Channeling wild swimming, beach hiking and cycling

Have you ever been to Guernsey?

To be honest it was never really on my radar, until I was recently on board a cruise ship which made a one day stop off on the beautiful Channel Island. Guernsey is an island 113km off the coast of the UK and 48 km from France.  

We arrived on Guernsey midmorning, at St Peter Port. We wanted to go for a swim in the sea and do a coastal hike. The concierge on board the ship had recommended Cobo Beach for swimming and a lovely seafood restaurant nearby for lunch. As Cobo Beach is in the north of the island and St Peter Port is in the South, we had a few options of how to get there. The island is only 14.5 km long and 5 km across, so getting around is pretty easy. Firstly, taxis are quick and easy to get from the port, as is the bus, which takes a little longer, but is much cheaper. We opted for bikes as we wanted to have a ride around the coastline. We found a cycle and e-bike hire shop in St Peter Port and followed the coastline north towards our chosen beach. 

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There are 11 official cycle routes in Guernsey which take in many of the beautiful sites and beaches along the way. We found it easy to cycle along the coast for a while and then nipped through the centre of the island to shorten the journey, as we were only there for a few hours. 

Once we reached the Cobo Bay Hotel we knew we were in the right area. We were all so excited to go for a swim in the sea that we headed straight for the water! I’m a huge fan of wild swimming, whether it’s in the sea or in a freshwater lake. There are so many positive health benefits to swimming in salt water. A wild swim can relieve stress, get the metabolism going, its exercise, so it energises, whilst at the same time floating is an amazing way to relax. Every element from feeling the sand between your toes, the cold sharp shock when you first enter the water, through to floating in the clear, blue expanse, helps to promote mental and physical wellbeing. It was June so the weather was quite warm, and the water was refreshing, but not too cold. After the swim we even managed to have a little bit of a sunbathe on the beach before going for lunch.  

Lunch choice was a cute, chic seafood restaurant called Le Reunion, which serves freshly caught fish, lobster and steak. It is slightly on the pricey side, but the cheese soufflé starter alone makes it worth it! It’s also been voted the #1 restaurant in Guernsey by TripAdvisor. 

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After lunch we decided to go for a bit of a hike along the spectacular coastline. The beaches are so quiet and deserted (especially midweek), that you almost feel like you’re the only person there. We walked along the shoreline lined with flowers, shoes in hand, barefoot, dipping our toes in the water. We walked over to Grandes Roque Beach and stopped off at the deserted Grand Roque Battery, a former military ruin, with a great view out to the sea. We breathed in the sea air and took a break on the viewpoint for a while. If you have time, you could always head to Surfside Cafe at Port Soif, (the next beach along the coast) they serve the best ice cream on the island. But as we were short on time and had to head back to the Port and back to the ship. 

We had such a beautiful day walking on the coastline, riding bikes, going for a dip and a delicious seafood lunch. I really recommend it for a day trip or even a couple of nights stay. The island is so small it’s super easy to get around. The beaches are clean, safe and quiet, it’s the perfect place for a little mindful getaway. I think I’ll revisit soon but stay for a few nights next time, as I feel there’s more to discover. 

Other fun things to do in Guernsey include stand-up paddle boarding, hiking, visiting the food and crafts markets on the island, have a treatment at the spa or afternoon tea at the Old Government House. 

Have you been to Guernsey? Let us know about your experience by writing about it and sending it into tripr? 

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