Summer 2023 in the Islands of Guernsey

From puffin parades and seaside gigs to beachfront starlit dinners, the Islands of Guernsey welcome the summer season in style 

This summer, the Islands of Guernsey will be home to an array of spectacular activities that are perfect for any holiday with family or friends. From sheep racing on Sark to enjoying dinner on Herm’s Shell Beach, an entirely new offering, there is something for everyone to enjoy this summer across each island.

Victoria Marina St Peter Port

Summer happenings on Herm Island

Herm’s Shell Beach offers dinner for the first time

For foodies looking for a unique and picturesque dining experience, visitors can look no further than Shell Beach Café's new dining experiences, commencing this summer. Shell Beach sits on the opposite side of Herm to all other dining outlets, making this the first time dinner has been available to visitors on this side of the island.

‘Sounds of Silence’ Dine Under the Stars

Taking place on 1 and 2 September, this brand-new dining experience offers guests an opportunity to dine al fresco under the starlit skies on the magical island of Herm. The evening will begin with a gathering at Herm Harbour, from where guests will take a leisurely stroll to the white sands of Shell Beach. As the sun sets, guests will be entertained by a professional astronomer and as dusk falls, the stars will take centre stage, inviting guests to become observers of the magnificent constellations scattered across the night sky alongside drinks and dinner. More information here.  

International cuisine evenings on Shell Beach

Herm’s Shell Beach Café will host a number of new themed cuisine nights throughout the summer, kicking off the summer season on 6 June with Spanish Cuisine Night. Upon arrival guests will be greeted with a glass of sangria and enjoy a fresh seafood paella, as well as a choice of Spanish tapas. Other nights to look forward to include the flavours of France at an all-French cuisine evening. More information here.

Fresh Seafood at Seafresh St Peter Port

Summer events on Sark Island

Sheep racing on Sark 

An annual tradition, 2023’s Sark Sheep Racing is set to take place on 21 and 22 July. Visitors can cheer on their favourite woolly runner with the unique surroundings of Sark as a backdrop to these beloved races. In addition to the sheep racing, the event will host a selection of food stalls and family activities, followed by an evening of live music featuring local musicians. More information here.

Sark's very own music festival

SarkFest 2023 will take place from 7 to 9 July, featuring more than 30 bands and artists from Guernsey, Jersey, and the UK. The remote car-free island of Sark, a 5km-squared piece of land, is a unique venue for any music festival, surrounded by scenes of dramatic clifftops and sweeping sea views. Visitors can expect to see a wide array of talented musicians across a range of genres. More information here. 

Summer 2023 in Guernsey

Guernsey’s new Puffin Parade

Visible across the island all summer is the new Guernsey Puffin Parade, a beautiful summer-long display of 60 hand painted puffins in various locations across the island. Visitors are encouraged to search for all 60 colourful puffins, displayed throughout Guernsey’s shops, hotels, restaurants and attractions. An exciting new interactive element means visitors will be able to use an app to navigate their way around the island and find these hidden gems. Avid scavenger hunters can also spot a piece of anonymous puffin artwork known by locals as ‘Les Banquesy’ due to being situated in Les Banques. More information here.

Cobo Bay’s summer gigs

Guernsey’s west coast is about to come alive as visitors can look forward to the much-anticipated Cobo Balcony Gigs, which have become a key part of the island's entertainment calendar over the past 30 years. On various dates throughout summer, the Cobo Bay seafront will once again be transformed into a carnival atmosphere as some of the UK's best tribute acts take to the stage to play to the Bay. Visitors can also book lunch or dinner at the stunning Cobo Bay Hotel Terrace, providing the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy talented musical acts. More information here.

Live music at Castle Cornet

Rocquaine and Havelet Regattas

For those who enjoy getting in the water, the highly anticipated Rocquaine Regatta returns on 22 July and the all-new Havelet Regatta kicks off on 3 September. New to the island, the Havelet Regatta will involve a mix of on and off-water activities for locals and visitors alike. Highlights include the much-anticipated office chair race, alongside the seaside fun of a classic regatta. More information here.

At Rocquaine Bay, visitors can participate as a spectator or be ready to compete in the casual, yet competitive Rocquaine Regatta races with fishing boats, motorboats, and small sailing boats. Paired with the regatta are a range of family-friendly games and competitions such as apple bobbing and wheelbarrow races. More information here. 

Guernsey’s gardens open to the public

Visitors and islanders can enjoy exclusive access to the gardens at Longfrie House & Government House in Guernsey and Le Grand Dixcart in Sark this summer. The gardens, which collectively offer glasshouses, walled gardens, ponds, sculptures and more, will open to the public over two weekends, 17 to 18 June and 24 to 25 June, as part of the National Garden Scheme. In conjunction with Floral Guernsey, Le Vallon Open Garden and Grange Court Open Garden will also be open to the public on 18 June and 2 July respectively. More information here and here.

Candie Gardens

Accommodation 

 

Ahead of the summer Beaucette Marina has welcomed four brand new shepherd huts. The huts are located on the coastal headland overlooking the marina, with sea views spanning to France on a clear day. Three huts are designed for families of four, with the fourth designed for two. Each comes with private bathroom facilities alongside a log-fired hot tub. 

This June, visitors can also take advantage of glampsite Camp de Rêves’ June mid-week special, where all new Safari Tent bookings will receive two adult and two child return ferry tickets to visit the island of Herm by adding ‘Herm Tickets’ to mid-week bookings. Visitors looking for the comforts of a hotel with easy seaside access can enjoy the outdoor pool at Peninsula Hotel, just a five-minute drive from many of Guernsey’s northern beaches.

For more information, or to book, visit here, here and here. 

How to get there 

With flight times from UK as little as 40 minutes and ferry sailings from 3 hours, visitors can opt to take the ferry over the Channel from Poole or Portsmouth or fly directly from the UK with Aurigny airlines. Aurigny operate year-round direct flights to Guernsey from London, East Midlands, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Dublin. Condor Ferries operate slow and fast ferries from Poole and Portsmouth to Guernsey year-round. Ferries depart from Guernsey’s St. Peter Port to Sark and Herm multiple times each day throughout the summer.

For more information on the Islands of Guernsey, please visit here.

 

Cover photo is of Grand Rocques Bay