Day 30 - Rye - Arundel

We have had a good day though the weather was appalling for some of it.  It was overcast and windy when we set out and we drove along the coast to Beachy Head, where we set out for a walk.  However by then the wind was so strong we nearly got blown off out feet so we gave up on that idea and went to Birling Gap, where the chalk cliffs are crumbling into the sea.  We talked to a very interesting National Trust volunteer there.  We headed off to the Seven Sisters Information Centre, where we bravely set out for a walk.  However after 15 mins of walking into driving rain, strong wind at a temperature of 11, we decided enough was enough and gave up and headed off to Brighton, where we visited the Royal Pavilion, which I enjoyed very much.  Most of these places have hand held audio guides which make it so interesting.  Then on to Arundel, and would you believe the skies had cleared by the time we got here and we were able to walk up and have a look at the Cathedral and Historic Church at the top of the town.  There is also a castle, which is home to the Duke of Norfolk.

Birling Gap

Birling Gap - 2 houses have been removed from this terrace
to stop them collapsing into the sea

Royal Pavilion, Brighton

Arundel

Day 29 - Sark - Rye

It was a much sunnier departure from Sark and we had a good trip back to Guernsey, accompanied by, seemingly, the entire wedding party from yesterday.  Our flight was held up because of a security scare but finally all was good and we made it to Gatwick.  Our hearts sank as we followed the arrival route to Immigration, but there is a special line for those from the Channel Islands and you just need to give them your boarding pass.  What a relief.  We picked up our hire car and had a reasonable trip to Rye, where we're staying at the Mermaid Inn, a very quaint inn rebuilt in 1420.  We explored the town before having a very nice dinner at the Inn.

Walking to the Ferry

Sark Belle

The Mermaid Inn

Day 28 - Sark

The weather was very unkind this morning and we got a little damp during our 10 minute walk to the wharf to catch the ferry to Sark.  It is an hour ferry ride and by the time we arrived the weather was very nasty - very wet and very windy, with umbrellas turning inside out.  We were very soggy by the time we walked to our B&B.  However a change of clothes and a nice cup of tea and chat with our landlady restored us and we set out to explore.  As predicted the rain was gone by 1.00 and the sun was out by 2.00 and we had a lovely afternoon exploring Sark and Little Sark.  We even came upon the guests and wedding party arriving for a wedding.  It was so nice wandering around without having to plaster ourselves to stone walls or hedgerows as cars sped past.

Causeway to Little Sark 

Lane way of Sark

Sark Village

Window in the Rock

Through Window in the Rock

Day 27 - Guernsey

We spent 4 hours walking the north east corner of Guernsey, from Vale Castle to Rousse Tower, and we enjoyed it very much.  Its a lovely part of the world, and again the weather was kind to us.  We caught another of the £1 around the island buses, this time going in the other direction. There are some major roadworks going on on the north of the island with all sorts of diversions which make for some interesting detours along some very narrow roads.  We had intended to visit Castle Cornet when we got back to St Peter Port but the bus was so late we didn't have time.  We have enjoyed our stay on Guernsey very much and I am very taken with being called "my love" by some of the locals.

Information panel on Dehus Dolman

Interior of Dehus Dolman

Beaucette Marina - was once a quarry enclosed by granite wall - it was offered
to the Royal Engineers to blow up for training purposes.  It was supposed to take 3 weeks for 10 men
but took 7 months and involved more than 60 men.  

Rousse Tower - one of 15 towers built  between 1778 and 1779 to protect the Island
against possible invasion by the French

Day 26 - Guernsey

We started out with a visit to the Tourist Information office and discovered that, for the massive sum of £1 each, we could do an unguided bus tour of the island, so we did.  The trip took just under 2 hours and we covered the island pretty well and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The island is beautiful.  We spent the afternoon exploring St Peter Port, which included a visit to see the Bailiwick of Guernsey Millennium Tapestry, which we thought was magnificent.  The tapestry was a millennium project and sets out 1000 years of local history in ten embroidered panels, with each panel stitched by a different parish.  We couldn't take photos so I have included a link to the tapestry - Guernsey Tapestry.

St Peter Port

Victoria Tower 

How to park in Guernsey!!

Looking to Herm and Sark

Day 25 - Jersey to Guernsey

We had some free time this morning so walked into St Helier, which took us about an hour.  We poked around a bit and then caught the tram/train back to St Aubin, which was an enjoyable change.  There was a bit of rain around until mid-afternoon but we managed to avoid it when we were walking, though it poured while we were on the tram/train.  We had an hour ferry ride to St Peter Port, Guernsey.  It was interesting seeing from ocean where we'd walked a few days earlier.  After checking into our B&B we did a little exploring around the shopping area.

Day 24 - Walking around Jersey (St Helier to St Aubin)

Today was the final leg of our Jersey Coastal Walk, which we have enjoyed very much, not least because of the weather which has been very kind to us.  All in all we reckon we've done around 100 km in our 6 days walking.

We were dropped off in St Helier this morning and after doing a few necessary tasks we took the amphibious vehicle Charming Nancy over to Elizabeth Castle.  We then headed along the boardwalk back to St Aubin, detouring inland to visit the Jersey War Tunnels, which set out what happened in Jersey during WW2.  The tunnels were originally built for storage by the Germans using slave labour but were then turned into a hospital.  We found the visit very interesting.  We finished off with a walk out to St Aubin's Fort.

Statue commemorating liberation of Jersey

Charming Nancy

Elizabeth Castle, looking to St Helier

Entrance to Jersey War Tunnels