From the moment they invaded on 1 June 1940, the Germans sought to transform the Channel Islands into one vast impregnable fortress. Their defences were never tested as the expected British counter attack never happened, but the sheer scale of the fortifications that remain today, eighty years later, certainly suggests the possibility the islands were …
The first thing to know about Elizabeth Castle is that it was built upon L’Islet, a tidal island that can be accessed by foot at low tide but is surrounded by water the rest of the time. When this is the case, visitors can travel to the castle using one of two amphibious ferries. The …
Bonkers. That’s one word to describe the Jersey Maritime Museum. Brilliant is another. Quirky a third. Whatever preconceived notions one might have of what a maritime museum should be can be parked at the door. Okay, one might expect model ships, and yes, the museum has them. One might even expect some real boats, and …
I think Mont Orgueil Castle might just be my new favourite castle. For one thing, it looks solid and robust enough to see off any would be besiegers like a good castle should. There’s none of yer fancy dan Barony-style here. For another, its setting – sitting atop Mont Orgueil (Mount Pride in English), a …
Annie and I are in Jersey for a long weekend, brand new brown sign territory, and before we even check into our hotel we hit one of the island’s key historic sites, La Hougue Bie. This is such an incredible place, a tiny patch of land with several moments in time pinned to it like …
