Want to go abroad but don’t have enough annual leave?
Want to go abroad but don’t want to fly?
Consider visiting Guernsey with Condor Ferries!
We were invited to a day trip in Guernsey by Condor Ferries. Neither of us has ever been to Guernsey and it is getting harder and harder to fly being over 6 months pregnant. So we jumped at the chance for a day trip abroad!
ABOUT GUERNSEY
You can find Guernsey in the English Channel Island just off Normandy. Guernsey has a rich and interesting history, full of mystery. Guernsey is not part of the UK but is a self-governing dependency of the Crown. Guernsey feels awfully British- just more sunny!
You can reach Guernsey from the UK via ferry or flight. The flight is just over an hour and it is a 3 hour journey with Condor Ferries.
Being an island, Guernsey has amazing coastlines and plenty of outdoor and indoor activities suitable for people of all ages. Guernsey has 27 bays, some are beaches, some have hidden coves and some with impressive cliffs.
If you are not into outdoor activities, Guernsey is also full of interesting museums, gardens and castles. You can also hit the shops in St Peter Port, the capital of Guernsey, or enjoy delicious local seafood!
GETTING THERE
Condor Ferries depart from Poole or Portsmouth. We rode on the high-speed Condor Liberation and got from Poole to Guernsey in just under 3 hours. There is a choice of seating in the Condor Liberation and you can upgrade you seat for an even more comfortable ride.
You don’t have to worry about getting bored on the journey. There is free WiFi on board and charging facilities in the Ocean Plus and Ocean club. There is also a children’s area for them to play and watch films in.
Duty Free is available if you are looking for some retail therapy en route. There is also hot food and drink available on board.
If you’ve had enough of being inside, there is a 360° observation deck for fresh air and view.
We were allocated seats in Ocean Plus with reclining seats. We had plenty of leg rooms and we really enjoyed the 180o panoramic view from the lounge. The seats were so comfy that we spent most of our time sleeping. If only flying was this comfortable!!
The ferry arrives around 10:30am and you should reach St Peter Port by 11am latest.
ITINERARY
4 hours is not enough time to explore all that Guernsey has to offer but if you move fast, we can catch a few highlights!
Guernsey Information Centre
We first stopped off at the Guernsey Information Centre as it was on the way to Castle Cornet anyway. We wanted a few leaflets and maps before we started exploring. They have all the information you need in one place!
If you are in Guernsey for longer, you can also pick up maps and information about their Tasty Walks which will take you on the best trials around Guernsey and lead you to amazing food!
Castle Cornet
Castle Cornet is a must when it comes to Guernsey. It is an 800 year old castle situated on an island just off St Peter Port harbour. It has 5 museums and 4 period gardens inside.
Don’t forget to walk up to visit the beautiful light house beside the castle!
There is a daily guided tour at 10:30am which we missed but we were able to catch the noon-day gun by scarlet clad gunners. Be warned, it can be very loud and will most likely take you by surprise!
You can also stay in to see a living history performance after the gun firing. We gave it a missed as time was of the essence and we wanted to make sure we see as much as we could.
This beautiful Joy XL studded in taupe backpack is actually a changing bag! Amazing or what? I took it out for a test run for the day and it is so comfortable and can fit so much in! Check out www.kerikit.com for more amazing designs that fit all stylish mums!
Candie Gardens
If you fancy a bit of nature and a garden walk, visit Candie Gardens. We walked there from the castle and it took around 15 minutes. We then spent some time relaxing at the café before exploring the gardens.
You can also find a statue of Victor Hugo there which was presented to Guernsey by the French Government. You will also find cute little green houses dotted around the garden! If you have the time, you can ask for the key to Victoria Tower from the museum. You get to explore the tower and enjoy the stunning view of Guernsey!
Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery
Before we left Candie Garden, we made a very quick stop at the Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery. When I say quick, I mean quick. We were in and out within 10 minutes. The museum would be perfect for those who want to know a little more about the history of Guernsey and those travelling with children.
After exploring, we only had a limited time to grab a sandwich before heading back to our catch out ferry at 2pm.
OUR THOUGHTS ON CONDOR FERRIES
Pros:
- Extremely comfortable seats
- Very smooth ride, being 6 months pregnant, I did not get any sickness on board at all
- Food and snack widely available (they had lovely ice-cream on board!)
- Great option if you want to take your car to Guernsey
- Perfect for young family wanting to travel but not wanting to fly
- Suitable for day trips and short breaks
- More convenient than going to the airport and having to endure long security checks
Cons:
- Spending 4 hours ashore is not enough! There is so much to do and explore in Guernsey I would recommend you book a short break if you have the time! We are definitely going to try and come back for a short break when the baby is born
- Bear in mind that it takes time to disembark the ferry so make sure you plan ahead and leave plenty of time to do each activity if you are going on a day trip
- Ocean Traveller is the standard seating but they really do miss out on the view and luxurious seats we got on our trip! I would urge you to upgrade your seat to really enhance your on board experience
BOOK YOUR TRIP WITH CONDOR FERRIES HERE
*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Condor Ferries but all photos and opinions are our own*
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