Good Times - Condor Magazine Spring/Summer 2023

Explore WWII Relics
Good for Day Trippers: La Vallette
Underground Museum is around
20 mins on foot or 13 mins
by bus from St Peter Port
From concrete watchtowers, forts and
bunkers to tunnels and underground
hospitals, the German occupying forces
heavily fortified Guernsey against possible
invasion. Its military buildings remain some
of the best-preserved sites of Hitler’s Atlantic
Wall. At the German Occupation Museum,
you’ll find crystal radio sets used by the locals
to get news from England. Then there’s La
Vallette Underground Military Museum and
the German Underground Hospital, housed
in the tunnels built by forced labour from
Europe. Try the Occupation Memories and
Smugglers Tales hiking route, an easy threemile
walk taking in the occupation museum
and other sites.
Board a RIB
to spot seals
Book a RIB adventure to explore the coast
of neighbouring Herm or Sark . It’s a must
do trip for nature enthusiasts, with the
possibility of seeing seals, puffins, dolphins
and guillemots. Your guide will fill you in
on Herm’s rich history and answer any
questions. The puffins are in residence until
the end of July, so following that the seals
become the focus of the experience along the
Herm coast.
islandribvoyages.com
Visit Castle Cornet
Good for Day Trippers: around 20 mins
from St Peter Port on foot, or 13 mins by
bus with a 9 min walk along the causeway
This ancient castle, connected to the
mainland by a concrete causeway forming
part of the harbour breakwater, has
maintained guard over St Peter Port for
over 800 years. You can join a guided tour of
the castle’s five museums and four historic
gardens — and try not to jump as the scarletclad
gunners fire the midday gun. Don’t
forget your camera – it really is the best place
to snap the striking capital.
visitguernsey.com
Wow! what a view
from Victoria
Tower
This striking monument was built to
commemorate Queen Victoria and Prince
Albert’s visit to Guernsey in 1846 - the first
from a reigning monarch. It is constructed
largely from red granite mined from the quarry
near Cobo Bay. Climb the 99 steps to the
viewing platform to be mesmerised by the
views over the north, east and west coasts of
the Island. Collect the key to the tower from
the Guernsey Museum in Candie Gardens and
you’ll get 30 minutes private viewing. Perhaps
the perfect place to propose?
visitguernsey.com
Surf’s up at
Vazon Bay
Small and friendly is Guernsey’s surf scene,
and most of the local surfers can be found
chasing the swell at Vazon, a large sandy bay
on the west of the Island dotted with surf
spots and rental shops. Never tried but fancy
giving it a go? Now’s your chance! Book a
lesson at Guernsey Surf School, where all the
teachers are qualified beach lifeguards, as
well as keen local surfers. There’s also a mini
surf camp for kids aged 8 - 15 years.
guernseysurfschool.co.uk
Pictures left to right: La Vallette Underground
Military Museum, Centre: Surfers on Vazon Beach,
Bottom: WWII Radio Tower in the distance.
52 | Great Guernsey outings