On a visit to the Channel Island of Guernsey Anna Hyman and her husband took time out to board a ferry and discover the tiny island of Herm.

We had been holidaying on Guernsey and had fallen in love with that island – lots of things to see and glorious country walks. One day we had taken ourselves into St Peter Port to explore the town and also because we wanted to visit the house that Victor Hugo lived in when he was in exile on Guernsey. Later that day we wandered down to the harbour to watch the boats and it was there that we spotted a sign advertising boat trips over to Herm and Sark.


Bird's eye view of Herm

On another holiday we were to take the boat over to Sark where we had a wonderful day exploring that island with the help of a couple of hired bikes.
But it was the picture on the billboard of a long, white beach that drew us like a magnet – we wanted to go to Herm. The forecast for the next day was good, promising a calm sea (I am a notoriously bad sailor) and we decided to see what the island had to offer.


The ferry arrives at Herm Harbour

The sea was indeed calm and within about 20 minutes we had covered the three miles of water between Guernsey and Herm and were clambering ashore on the tiny island’s jetty. It really is tiny - a mere mile and a half in length and half a mile wide. Not even a bike to be had for hire on this island, neither are there cars or motorbikes – just a few quad bikes owned by the handful of people who have made the island their home. The rooms at the White House Hotel, the island’s only hotel, were, we discovered, without telephone, television or clocks.


A cottage on Herm

Herm is where time slows down to a walking pace. If you want you can walk round the island easily in two hours – but why rush? Why not stop every few yards as we did and admire the views across a clear, sparkling turquoise blue sea, watch birds and examine the wild flowers on the dunes? Then we came to Shell Beach.


Shell Beach

Beautiful Shell Beach with its white sand mixed with thousands of tiny coloured shells. I sat trying to find the tiniest, most colourful, most perfectly formed, whilst my husband waded into the water, looking for larger varieties and any interesting pieces of drift wood. Off shore were rocky outlets and in the distance the island of Sark. We bought coffee and lingered long.


Another view of Shell Beach

Neolithic man discovered Herm long before we did. So did monks, hermits, a Prussian prince and a Scottish writer.

Between the monks, hermits, prince and writer the island was used as a hunting ground by the governors of Guernsey and in the 19th century for granite quarrying. In the First World War the island was leased by Prince Blücher and following him by Compton Mackenzie, author of, amongst other books, Whisky Galore. During WWII Herm was used for a propaganda film showing the German invasion of Britain! Following the war the island was bought by the States of Guernsey to ensure that visitors could enjoy it in perpetuity. And enjoy it we did!

From Shell Beach we turned our feet to Belvoir Bay and then inland to one of the tracks that led across the island. That early summer afternoon the hedgerows blushed purple pink with wild roses and foxgloves. We came across the little 11th century chapel, manor and keep and some cottages (now holiday homes) their gardens as pretty as a picture. We stopped for a drink at the Mermaid Inn and back at the little harbour bought a book on shells before catching the ferry back to Guernsey.

Visit www.herm.com

Tour-smart readers might like to avail themselves of the Guernsey short break offer below from 'Flyguernsey.com'.

Guernsey Fly Drive
Fleur du Jardin is a charming, sympathetically restored 15th century farmhouse set in the heart of the conservation village of King Mills, just a 10 minute walk to Vazon Bay, and around a 10 minute drive to St Peter Port. This three-star hotel features an attractive bar and restaurant, large swimming pool set in beautifully secluded gardens and a car park. All bedrooms have private facilities, TV, telephone, hair dryer and tea maker. This package from Flyguernsey.com includes return flights from Gatwick and other regional airport, UK airport parking plus B&B accommodation in a twin/double room based on two sharing. Four nights commencing from 16 July to 24 August 2011 costs £355pp.

Go to
www.flyguernsey.com/fly-drive-lgw-3-star-hotels.php#fleurdujardin or call (+44) 0845 230 3240.