Paradise is just a ferry-trip away as Guernsey surprises us with its stunning beaches and relaxed atmosphere
If you are looking for a slice of paradise and a change of pace then there is no need to head halfway around the world for a getaway. It is actually only a short ferry ride away!
Guernsey is the perfect antidote to the overcrowded beaches and hustle and bustle of many people's holiday nightmare, and on my first visit to this beautiful little island I wondered why on earth I had never visited it before.
We hopped on the overnight, and rather comfortable, Condor ferry (now part of Brittany Ferries) from Portsmouth which got us into Guernsey at 6am which allowed us to make the most of our first day.
After grabbing a second breakfast in a local cafe, we were able to spend a bit of time grabbing leaflets for the huge number of attractions across the island to came up with a game plan for our three-day visit.
Firstly, we took a stroll around the gorgeous cobbled streets of the island's largest town Saint Peter's Port which is bursting with charm and character, as well as shops, eateries and places to visit.
After a lovely morning, we decided to take a drive around the island to get our bearings and work out just how long it takes to get from A to B. The answer is pretty much no time at all.
The roads were clear and empty, as were the plentiful sandy beaches, making it hard to believe that our visit was in the middle of August. And this was a continuing theme throughout our stay.
We stumbled across Sausmarez Manor, Gardens and Sculpture Park which is Guernsey's only stately home and is surrounded by wonderful grounds, with activities like mini golf available.
After a stroll through the sculpture park which is full of so many interesting things to see - and more bamboo than I could possibly imagine - we headed into the cafe for a divine cream tea. My son said they had the best scones he had ever tasted - high praise for a 15-year-old.
We then headed to check into our beachside accommodation, the gorgeous Hotel Peninsula, which was perfectly situated on the northern coast of the island, with our perfect family room for two adults and two children having a great view across the beach.
After some food, we enjoyed a swim at the hotel pool and then headed out again for a stroll along the sandy beach which was right on our doorstep - and not another person in sight.
On our second beautifully sunny day I thought we must have just been lucky with how quiet everywhere was on our first day. So we prepared ourselves for the crowds on the beach as we headed to a spot popular with families a short distance away from our hotel called Pembroke Beach.
How wrong we were.
Unlike the packed beaches of seaside towns of the UK or European hot spots, the beach was rather empty with plenty of space to spread out and relax, play games, make sand sculptures and go for a swim.
There was also a floating platform out in the stunning blue sea which many of the beach's younger visitors were enthusiastically jumping from. And its cove-like shape ensured calm seas with its clear blue waters, with many people also taking the opportunity to go paddle boarding.
We grabbed some lunch and an ice cream in the brilliant beachside cafe aptly called The Beach House, before deciding to head on a beach-hopping trip for the rest of the day to see if the island's other beaches really were that quiet. They were - and also just as beautiful, with simply stunning landscapes which gives them their own bit of unique character.
For those people who love to just relax and take in the atmosphere they are just perfect, but if you want to be more active then there is the opportunity to hire paddle boards and kayaks - as well as embark on a spot of coasteering.
In the evening we had a meal in one of the island's many great spots to eat, a pub called The Puffin & Oyster, which was just across the road from our hotel, which was the perfect place to recharge before our final day.
After a visit to the rather brilliant Pirate Bay Adventure Golf - the arguments still continue about who actually won - we decided that we had to experience something which is very much part of this Channel Island’s identity. This being the German occupation during the second world war.
There are so many places to visit which explore this part of the island's history, and we decided to visit the German Occupation Museum which eloquently tells the story of what residents faced. Through artefacts, photographs, recreations and human stories it really shines a light on this dark moment in its history and is just as vital to visit to really understand the impact on Guernsey.
Afterwards we headed back towards Saint Peter's Port for some food and to soak up a bit more of the sublime Guernsey atmosphere before we caught our catamaran on to France.
If time had allowed we would have loved to have taken a day trip to one of the smaller islands just off Guernsey, or visited the home of author Victor Hugo.
So instead for now I will have to content myself by planning a return visit and telling everyone who will listen just what a hidden gem Guernsey really is - though I fear this may lead to those wonderful beaches fill up a little bit more.
