Guernsey - Day 7

Almost to the end of our stay in Guernsey.  Still so much to see and no time to do so.  Today we decided to visit two places.

First Cobo Bay - why because my OH thought it a ring to its name.  For me I wanted to explore St Peters Port and see what it has to offer. 

So not so early this morning - 8 a.m. for the bus into town, then catch the No. 42 to Cobo Bay.  It would be an hour before the next bus, so we walked up the road - 10 min walk we were told to the public loo - which turned out to be a good 20 mins. 

 

Taken on our way back along the beach.  Lots of seaweed, and a few rocks. 

Lots of seagulls

 

Where we walked from.

 

 

Almost reached the bus stop when we saw it coming.  Too late we didn't make it!  Now I know it was too early, but the timed one did not arrive on time anyway. 

 

Next stop "Elizabeth College".  The only landmark I recognised on the map to be close to the Candie Gardens which led towards the Libary.

 

We had to walk some distance down the hill and across the road, and then a very steep incline up the hill to the Museum. 

 

Looked very interesting, but we were running out of time to fit other things in.

 

The sign to the Library. 

 

Here it is.  I could spend all day here, but since we short for time, I picked out a couple things I would like to see.  It was truly beautiful inside.  Books were displayed from floor to ceiling.  There was also an exhibition of the Guernsey Press.  We did find this interesting, and spent some time looking through all the news for the last 200 years.

 

 

 

No time to hang about - we must find the High Street.  We wandered through Candie Gardens to make our way down the hill.   Here is the High Street with all the well known stores - Boots, M&S etc. 

 

Of course we are not buying anything.  We wandered down the cobbled streets to Market Square.

 

 

Look what I found - a blue letter box! 

 

Not sure what this building is or was.

Market Square.  Lots of tables, and a couple stalls.  What a shame it is a lovely place to visit.

This lady was selling cupcakes. I did ask if I could take a photograph.  Don't they look delicious?

These were my favourite - just looked like pots of flowers. 

We are back on the sea front - yellow telephone boxes? 

Another St Peters Port photo.  The tide is in.  We are now off to see Cornet Castle.  Its a long walk down the end of the pier.



I can't believe this.  We hunted every where for fresh fish and never found anywhere and just on our last day whilst walking down the pier we come across this one. Personally I hate fish, but my OH loves it, and would eat it every day!!!

Never mind, maybe next time.  We walk towards the castle. 

Look a Condor Ferry arriving.  Going at such a speed before slowing down to enter the harbour.

 

There is an admission charge to enter the castle, we do not go in.  We manage to read some history about the castle on the outside. 

Afterwards, we walk further down the pier. 

 

Part of the castle backing onto the water, rock below.  Long pier to the lighthouse

 

 

A warning sign pinned to the wall - that you go past that point at your own risk.  The break water can occur anytime.

 

 

 

A long walk back to the bus terminus, but first before we catch the very last bus, we will go back to The Yacht Hotel, where we had first enjoyed a huge pot of tea. 

Finally Bus No. 81 - this would take us to Jerboug - we would not return to the town terminus but get off the bus at St Martins Village and walk the rest of the way back.  The bus stopped for a couple (an elderly lady and a younger lady) who had been walking coastal walk from St Peters Port.  I admire their courage. 

So now we are back at the Apartment, for a refreshing cup of tea, but still some daylight hours left.  I wanted one final walk down to Fermain Bay.

So my poor OH comes with me.  We get to the end of the road and have to make the descent down via a track to the bay. 

We did not get far because the descent was steep, and we had been told earlier on in the holiday by another couple it is a touch climb back up again, so we aborted that idea and followed the other lanes instead - without a map!!!

An hour and half later we did find our way back. 

And so now the end of our holiday is drawing to a close.  We need to tidy the apartment, and have everything ready for when the taxi collects us at 7am the next morning. 

So what did I think of the holiday?  Yes 100% recommend Guernsey as a place to visit.  If you don't take a car, the seven travel pass is great.  Catch any bus, go anywhere.  My only regret is that we did not have more days.  There was still three buses we didn't catch, there was masses of places to see which we never had the time to do so.

And if you do get a chance to visit - try their butter.

So now to bed and an early rise in the morning for our trip home.

 

Guernsey - Day 6

OH isn't feeling at all great so I suggested he stay back at the apartment while I explored the island by bus.  As long as not too much walking he will tag along he said.  So I again reshuffled the itinery for the next two days.

Today we left a little later - on the 8.45 a.m. bus to the Village first so that we could buy some cough mixture.

Look we have some mist this morning. 

It soon brightened up and so we caught the No.11 bus to St Peters Port, where we caught No. 21 heading for the Oaklands Village. 

Many many years ago........  OK I read all the history about this place, but my memory is like a sieve. No sooner in, it is out again.  What I do remember is Oatlands Village although inland now was in fact on the waters edge.  Guernsey in that good old days was split in two and somehow the land was reclaimed which filled the gap between the two. 

It is all written on notice boards throughout the Oatlands Village complex. Oatlands is not as big as I imagined, but full of history anyway.  Here are the remaining brick kilns. Very interesting piece of history on this.

 This building with the porch is the loos.  I have to say that loos in Guernsey are kept clean all the time.  I was very impressed.

There is mini golf here, but I did not have a go.  And some great gift shops.  It was a little chilly on this day, and there was hardly anyone about.  A shame as it is a great place to visit.

 In the car park we came across this great bus, a great item for a wedding. 

We just love old buses, any classic vehicles really. An end to an era, its ashame, but great there are still loads of enthusiasts - young and old.

Right we have 20 mins to wait for the next bus.  We both perch ourselves on two granite boulders which is the bus stop.

Along comes the No. 21 for us to complete the journey and return to the town.

 

 We skim around another bay heading for the town centre.  Either Les Vardes or L'Islet.

And another view of the sea.

 As we came to St Peters Port, I spotted a cruise liner anchored a way out.

It is misty out at sea today, so zoomed in a little to catch another photo.

Our next trip from the town terminus was the No. 41 to take us via Saumarez Park. 

We asked the bus driver to drop us off at the nearest point. Here she gave us directions on where to find the Park.

The path led to an area of well managed lawns and flower beds. 

Further along we found a gate to the Victorian Garden which is run by Volunteers.  Inside the gateway was a wheel barrow with free veg.

.

Lots of strange shapes.  Unfortunately we only had one more day to go and could not possibly fit one of these into our suitcase!

Look at these whopping pumpkins, don't they look delicious.

Mine never grow like this.  I wonder what the Victorians used for compost?

The Folk Museum.  I would have been interested if we had the time. 

We then wandered back towards the bus stop and caught the next 41/42 to complete the journey back to the town terminus.

From there we caught the No. 11 bus back to the Apartment for a cup of tea and a piece of cake.

We still had some time left so we walked to Sauzmarez Manor, visited the grounds.  There was also a subtropical garden but we did not go in.  It was an interesting walk around to see some of the pieces in a sculpture exhibition. 

Also visited the Coppersmiths shop, very interesting man to talk to and he showed us some of the pieces he was working on.  Fantastic!


And so back to the apartment and another day gone.  Early to bed and early to rise.

Guernsey - Day 5 - Herm Island

Day 5 - An early start again, this time to be able to visit Herm for a cheaper fare we had to be at the Jetty to catch the 8.30 a.m. ferry.

Taken 7.30 a.m. - a little early but time to wander around and to purchase our tickets.

 

Here is our ferry, almost ready to board.  We are just waiting for lots of bags and boxes of what looks like laundry and food to be loaded first.

We decided to go inside for the trip to Herm.  This was taken just before we departed.  I believe there were only about five people on board.  Not many as brave as we were for a early morning start.

There is Herm Island in the distance.  Only 20 mins ride, so not long now.

Almost there.

A quick hop across from boat to jetty and a little walk up the hill.  This is one of the beaches.

 The same beach a little higher up.  My OH was not feeling so great, so instead of walking the whole of the island, I suggested we should at least get a quarter of the island walked.  Very disappointed I could not complete the whole circuit and the bit in between.  Really magnificent views. 

A little way around the coast path we came across "The Cemetery".  This appeared to be the only grave and remnants of a entrance gate. 

Perhaps this explained it a little further on.

 

Some great views as you walk up the hills. 

 

Unfortunately could not take everything in, and so we descended a very steep hill towards the harbour in no time at all.  Even passed a chapel, which I would have liked to visit, but the hike back up the hill would have been too much.

 

Into one of the pubs for a refreshing cup of coffee - then lunch - I was keen to try the icecream sundae.

So eager that I forgot to photograph it!!  It was delicious, lashings of strawberries, nutty bits, icecream and cream - not good for the waistline but very enjoyable.

 

After a couple hours just resting and watching the world go by, we decided to find out which jetty the ferry was leaving from.  It wasn't the one we got on but about 10 mins walk along the coastal part. 

 

We first found a sandy beach which we could not resist walking across.  I was reliving my childhood days and added some prints to the sand.

 

This one was always my favourite, looking like baby feet, using your fist to punch in the sand and add the dots for toes.  Very short lived as I then wanted to walk over the rocks.

 

 



That was fun......now off to meet the ferry.

 

 

I think this was called Rosalie Steps.  The tide is too low for the ferry to moor at the other jetty so we all had to wait here.

Whilst waiting for the ferry you talk as one does, to other people and we find a couple who had many years came from the same town and worked at the same place as I did.  Of course I could not remember the names, but it did pass the time whilst waiting for the ferry to arrive.

This couple were with a tour company and so they had to wait for the next ferry with their other travelling companions, so a big wave from me as we leave the jetty.

We travelled on the outside back of ferry for the return trip.

A last glimpse of the islands.....as we head for St Peters Port once again. Catch the No.11 bus back to our accommodation.

We are now back at the Apartment for a nice cup of tea and a rest.