sark and Herm, reachable by boat from St Peter Port. Both islands have so much to offer and have a striking contrast. You will be visiting excellent gardens and have the opportunity to see unusual plants which grow in hotter climates. Cars are banned from both islands however bicycles are used to get around on the larger island of Sark and only quad bikes and tractors are used on Herm for staff and luggage transport.
The remainder of the holiday will be spent in Guernsey. We have carefully selected the best gardens the island has to offer for you to visit and explore.
You will walk to many of the gardens taking in the various sights of the different areas of Guernsey and the wildflowers along the way.
We have arranged transport on each day to take you to and from these destinations. All you need to do is relax and enjoy the scenery.
Click the button below for a detailed Holiday Information Sheet containing all the particulars about this trip.
NOTE: Itineraries and Holiday Information Sheets can vary by a specific date chosen
Itinerary & Travel
Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the outlined itinerary and advertised programme, local conditions can change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. This may mean that routes and timings need to be amended or the order of days may change, sometimes at short notice.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we may unfortunately need to withdraw a tour that is currently confirmed to operate and we therefore reserve the right to cancel your booking. We would always do our utmost to give you plenty of notice should we have to do this. Selected elements of this tour, including local attractions and restaurants, may change at late notice. Please ensure you have valid insurance cover before you travel.
Accommodation
Below is the accommodation featured on this holiday across all departure dates. Please refer to the Itinerary for more detail about each night's accommodation for each departure date.
The newly refurbished 4 star La Barbarie Hotel is a cosy, small hotel situated in a rural location with easy access to the stunning cliff walks, Saints Bay and the secluded coves of the South coast of Guernsey. The hotel is family-owned and the excellent service and standard of accommodation together with the excellent quality meals make this hotel so special.
La Barbarie was converted to a hotel in 1950 and the old quiet charm has been retained. The heated outdoor swimming pool and patio provide a perfect secluded spot for relaxing or for a quiet drink before or after dinner. You can also relax in the newly refurbished modern and comfortable lounge bar.
En suite hotel room facilities include:
Please note that there is no lift in the hotel.
Trip Information
To fully enjoy the walking on this holiday you should be able to walk along uneven undulating paths at about 1½ to 2 miles per hour for distances of between 2 and 3½ miles with walks lasting up to 3 hours. Some days will be devoted largely to sightseeing, so the walking content may be less.
We use a mix of privately hired vehicles, taxis, and public transport which gives us some flexibility in our itinerary. We have a wonderful programme of walking, sightseeing and visits planned to let you fully experience the area along with opportunities to relax at our wonderful hotel and enjoy your surroundings.
Local Transport Costs
We include the local travel costs using private mini buses and public buses to reach the local sites. We also include the boat fares to the Isle of Sark and Herm Island.
Our Adagio Leader will arrange everything. You just need to be at the right place at the right time.
Holiday Budgeting
Local transport costs, entrance fees and tips to local providers are included in your holiday price. You may wish to budget for any meals and drinks not included in the holiday arrangements, non-included entrance fees and any optional excursions you may choose to participate in locally. A general guideline for lunches and drinks is £10-£20 per person per day.
Holiday Currency
The currency in Guernsey is the pound. Guernsey also has its own notes which are at par with the UK pound. Channel Islands notes and coins are not accepted in the UK although they can be reconverted or paid into some UK clearing bank accounts. ATMs are widely accessible in Guernsey and there are none on Sark or Herm, so we advise you to withdraw money before travelling to the islands.
Tipping
We include tips in the holiday cost and your Adagio Leader will take care of making sure tips are given to hotel and restaurant staff and to local guides and drivers. If you feel that someone has gone out of their way to make your holiday enjoyable or help you in anyway, please feel free to give a personal tip to the person should you wish. If you are having an independent lunch or other service not included in the holiday arrangements, tipping is at your own discretion.
We believe that the best things come in small packages, and our Adagio holidays prove just that. We limit our groups to a maximum of 18 persons, plus the Adagio Leader, so that everyone has the opportunity to mix, share their love of travel and return home with new friendships. Small groups also have less detrimental local impact, allows us to use public transport on some days, eat at small local restaurants and, we believe, offers a better experience.
Tour Leaders
An Adagio Leader will accompany you throughout the holiday. They are all experienced travellers with a love for exploring and will help capture the true essence of the destination with their stories, knowledge and insights. They are well-organised, pay great attention to detail and enjoy being with people. They are there to help make your holiday as enjoyable and stress free as possible.
Leader's Evening Briefing
Your Adagio Leader will discuss the programme for the following day with the group at each evening briefing. This will be your opportunity to find out more details and ensure the planned activities suit your walking ability. Also, if you have any questions or concerns on clothing or lunch arrangements, this can be discussed then. If you wish to opt out of the organised group programme, this is fine, just let your Leader know.
We fly from Southampton to Guernsey and return with Aurigny Air. The flight takes approx. 45 minutes. Flights are also available from other local airports at a supplement. Details of your baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately 10 days before departure. We include a transfer from Guernsey airport to La Barbarie Hotel and return. The transfer time is about 10 minutes.
If you intend joining and leaving the party in Guernsey, we assume, unless you have advised us otherwise, that you will meet and leave the party at La Barbarie Hotel. If this is not your intention, please let us know in writing at least 5 weeks before departure. We can provide you with transfers however you must notify us of your flight details.
Luggage Allowance & Travel Documents
When booking a flight or rail inclusive holiday with us, details of your travel arrangements and baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately 10 days prior to departure.
Personal Details Check
Please ensure that the personal details we have on file for you are up to date and that you have provided the information we need to secure your holiday travel and accommodation arrangements.
Please check your passport details, date of birth and any other important details necessary for us to accurately manage your holiday booking are correct at the time of booking (including health and dietry requirements). You can view and update information already provided, and add details not yet asked for, by using the Manage My Booking facility on our website www.adagio.co.uk, or by calling our Sales and Reservations team on +44 (0)1707 386700. When you receive your booking confirmation please check the details as soon as possible.
Passport Information for United Kingdom
Any non UK or EU citizens may be subject to passport, identity card or visa requirements to enter the United Kingdom.
This holiday is on a half board basis. Breakfasts and evening meals will be taken in the hotel restaurant. We also include one packed lunch. Other lunches will be at your expense and we suggest you allow at least £7 per day.
St Martin is located in the south east of Guernsey where it borders The Forest on the southwest and St Peter Port on the northeast. It is one of the most expensive parishes on the island to purchase property, with many being quaint farmhouses or thatched cottages. It is also the second highest parish on Guernsey resulting in stunning coastal scenery only a short walk away.
St Martin has a small village, only a short walk from your hotel, which contains a few small shops ideal for getting picnic supplies. Hotel staff or your Adagio Leader will be able to direct you there should you wish to visit the village on your arrival day. St Peter Port is only a 10-minute bus ride from St Martin.
Footwear
Comfortable, broken in, walking boots or shoes with a good sole are recommended for this holiday. Walking shoes or other comfortable footwear will be suitable for sightseeing days.
General Kit List
We recommend you bring the following items with you:
Travel Documents Checklist
Documents and Information to take with you:
Water To Go
An alternative to bottled water from single-use sealed water bottles is filtered water from a refillable bottle containing its own water filter such as a Water-to-go bottle available from www.watertogo.eu. Just fill up from any water source and save the environment from disposable plastic bottles.
We have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with our partners Water-to-Go for you as a thank you for helping the environment. Please go to their website at www.watertogo.eu and enter the code RWH17 when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Sole, which will allow us to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays.
The Map Shop
If you cannot find the maps or books locally we recommend:
The Map Shop
5 High Street
Upton upon Severn, Worcs
WR8 0HJ
England
Tel: 01684 593 146
Website: www.themapshop.co.uk
E-mail: [email protected]
If you key many of the local places mentioned in this holiday fact sheet into YouTube, you will find a vast array of spectacular footage of the area.
Weather
Visit the following websites for an idea of the climate in your destination:
Health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP.
Health Advice for United Kingdom
No compulsory immunisations are required for holidays in the UK although you should be up to date with the usual immunisations recommended for life in Britain. Tetanus immunisation is recommended.
Further Travel Advice
For further advice please visit:
You might wish to take a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel with you for times when you're unable to wash your hands.
The UK National Health Service does not operate in the Channel Islands, with most medical practitioners in private practice and patients being required to pay for treatment and any use of the ambulance service. Although a reciprocal medical agreement exists between Jersey and Guernsey and the UK mainland covering immediate and necessary treatment of conditions which arise during your stay, travel insurance with medical cover is essential for this holiday.
The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides up to date information on security and local laws for travellers, together with current passport and visa information, at www.gov.uk/travelaware. Please take a few minutes to look at the current advice on your planned destination.
Please be aware of what's going on around you, take sensible precautions with your credit cards and passport and avoid displays of wealth such as wearing expensive jewellery or watches. Do not carry more cash on you than you will need for each day, and we recommend that a money belt is used.
Responsible Travel
We're committed to ethical tourism in all our destinations. Our holidays are designed for you to discover the essence of the country you are visiting. Travelling in small groups not only gives you an up close and personal experience of your destination, but minimises your impact on the immediate environment. We feel that the most important starting point to protect the environment is to be out in it. For more details visit our website.
The Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust
Unlike many tour operators we have our own trust through which RWH Travel’s profits are channelled back into a variety of outdoor, walking-related or environmental conservation projects in the UK. The focus of the Trust’s financial support is Britain’s leading walking charity, The Ramblers, and their role in promoting the benefits and importance of walking to the British public. In addition the Trust welcomes applications for small grants from local organisations in the UK who need support for walking-orientated activities. This includes the establishment of footpaths and bridleways, funding for rebuilding bridges and renovating huts, as well as bursary funding for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for children who could not otherwise afford to do it. Please visit the ‘About Us’ section of our website and click on the Charitable Trust link for more details.
Heart and Sole
We appreciate that we are in a fortunate position to be able to use our profits to help make a difference to people's lives. Heart & Sole is a venture managed by our office staff, whose aim is to reach the heart of the communities in the countries we visit. Through Heart & Sole, we hope to make more of a long term, direct impact to these communities, particularly in less developed countries where even a small amount goes a long way. See our website for more information and details of some of the projects we support.
Mobile Phones
Please do provide us with a mobile phone contact number. We will only use this to contact you with important information relating to your holiday arrangements.
Do keep your mobile phones switched on and readily available when travelling to the airport or if delayed in transit so that we can contact you with any last minute information relating to your travel arrangements.
As a matter of courtesy, please switch off your mobile phone during walks, or endeavour to minimise its use. Please also try to minimise the use of mobile devices during group meals.
Reviews
Useful Information
Capital
Currency
Language
Time Difference
Flight duration
Visas and Passports
January
Avg. Rain: 95mm
February
Avg. Rain: 70mm
March
Avg. Rain: 65mm
April
Avg. Rain: 55mm
May
Avg. Rain: 50mm
June
Avg. Rain: 45mm
July
Avg. Rain: 40mm
August
Avg. Rain: 50mm
September
Avg. Rain: 60mm
October
Avg. Rain: 95mm
November
Avg. Rain: 105mm
December
Avg. Rain: 115mm
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