Beaches & car hire Guernsey

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anniebray

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We will be hosting our daughter & grandchildren aboard in St Peter Port during half term (late May). We would be grateful of suggestions for the best nearby beaches & cheap car hire. We shall of course otherwise entertain them regardless of cost as Grandparents usually do !
 
best beaches are on the west side of the island. I always like cobo bay. but all the bay's on the west side of the island are great. when i'm there i always cycle around the outskirts of the island and stop for lunch on the west side.....

rental car... well their are loads on the island all have a H sticker on the back don't know what's cheap but either pick one up at the port in st p or at the airport.....

Depending how young the kids are the bus service in guernsey is great and does all the tourist bit's too also goes round the outside of the island and stops at the beaches.... you can go anywhere round for island for 60p (well last year you could), but you have to pay to get back on the bus again.... great fun way to see the island
 
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the bus service in guernsey is great and does all the tourist bit's too also goes round the outside of the island and stops at the beaches.... you can go anywhere round for island for 60p (well last year you could), but you have to pay to get back on the bus again.... great fun way to see the island

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We did this a couple of years ago and you could get an equivalent of a day Rover ticket very cheaply.

We actually enjoyed using the bus. My 1st time for years!!
 
Buses are great as a single fare will take you 1 stop or 30 stops!! i.e. around the island. As said previous the west coast beaches are large sand and open...my favourite is Llancresse and Pembroke, In tghe north most are small bays that you have a longish and steep walk down to...Petit Bot a favourite. Another good day is to hire bikes, there is a good cycle track now from Town "St Peter Port" anti-clockwise to Cobo.....dont forget to stop at the many tea pavilions en-rute.

Worth a visit is a trip to beaucette marina, I remember it as a young boy when the Royal Engineers blasted through the rock to turn the then stone quarry into a marina.

Enjoy your stay I will be over for a week in June myself!!
 
Take them across to Herm, - best beaches in Europe, and excellent old world shops, - not pushy and some very good alternatives in the way of feeding stations. Either go by own hull or take the ferry.
 
Fermain bay, an easy walk from SPP and in May will mean going through the Bluebell woods if they are not over by then. And also a fabulous award winning beach cafe. Or you could take your boat round, anchor up and dinghy ashore. Dont forget the south coast bays either. La Jaoniere is spectacular, la bete next door is inhabited in the summer months by the local nudist and/or gay community. But whatever floats your boat, as they say....
 
I would second pembroke/l'ancresse. There is a cafe which did good food/snacks on the beach at pembroke when I was last there in 2007. The beach is very flat and gently shelving which is good for kids and it also has sheltered spots by virtue of the wall surrounding the beach which can be handy if the wind is up (Pembroke is on the north tip of the island and can offer some shelter from the prevailing southwesterlies)
Cobo bay is better for rockpools if the grandchildren are into that sort of thing and the pub Crabby Jacks does fairly bog standard food at reasonable prices and is very child friendly.
The South coast has all sorts of interesting bays and a good cliff path which is good for a stroll if the grandchildren are of an age where they might enjoy it.
Hope the weather is good for you all
 
indoor swimming pool is very pleasant and has indoor slides which we and our children have enjoyed - is walking distance from st peter port harbour - uphill with some great views on way up to it too.

also there used to be a karting pay and drive circuit north of st peter port which is fun if children of the right age,

second others comments re the bus - we got off on opposite side of the island and children went to the shipwreck museum - overlooks the west coast - happily spent an hour or so there
 
Thanks for all contributions ! The bus it will be except when we walk through the Bluebell woods to Fermain Bay. I'm now really looking forward to St Peter Port just hope the weather doesnt make things difficult as we now have to be there for the half term slot (our visitors are coming by fast ferry from Poole)
 
Re Beaucette. No parking probs that's because it's miles from anywhere! If yu are in the Victoria Marina and have a hire car, the longer stay periods are some way away and usually full with locals. However, all the parking is free! The bus is really the best option for getting around.
 
If you are looking for a quick dip and the tide is right, try Havelet Bay, about 10-15 minutes walk from the Vicoria MArina. At low water there is plenty of sand and if you want to do some more serious swimming there are the tidal swimming pools just a bit further along. Herm is wonderful, but if you have got a spot in the Vic Marina, and are looking for a day trip to this beautiful island, I would advise going by ferry. If you take your own boat you may find a hassle getting back in and the pilotage across can be quite complex. Another word of warning, the sea there is ICY!

On Guernsey beaches, I would agree with the west coast choice, Cobo (the tearoom has the biggest scones I've ever seen). Grandes Rocques and Vazon. Port Soif a bit further north on the west coast is often overlooked by tourists. On the south coast Fermain and Petit Bot tend to get a bit crowded, as does Moulin Huet. If you are feeling energetic try Petit Port out on the Jerbourg peninsula, 300 odd steps down to a lovely beach, but check the tides. It comes in pretty fast and at high water there is not much beach left.
 
As stated before, thoroughly recommend walk thru blue bell woods (if they are still blooming when you come), but there is a bit of up and down (!) on way there, if you are taking kids. Perhaps walk one way then get bus back (although you will have to go up Fermain valley to the main road to get it, no vehicular access allowed during day to the bay, and with the popularity of the beach cafe down there, policing is becoming more rigorously enforced). I hope you have a pleasant stay, fingers crossed re weather
 
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