Filled to the brim with blossoming wild fauna, unique wildlife and numerous festivals and events, springtime is one of the most idyllic times to visit the Islands of Guernsey.
From rock pooling and puffin watching at Alderney Wildlife Week, to 16 new guided routes at Spring Walking Festival, to a cacophony of blooming wildflowers, the Islands of Guernsey truly come alive during the spring.
Spring Walking Festival (20 May – 4 June 2023)
Taking place across Guernsey, Herm and Sark, Spring Walking Festival makes the most of the longer and lighter days just as the Islands come into bloom. The festival features two weeks of over 35 morning, afternoon, and evening walks led by accredited guides of varying lengths and grades, from guided town walks to day-long hikes.
New to 2023’s festival are 16 brand new walks and routes to choose from. Highlights include Herm by Beach and Dune, joining horticulturalist Malcolm Cleal to explore the wilder side of Herm’s coastal flora and fauna, Three Little Piggies of Cuckoo Lane, meeting the infamous pigs and farmers in the rural parish of St Pierre du Bois, followed by a taste of Guernsey Gache, and Food in the Forest, a leisurely stroll through Guernsey’s country lanes, via some legendary hedge veg stalls, hearing local anecdotes before enjoying a tasting of locally produced food and drink from the Guernsey Hamper Company.
In anticipation of the upcoming Renoir exhibition in Guernsey, on 21 May the festival will host Walking in the Footsteps of Renoir and Victor Hugo. Since Renoir’s visit to the Islands in 1883, visitors can spot various homages to his formative time in Guernsey. Launching on 30 September, the latest homage is the highly anticipated Renoir exhibition, bringing together a collection of his works from private collectors and museums around the world.
For more information on Spring Walking Festival, please see here.
Birdwatching Season
It’s prime birdwatching season, and the Islands offer a number of opportunities to spot its array of burgeoning wildlife on and off-land with safari, boat and kayak tours. Throughout the months of April, May, June and July, sightings of the famed puffin bird can be found on the car-free island of Herm. With a large colony of puffins just a 20-minute boat ride from Guernsey, Herm is one of the best locations to access a largely undisturbed colony of the bird. Puffin Patrol tours organised by Outdoor Guernsey run between April and July, led by expert kayak instructors, moving in and out of the island’s inlets to access the most intimate birdwatching spots.
For more information on birdwatching tours, please visit here.
Alderney Wildlife Week (29 May – 4 June 2023)
Conveniently taking place during May half term, Alderney Wildlife Week is a celebration of the many exquisite species that grace the Islands of Guernsey, and in particular the unique island of Alderney. From rock pooling along Alderney’s coastline, to seaweed foraging and birdwatching, there is something for everyone during this wildlife celebration. Visitors can take the opportunity to explore the island under the guidance of Alderney Wildlife Trust, using their expertise to catch glimpses of the rare puffin or uncover the places that boast an abundance of wildflowers.
For more information on Alderney Wildlife Week, please visit here.
Bloomin’ Alderney (5 – 11 June 2023)
The spring months are some of the most colourful on the Islands, home to numerous species of wild fauna. Displayed in fields and clifftops, visitors needn’t travel far to find landscapes overflowing with wild orchids and yellow irises.
On the secluded island of Alderney, visitors can enjoy strolls through some of the island’s most beautiful flower gardens during Bloomin’ Alderney week. With spectacular gardens open to the public, the week will be a display of Alderney’s most precious wildflowers. As over 900 flowers have been recorded on this special island, including numerous rare orchid species, the week will be an explosion of colour and natural beauty.
For more information on Bloomin’ Alderney, please visit here.
Accommodation
There are a number of self-catering, hotel and glamping options across the Islands. This June, visitors can take advantage of glampsite Camp de Rêves’ mid-week special, where all new Safari Tent bookings will receive two adult and two child return ferry tickets to visit the stunning island of Herm by adding ‘Herm Tickets’ to a mid-week bookings. The five-star luxury glampsite is the perfect place to unwind and reconnect with nature as the months get warmer.
In the picturesque coastal area of Beaucette, Beaucette Marina has also welcomed four brand new shepherd huts, each with their own deck and hot tub. The luxury huts are located on the coastal headland overlooking the marina, with sea views spanning to France on a clear day. Named after the surrounding islands, three huts are designed for families of four, with the fourth designed for two. The largest shepherd huts on Guernsey, each comes with private bathroom facilities alongside a log-fired hot tub.
For more information, or to book, visit here and here.
How to get there
With flight times from UK as little as 40 minutes and ferry sailings from 3 hours, visitors can opt to take the ferry over the Channel from Poole or Portsmouth or fly directly from the UK with Aurigny airlines. Aurigny operate year-round direct flights to Guernsey from London, East Midlands, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Dublin. Condor Ferries operate slow and fast ferries from Poole and Portsmouth to Guernsey year-round.
