Herm - The Enchanting Channel Isle

Tour Code: GBR72

A 5-day holiday with daily explorations of the smallest inhabited Channel Island offering the perfect chance for a relaxing break away from the hectic pace of modern life and a search for the island's wonderful fauna and flora.

We hope to run this tour in the future, but have not yet finalised dates and prices. To be added to a waiting list and be informed when details are confirmed, please click on the register interest button, or phone 01962 733051.

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Highlights

Summary

Herm is one of the smallest of the inhabited Channel Islands being just 1.5 miles long and 0.5 mile wide and lying just to the east of Guernsey. It is, however, steeped in history, and remains largely unspoilt with pristine beaches and no cars. On this summer break we will make daily crossings (of just 15-minutes) from Guernsey to enjoy the island’s natural history on leisurely walks and boat excursions (including one to the neighbouring island of Sark). We will also enjoy a bird-ringing demonstration, moth-trapping and bat walks. With no flights or road transport involved, this will make for a low-emissions holiday, and it is the perfect chance for a relaxing break away from the hectic pace of modern life.

Elegant 4* hotel on Guernsey with daily excursions to Herm
Colonies of Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins
Butterflies including Silver-studded Blue, Dark Green Fritillary and even Swallowtail possible
Transport by ferry (no flights required)
Moth-traps and bat walks
Bird-ringing demonstration
Visit to the island of Sark
Beautifully peaceful with no cars!

Grading

We shall enjoy easy day walks and boat trips throughout the holiday. The paths are naturally coastal and undulating, and are sadly not suitable for those with reduced mobility.

Herm (a Norse word for ‘arm’ due to the island’s shape) measures just 1.5 miles from north to south, and 0.5 miles east to west. It is one of the smallest of the inhabited Channel Islands and with a population of just over 60 is beautifully unspoilt and with no cars, incredibly peaceful.

The north end of the island is made up of beautiful beaches and a vast grassy common, where woolly mammoth roamed millions of years ago, Neolithic settlements have been found and recent digs uncovered evidence of a prehistoric beach. The east coast beaches, Shell and Belvoir, with soft white sand and clean blue water, are perfect for swimming. The south coast is home to high cliffs, winding flower-lined paths and white foam waves. On the other side of the island is the harbour village, the hub of island life.

At the time of our visit the cliffs will be alive with breeding seabirds, Puffins and other auks, and we will take a boat out on one day to view the nesting cliffs and the passage of birds to and from their fishing expeditions at sea.

On one day we will take a boat trip to the larger, neighbouring island of Sark. On our crossing we have a chance to see dolphins, as both Bottlenose and Common are regularly seen. Our full day on the island will enable us to see variety of habitats with butterflies, flowers and more seabird cliffs.

This will be the perfect escape from the hectic pace of life, and with no flights, is a minimal carbon-footprint holiday!

DETAILED INFORMATION

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1

Ferry to Guernsey

Day 2/4

Daily natural history excursions around Herm and visit to Sark

Day 5

Ferry to the UK

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What's Included

What's Included?

Ferries
Accommodation:
4-star luxury hotel in Guernsey, where upgraded Gold balcony rooms have been chosen as standard. Located just 9-minutes from the harbour, and a 15-minute crossing to Herm, the hotel has very comfortable and spacious rooms, fine restaurants and swimming pool with sauna.
Food:
Breakfasts and dinners are included. Lunches are not included in the tour price and will be taken at a tea room, pub, or café on Herm and Sark, where light lunches, such as soups and sandwiches, are available, as well as more substantive plates of food.

Reviews

Five days of bliss, ambling tracks and paths with like minded people, learning new and retouching magic moments about the birds, plants, butterflies and moths on an enchanting isle... a group of professionally competent office staff supporting an amazingly knowledgeable field team.
T.E. Devon, July 22
Having enjoyed visiting Herm before I was looking forward to going again, this time to learn about the wildlife of the Channel Islands. It was even better than expected! Lovely hotel; excellent leader who was knowledgeable, friendly and remembered that we were on holiday so gave us time to relax as well as explore; a varied programme with options so that everyone was catered for. Dan Lay, who arranged the trip, was very helpful. When Condor Ferries changed their schedule, meaning we would leave from Poole and return to Portsmouth (at 11.25 on a Friday night!) I asked if I could fly to and from Guernsey instead of using the ferry (I was travelling alone and didn't fancy driving back to Hertford, or trying to find trains that late at night.) I'd already starting looking up possible flights, but Naturetrek booked them for me - and found me a window seat both ways! I was really grateful, and impressed by the care and service I received.
T.G. Hertfordshire, July 22
How great to wander, no pollution, no noise, outstanding views. Felt as if I’d stepped back in time. Loved the variety, butterflies, moths, insects, flowers, birds, with the two excellent guides able to tell us what we were looking at or listening to. Enjoyed being out in the boat, and the day on Sark.
J.C. Dorset, July 2021

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