march-2011

THE BUZZ | TRAVEL NEWS
Walk
This Way
Pack your walking boots
for a sensational new tour
of the Channel Islands
JERSEY
The Channel Islands are one of Britain’s
most picturesque outposts. A place of
romantic sunsets, idyllic country lanes
and dramatic seascapes, it’s easy to see
why visitors have been coming here for
years to soak up the unique Anglo-French
atmosphere. Now it’s even easier to discover
the islands’ most attractive corners, thanks
to the Channel Islands Way (CIW).
A 185km route that circumnavigates
Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Herm and Sark,
off ering some breathtaking views along the
way, the CIW was the brainchild of Jersey
man and Blue Badge walking guide Arthur
Lamy (arthurthebluebadgeguide.com), who
spent fi ve years stringing it together.
“My self-imposed mission was to get
as many people as possible exploring the
fabulous and diverse coastline that the
22 | TRAVELLER | MARCH 11
Channel Islands enjoy,” enthuses Lamy.
“And without any false diplomacy, I have to
say that the whole route is great. The islands
are broadly similar, but each has its own
charm, its own micro-culture, and its own
fl ora and fauna as well.” After witnessing
the vast golden sands of St Ouen’s Bay on
Jersey and the jade-green waters of Dixcart
Bay on Sark – both so unlike any other
Clockwise from here,
Jersey’s Portelet
Bay, Gorey Harbour,
an intrepid hiker
British scenery that it’s easy to forget you’re
still in the UK – I’m inclined to agree.
There are already a number of serious
walkers vying to be the fi rst to complete the
route when it opens this spring. To do so
will require several ferry journeys and up to
two weeks, but Lamy believes the majority
of walkers won’t undertake the entire route
– the CIW is long, but it’s really not about
racking up the miles.
Designed to be accessible to all types of
walker, the route is divided into sections
of approximately 3km–6.5km, each with
a bus stop, car park, pub or café at either
end. It might be a far cry from Britain’s
mighty hikes such as the Pennine Way and
Off a’s Dyke Path, but the CIW promises
to be an accessible, beautiful trek that
visitors will be happy to try.
Alf Alderson