#Guernsey

My son James had some holiday to use. Neither of us had been to Guernsey before. There were cheap flights available from Southampton so we went for it for a short break. The flight takes less than 45 (35) minutes depending on the wind strength/direction.

James or I didn't know much about Guernsey. Like many people he wasn't exactly sure where the Channel Islands were and immediately thought as we were flying close to France we were going to a foreign country - passports to the ready! The Isle of Wight is regularly mixed up with the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

Anyway here is a bit about Guernsey :

Guernsey is NOT part of the UK (although some aspects like defence and international relations are managed by the UK). It is a British Crown Dependency.
We refer to the Channel Islands as if they are a constitutional or political unit. They are not. Jersey has its own and separate relationship with the UK.
The Guernsey Crown Dependency includes the other inhabited channel islands of Alderney, Sark and Herm.
They are referred to as Bailiwicks.
The Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey are not members of the Commonwealth and surprisingly have never been members of the EU.

GEOGRAPHY/TOPOGRAPHY

As we live on the Isle of Wight it is natural we draw comparisons with Guernsey.

I have compiled a chart :

SIZE - IOW 150 sq miles - Guernsey 30 sq miles ( Jersey 44 sq miles)

Therefore the IOW is 5 times larger than Guernsey (a surprise to me).

POPULATIONS APPROX - IOW 150K Guernsey 75K (Jersey 110k)

Therefore while Guernsey has roughly half the population of the IOW they are living on a much smaller Island.

MY IMPRESSIONS

I hired a car at the airport and as part of the process were advised of some of the quirks of driving on Guernsey. The main one is there is an island wide maximum speed limit of 35 mph and in many places it is less than that. We were told the roads were busy and they operate a box junction system where cars leave alternately.
The speed limit is not an issue - there is nowhere where you can drive at more than 35 miles an hour. Roads are windey, undulating and narrow. While most roads will take 2 cars wing mirrors are in constant danger! There is no scope to overtake. The roads are very busy - almost always a train of small cars moving around in orderly fashion like they are on rails. Unlike in Jersey there are very few ostentatious powerful cars - there really is no point - and virtually no lorries. Driving is easy and non threatening. There is no scope for the boy racer.
Surprisingly and I have to say disappointingly Guernsey is built up. Virtually every road has ribbon housing development on both sides with no gaps.
The houses are nice - well maintained - and often behind high walls. However my over riding feeling of Guernsey is it is claustrophobic. On most roads there is a pedestrian path on one side - but because of the road width and constant traffic it is not a place to walk or choose to ride a bike in my opinion.
What sets Guernsey apart is it does have a beautiful coastline and much of it remains unspoilt and uncommercialized. There are undoubtedly fine coastal walks with lovely beaches.
Of the coast - Guernsey experiences some of the biggest tides in the world - up to 33 ft - 10 m. Much of the coast is rocky and tide rips between the small islands can be up to 12 knots. It is therefore a formidable challenge for sailors but as we have heard in news recently - with disputes over fishing rights - the waters are rich particularly for crab and lobster.
Guernsey is famous for its Guernsey cows - and for horticulture - flowers and tomatoes. However I have to say there was not much evidence of agriculture although of course it exists. The main earners for Guernsey now is financial services and tourism. The large population - much of it retired - inevitably generates jobs for the locals and taxation revenues (which I guess is the whole point of the housing development).
Like Jersey - Guernsey has attractive tax arrangements in place. However Jersey feels much more wealthy - much bigger grander houses - more ostentatious. Guernsey appears modest - tidy - safe - gentle.
While I cannot claim to have interacted that much with the locals - the feeling I have that while they are civil enough they largely keep themselves to themselves. Several locals referred to how Guernsey has changed - how it has become overdeveloped - over populated. One house knocked down and 10 built in its place! Obviously and understandably they resent it.
Guernsey like Jersey - does operate a 2 tier property market. Some properties are designated as only for qualifying locals. They are cheaper than the ones that can be bought by outsiders.
Like most islands - most goods have to be imported from the mainland - there are additional costs involved and Guernsey is not cheap.

My overall thought is while Guernsey is safe and pleasant, has a beautiful coastline and a favourable climate, it has been over developed and feels claustrophobic. It is a shame. Just about everywhere is under pressure from property developers and population growth. I regularly raise objections to planning applications on the IOW - but Guernsey has gone too far - lets hope it can be avoided here. (it must have some impact on the tourism trade.)

Having said that James and I had a real fun time - a good little winter break. I am glad we went.

Here are a few mob photos - mainly of the coast - which I enjoyed most.