Guernsey’s Spring Walking Festival is Back and Starts from May 21st
The Spring Walking festival is returning to Guernsey, allowing visitors to explore the island and all it has to offer. This year’s festival will give visitors and residents the opportunity to join guided walks, where they will learn about the islands’ history and heritage sites first-hand from local experts.
Walking and hiking have become incredibly popular over recent years, to the point where they’ve pretty much become a luxury in the lives of many. This spring sees the return of the Spring Walking Festival in Guernsey, and on the programme this year will be a rare opportunity to explore the islands by air via a private one-hour flight with an experienced Bush pilot.
Whether visitors want to hike along the coast, explore the islands’ ruettes tranquilles or discover the ancient town of St Peter Port, the Spring Walking Festival’s locally accredited guides offer a wide variety of walking experiences throughout the two-week festival. Guided walks are the perfect way for visitors to see the islands and find out more about their rich history.
The new VisitGuernsey walking app, which is now available to download for free, complements the Spring walking festival with additional self-guided routes for those that want to further explore independently.
Organised by the Bailiwick of Guernsey Guild of Accredited Guides, the Spring Walking Festival will offer visitors a choice of over 40 morning, afternoon, and evening guided walks across the islands of Guernsey, Herm and Sark. The walks vary in difficulty and length and are suitable for all ages and abilities. Walks begin at £10 per person, but children under 16 may be able to go free in some cases.
The festival programme includes:
An aerial jolly around the islands of Guernsey, Herm and Jethou
21 May – 05 June
The Spring Walking Festival – by air! This year, visitors will have the rare opportunity to view the islands of Guernsey, Herm and Jethou from a completely new perspective: 2,000 feet up in the air with an experienced Bush pilot. The one-hour tour is available upon request daily throughout the festival.
The price is £120 for up to two people. More information can be found here.
The WWII German Occupation of Sark
21 May 08:30 – 18:30
This all-day walk on the island of Sark, a 45-minute ferry from Guernsey’s St Peter Port, uncovers the history of the island between 1940 and 1945 when the island was occupied by Germans forces. Led by a local Sark islander, the walk will follow the route of two infamous British commando raids, visit the murder scene of a German Officer, tour the area where the German Headquarters were situated, among other places connected with the Occupation.
The price is £18 per person. More information can be found here.
St Peter Port Town Walk
21 May – 5 June, various dates and times
Ten special guided tours of Guernsey’s capital St Peter Port are being organised during the festival, each following a different route favoured by the island’s guides. The jewel in Guernsey’s crown, the historic town of St Peter Port, is one of Europe’s prettiest harbours with colourful flowers all year round, beautiful buildings and churches, gardens and views over to the neighbouring islands of Herm and Sark.
The price is £10 per person. More information can be found here.
Cows and Coast
3 June, 14:00 – 15:00
A new tour for this year, this easy walk on the west coast of the island, will meet some of the island’s most famous and popular residents – the Guernsey cow. Walkers will be able to get up close with the cattle while learning how grazing can help the environment and increase biodiversity.
The price is £10 per person. Pre-booking is advised to guarantee a place. For more information on accredited guides and individual walks, please visit www.guernseyguidedtours.com.
PACKAGE:
Channel Islands Direct is offering a four-night stay at the four-star St Pierre Park Hotel priced from £352 per person (B&B) for two adults sharing. Full details are available here.
Ramblers Walking Holidays offer six-night escorted walking holidays to Guernsey from £1,470 per person, including day trips to Herm and Sark. The price includes return flights, half board accommodation at a four-star hotel, services of a dedicated guide, and activities and transport as listed. Full details are available here.
For more information on the Spring Walking Festival, visit www.visitguernsey.com/see-and-do/events-festivals/spring-walking-festival/.
