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Walk the Guernsey Islands on the Channel Island Way Tour
Travel back in time on a weeklong walking trip to the Guernsey Islands in the United Kingdom and complete the Channel Island Way. At UTracks, we offer several versions of this self guided walking tour,
an 8-day or 10-day trip on Guernsey or
a 7-day trip on Jersey, which allow ample time to discover the unique history of the islands. Most travellers will be fascinated to learn that the Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles under German control during World War II.
Read on for a brief history of the Channel Islands, the walking tours available, and to see the trailer for the acclaimed film, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
A Brief Overview of the Guernsey Islands History
As explained by our colleague Tali Emdin
“The Guernsey Occupation, between June 1940 and May 1945, shaped the islands into what they are today. It left a lasting legacy and, to this day, the coastline still bears testament to this time, dotted with well-preserved fortifications built by German soldiers.
History aficionados will find that the island’s heritage, including those five tempestuous years, is depicted in stunning detail through a whole host of museums, which aim to recreate those dark days with gripping exhibits.
The German Military Underground Hospital, the largest construction in the Channel Islands, was built by slave workers during the occupation; the German Occupation Museum features a recreation of an occupation-era street; while La Villette Underground Military Museum is set in a series of tunnels used for U-Boat fuel storage during the occupation”.
About the Channel Island Way Walking Tour
Our weeklong walking holidays around the islands of Guernsey & Jersey split the longer Channel Island Way in two. Originally part of the Duchy of Normandy but bequeathed to the English Crown by William the Conqueror, today they are independent in many ways yet maintaining a special relationship with the UK.
Expect long sandy beaches and beautiful undulating cliff paths leading to tiny coves with sparkling rock pools, with forts of various sizes, some dating back to the 1600s while others, more recent, were created by the Nazis during their occupation of the islands in World War II.
For Fans of the Booke & Film: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
You can watch the trailer of the film adaptation of the internationally bestselling novel ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’.
Directed by BAFTA-award winning Mike Newell and starring Lily James and Michiel Huisman, the film shines a light on Guernsey’s occupation during World War II: the Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles under German control during the conflict, with evidence of their stay widely visible today.
Have you been to the Guernsey Islands? What was it like? Let us know in the comment section below.