Seymour Hotels Centenary Magazine SPREADS - Flipbook - Page 83
SPOTLIGHT ITINARIES
SPOTLIGHT ITINARIES
FOUR DAYs
DAY ONE
For your first day, follow our one-day itinerary. It provides
the perfect start to your trip, giving you some background
knowledge of the Island as well as helping to familiarise
yourself with the landscape.
DAY TWO
After breakfast, head out west to the Jersey War Tunnels.
This underground hospital was built mostly by slave workers
from across Europe. Dug deep into the hillside, these tunnels
run over 1km in length and tell the remarkable and moving
tale of the German Occupation, the particular cruelty of the
Nazi regime, and the chilling story of those who built the
tunnels. Make sure you take a jumper as these tunnels are
cold even in the height of summer. Having wondered through
the tunnels, nip across to the Vega Café for a warming cup of
tea.
ONE DAY
If you only have one full day in the Island,
then there is no time to waste!
Starting bright and early after enjoying a hearty breakfast at
your hotel, head into town and explore the heart of St. Helier.
But don’t let our charming high street distract you for too
long. Drop into the Royal Square to see where the Battle
of Jersey was fought – can you spot the musket holes in the
walls of the Peirson pub? Then why not visit Liberation
Square and see the statue that commemorates our freedom
from the German Occupation during World War II. If you
have managed to avoid the shops, head to the Jersey Museum
and Art Gallery for an introduction to Jersey’s vast history.
Take a short walk across the waterfront to the Elizabeth
Castle ferry kiosk to catch the quirky amphibious vehicle
across to the “new” castle. Climb the battlements that date
back to the 1590s, explore the turrets and German bunkers,
visit the hermitage where St Helier, the Patron Saint of our
town is thought to have lived around 550 A.D., and walk
through the rooms where Sir Walter Raleigh and King
Charles II of England once lived. The small cafe in the castle
is the perfect spot for a cup of tea and a cake to keep you
going.
Once back on dry land, venture out east and enjoy the view
of the changing coast as you head towards Mont Orgueil
castle. Stop off at Gorey and walk along the harbour. This is
a perfect stop for lunch where you can sample some of the
seafood Jersey is famous for in one of the many restaurants.
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After lunch, discover the secret footpath behind the
restaurants that leads you up to the castle. But be careful, it’s
steep. Once at the top of this path you can stroll through the
grounds of the medieval Mont Orgueil Castle. Climb to the
top of the battlements to see some stunning views and France
in the distance. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphin. Head
down the stairs beneath the Great Hall to find the witches’
dungeon.
If you fancy a further walk, venture up the hill beside the
Crab Shack and wander through the lanes to find one of our
dolmens. Walk around the edge of this passage grave and
enjoy connecting with nature.
As the afternoon draws to a close, it is time to head west
and chase the sunset. Stop off at Noirmont to see some of
the German fortifications – bonus points if you can find the
sandbags that have become embedded in the headland rock –
before making another pitstop at Corbière Lighthouse. If the
tide is low, you can walk across the causeway to get a closer
look, but the views of the dramatic landscape while stood on
the headland are breath-taking.
For dinner, head to the Watersplash and watch the gorgeous
sunset and see the myriad of colours play across the ocean.
Did you see the famous Green Flash as the sun slips below
the horizon?
From the War Tunnels head back towards the coast,
following the path of the old Jersey Western Railway,
through the charming fishing village of St. Aubin. Tales of
smugglers, privateers and piracy are ripe within these waters.
Stroll around the bulwarks, along the waterfront and pop
into the Harbour Gallery to see some local works of art.
Head up and over the hill towards St Brelade’s Bay. One of
our most popular beaches in the summer, this is a lovely bay
to spend the afternoon in if the sun is shining, with plenty of
seaside activities on offer from kayaking to paddle boarding.
Enjoy the delights of the bay and venture towards the Parish
Church of St Brelade. Next to the church is the smaller
Fisherman’s Chapel. Pop inside and admire the beautiful
frescos that still decorate the walls. Next to the churchyard,
by the slipway to the beach, are a set of cottages. Upon one
of these you will see a plaque dedicated to Claude Cahun
and Marcel Moore, otherwise known as Lucy Schwab and
Suzanne Malherbe. Two of our Occupation heroines, you
will have read their story at the War Tunnels.
If you’ve chosen to extend your adventure for today and have
only made a pitstop at St. Brelade’s Bay, head up to L’Etacq
for lunch at Faulkner Fisheries for a delicious seafood lunch
with stunning views across St. Ouen’s Bay.
After lunch make your way to Grosnez Castle to see the
picture-perfect ruins on the rugged headland and wonderful
views across to the other Channel Islands. From here, venture
across to Plémont beach and, tide permitting, explore the
caves.
To end the day, head down to one of our other western bays,
Portelet. Stroll down the path to the beach and across the
sand – be warned, you will want comfy shoes for this – and go
to the Portelet Bay Café for delicious wood-fired pizzas.
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