Channel Islands | Small group walking tour for seniors

You arrive at the hotel in St. Helier on Jersey by own arrangements, In the evening the group gets together for a welcome dinner and briefing of the tour. The group is based for the first seven nights in St Helier.

Today we have a full day of sightseeing in and around St. Helier. This will us to familiarise ourselves and learn more about the area before setting off to explore its perimeter in earnest on Day 3. Our sightseeing today includes entrance to the Maritime Museum and visitor center, and to the War Tunnels in nearby St. Lawrence.

Today we begin with a visit to the Elizabeth Castle, perched upon a tidal island in St. Aubin's Bay accessible by a short ferry shuttle - if timing is right, we may be able to walk across instead. We begin our guided tours with an easy-going day to warm up. We follow the curve of the bay round to St. Aubin's Bay (3km), with some free time to visit the Harbour Gallery and stop for lunch at a local restaurant. We then drive south onto the peninsula of Noirmont Point, to visit, opening times permitting, the CIOS sites of Battery Lothringen and Marine Peilst and Tower (entrance included but usually only open on weekends), and continue around St. Brelade's Bay(5km). There will be free time to explore the seafront town before returning to St. Helier.

Today we pick up where we left of the previous day. After breakfast as island packers we will be transferred to St. Brelade's Bay and will then head west along the coast to the south-western corner of the island, Corbiere Lighthouse (6km). One of the most scenic and secluded beaches in all the Channel Islands can be found en route at Beauport. After walking the causeway at Corbiere, we will transfer away from the coast to experience some of Jersey's best inland walking, taking a walkalong the scenic Waterworks Valley and following the leafy woodland path along the Chemin des Moulins to the Hamptonne Country Life Museum, which provides insight intro traditional rural life in Jersey (3km). It is a short hike that reveals the islands natural beauty. Dinner tonight is included and will be in a local restaurant.

Today's walking (13km) will take in the main features of the western and north-western coasts - beginning at St. Ouen's Bay, a long sweeping sandy beach which stretches virtually the entire length of the west coast. After the beach, we climb up the Plemont headland, which is scattered with numerous military buildings and ruins and stark coastal features such as Le Pinacle outcrop, you have a chance to enjoy the breathtaking views. The undulating cliff path continues to Plemont Bay, where the group will then be shuttled to the sheltered cove of Greve de Lecq to have some lunch(own expense) and recharge. This afternoon's walking will include a visit to the collapsed caves of the Devil's Hole and end at Sorrel Point.

After breakfast, the group will head to Bonne Nuit Bay to continue walking the northern coastline today. The more rugged and severe north coast makes for some of the more challenging but of course also the most impressive Channel island hiking the group may enjoy. Walking on Jersey, with the coastal path to Bouley Bay snaking along the top of some of the island's highest cliffs(10km). Our coach will collect us at Bouley Bay and transfer us to Rozel. The Hungry Man shack in Rozel is one of the island's famed eating spots offering some of the freshest seafood on the island, with their signature crab sandwiches filled with crabs caught that very day so a light lunch here has been included. En-route back to St. Helier from Rozel, we stop at La Hogue Bie Museum - home to one of the world's ten oldest buildings (older than the Pyramids of Giza), one of Europe's finest passage graves.

This morning, the we will transfer to Flicquet Bay at the island's north-eastern corner to begin our final day of walking on Jersey, completing the coastal route. Today's walkdown the east coast includes a stop at the scenic bay next to St. Catherine's breakwater, and the imposing hilltop castle of Mont Orgueil at Gorey, whose scenic harbour offers a multitude of dining options for lunch (own expense). The walk continues down Grouville Bay to the south-eastern corner of the island, at La Rocque harbour. Our coach will take us back toto St. Helier, or those who are keen can continue walking the extra 5km. Dinner tonight will be in a local restaurant.

After breakfast we will be transferred to St. Helier harbour to catch the ferry to Guernsey. Please note that ferry departures are subject to last-minute time changes or even cancellation due to weather, (so the itinerary may be subject to change). On arrival in Guernsey we'll be transferred to our hotel and the remainder of the day is at leisure. We be based in the same hotel for the next 10 nights in St. Peter Port as the island is again so small, all the sights can be easily be explored on day excursions. Dinner tonight will be in our hotel.

Today we have a full day of sightseeing in and around St. Peter Port to get to know the town and surrounding areas before we start our scheduled walks around Guernsey. During our sightseeing we will visit Castle Cornet, the recently restored Hauteville House (Victor Hugo's house) and the James Dorey Centre.

This morning we head south out of St Peter Port to Fort George, with a visit to La Vallette Underground Military Museum which provides good insight into the island's military history. From here we drive to Fermain. This south-east corner of the coast is a haven for seabirds and wildflowers, with rugged cliffs and great panoramic views out to sea. We will enjoy a nice walk on the beach. Along the way we will stop and visit the Sausmarez Subtropical Gardens and for guided tour of Sausmarez Manor. From Icart, we will return to St Peter Port by coach.

This morning we begin our day's walking from the picturesque Petit Bot Bay, where we visit the German Occupation Museum which provides further insight into this turbulent period of the island's history. The group can also get up close to one of the island's 15 famed loophole towers, built during the 18th century to defend against potential French attacks. We will drive from Petit Bot Bay to Pleinmont, where a well-preserved stone circle 'Fairy Ring' offers evidence of Guernsey's superstitious history. We will then walk along the coastal path, finishing at Portelet Beach where we will have some free time to explore the area. Dinner tonight will be in a local restaurant.

TAfter breakfast, our coach takes us to Rocquaine where we visit the Fort Grey Shipwreck Museum. The reward for some more challenging walking over the preceding days is today’s relatively easy walking (about 10 km) along the western seaboard, from Rocquaine right up to Rousse, where the island’s most picture-perfect white-sand beaches, such as Cobo, Vazon and Point Soif, line up one after another. Lihou Island is a tidal island, which we may be able to walk across if there’s low tide. There are also countless small nature reserves and conservation areas along the coast such as Shingle Bank and Colin Best Nature Reserves. At the end of our day’s walk our coach will return us to St. Peter Port.

Today we enjoy a full day excursion to Herm. It is the smallest of the main Channel Islands and the closest to Guernsey, taking just 15-20 minutes to reach by ferry. A guide will meet us upon arrival on Herm and lead an easy and leisurely half-day walking tour encircling this tiny island, whose northern half is entirely bordered by white sand. We return by ferry to St Peter Port and transfer to our hotel. Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant.

This morning, after breakfast, we transfer to the port and take the fast ferry to Alderney. This still takes 1.5 hours! We will be met at the ferryport on Alderney, to embark on a full day of exploring by mini-coach. We will view many sights from the coach, with possibility to stop for a photos of course, including the beaches of Saye, Arch and Corblets. We will drive to Braye to Mannez Point, past the lighthouse and the Nunnery - Britain's best preserved small Roman Fort, before an included lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch we will do a short walk to the western shore where we can Les Etacs - the Gannet Colony. We will return to Peter Port by ferry.

After breakfast, our coach takes us to Rocquaine where we visit the Fort Grey Shipwreck Museum. From here we will walk (2km) to L'Eree, before driving to Vazon ,with  countless small nature reserves and conservation areas along the coast such as Shingle Bank and Colin Best Nature Reserves. We will visit Port Soif, with chances to see Fort Hommet and Cobo Bay on the way. Before driving back to our hotel, we will visit Rousse and its Loophole Tower.

Today we have a full day trip to Sark by ferry. Sark is within easy reach of Guernsey and is served by a regular ferry service. Sark is a rockier affair than some of its neighbouring islands, meaning fewer beaches but some impressive coastal scenery and cliffs. After a steep ascent from the harbour, the island is largely a raised plateau, so the walking should still be relatively easy-going. Upon arrival at the port, we will be met by a tractor bus who will take us to La Colinette, from where we will walk to La Seigneurie for a guided tour, and stop to view 'The Window in The Rock' on the western coast. After lunch together in a local restaurant, we will walk to the southern edge of the island, crossing the 'La Coupee' isthmus to Little Sark, before walking back to the ferry terminal and returning to Guernsey.

This morning, after breakfast, our local coach will transfer us to Les Vauxbelets, where we visit the fascinating Little Chapel and German Military Underground Hospital. There will also be time to visit the Guernsey Goat’s Cheese farm in Les Brehauts and the Guernsey Dairy cow farm in St Andrew. We will then return to St Peter Port and have the remainder of the day at leisure until we meet again for our farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Our tour concludes after breakfast.