This September and October join experienced and accredited guides for the annual Autumn Walking Festival. Taking place from Saturday 17th September to Sunday 2nd October, each day will see a range of fascinating guided walks around the Islands.
Whether you are looking to learn about historical sites, discover peaceful trails or coastal rambles, there are great routes to explore.
This year, there are 12 new routes for you to explore with experts from the Bailiwick of Guernsey Guild of Accredited Guides.
1 - Potato Peel Pie: Where Dawsey and Juliet Lived
An opportunity to see the sites that inspired the hamlet of La Bouvee, the fictional area where many of the characters included in the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society novel and movie lived. Walk where Dawsey met Captain Christian Hellman and see the favourite beaches of Elizabeth and Kit.
Date: 17th September
Guide: Dave Bartram Silver Accredited Guide
Meet: At the car park at Jerbourg
Start: 10.30am | End: 1.00pm
Contact: bartyonblue@suremail.gg | 07781168529
Finding the location: Perry’s ref: 31, H4 | What3Words: ///fanfare.prop.sometime
Bus routes: 81
Ability: Hike
Cost: £10
Length: 3 miles
2 - Crown and Anchor
A walk around the northern part of the harbour of St Peter Port with stories of trade, tragedy, tridents and tomfoolery.
Date: 18th September
Guide: Andy Walker Silver Accredited Guide
Meet: Guernsey Information Centre, St Peter Port
Start: 9.30am | End: 11.30am
Contact: andrewwalker@suremail.gg | 07911 729731
Finding the location: Perry’s ref: G, 6 | What3Words: ///grand.lower.holidays
Bus routes: All
Ability: Easy
Cost: £10
Length: 1.5 miles
3 - A Literary Tale Told in 10 Parts
Wordsmiths have loved, lived and written about The Islands of Guernsey for centuries. This walk is a wander around St Peter Port with 10 stops and 10 extracts from 10 writers. Perhaps they were born here, lived here or just wrote about Guernsey. Perfect for those who love a good book.
Date: 19th September
Guide: Bryan Pill Silver Accredited Guide
Meet: Outside Victoria Café, Candie Gardens
Start: 10.30am | End: 12.15pm
Contact: bryan@pilotsnotebook.gg | 07911 735208
Finding the location: What3Words: ///twirls.scarves.fighters
Ability: Moderate
Cost: £10
Length: 2 miles
4 - All Aboard the Guernsey Ghost Train
All aboard the Petit Train for an evening ride around St Peter Port. Your guide Soo Wellfair will tell you some of Guernsey’s spookiest stories and terrifying tales of hauntings, torture and folklore as you sit back and enjoy the ride on the Ghost Train.
Tickets must be booked directly from www.petittrain.gg
Date: 20th September
Guide: Soo Wellfair Silver Accredited Guide
Meet: Starts and ends at the Petit Train ticket booth on Albert Pier
Start: 6.30pm | End: 7.30pm
Contact: www.petittrain.gg
Finding the location: Perry’s ref: Town M8 | What3Words: ///included.corner.internet
Bus routes: All routes to town
Ability: Easy
Cost: £17
5 - Fairs, Militia and Mayhem
This circular walk starts at Saumarez Park around the historic parish of the Castel. Hear about country fairs, the militia, the origins of the country hospital, discoveries at the Parish Church and even a shipwreck.
Date: 21st September
Guide: Eric Grimsley Gold Accredited Guide
Meet: Outside the Residential Home, Saumarez Park
Start: 10.00am | End: 12.30pm
Contact: e.grimsley@cwgsy.net | 01481 255229
Finding the location: Perry’s ref: 15, B1 | What3Words: ///dash.decides.gardener
Bus routes: 41, 42
Ability: Moderate
Cost: £10
Length: 1.6 miles
6 - In Defence of Vazon Bay
A walk exploring the military defences of Vazon Bay from Napoleonic times through to the German Occupation.
Date: 21st September
Guide: Andy Walker Silver Accredited Guide
Meet: Fort Hommet lower car park by the north of Vazon Bay
Start: 2.00pm | End: 4.15pm
Contact: andrewwalker@suremail.gg | 07911 729731
Finding the location: Perry’s ref: 13, F1 | What3Words: ///drifting.paving.topic
Bus routes: 42, 91, 92
Ability: Moderate
Cost: £10
Length: 2.5 miles
7 - The Vale Trail: Part One
The first part of a three-walk series around the parish of Vale.
A beautiful coastal walk that takes in Vale Castle, Bordeaux and the Dehus Dolmen. This is a fun walk with some wonderful hidden treasures such as the secret railway bridge, a tiny amphitheatre, the home of a famous war protester and a prehistoric tomb.
Date: 22nd September
Guide: Soo Wellfair Silver Accredited Guide
Meet: Woodies Kiosk, Bordeaux
Start: 10.30am | End: 12.30pm
Contact: soowellfair@yahoo.com | 07839 202058
Finding the location: Perry’s ref: 11, G2 | What3Words: ///hails.office.fury
Bus routes: 11, 91, 92 to Bordeaux Harbour or 12, 13 to The Bridge
Ability: Moderate
Cost: £10
Length: 3 miles
8 - The Vale Trail: Part Two
Part two of the Vale series will be another fascinating walk around the area of Vale. Discover how a quarry was transformed into a marina and follow the rugged northern coastline around to find where the Devil left his footprint.
Date: 27th September
Guide: Soo Wellfair Silver Accredited Guide
Meet: Beaucette Marina, the main restaurant car park
Start: 10.30am | End: 12.30pm
Contact: soowellfair@yahoo.com | 07839 202058
Finding the location: Perry’s ref: 7, H2 | What3Words: ///intake.humbler.taunted
Bus routes: 11, 91, 92 (get off at Beaucette stop) - start point is approximately 5 mins walk from the bus stop
Ability: Moderate
Cost: £10
Length: 3 miles
9 - The Vale Trail: Part Three
The third instalment of the Vale Trail series takes you on a coastal walk around Pembroke where you’ll find a number of amazing fortifications and a prehistoric site, and hear tales of folklore, the story of the Torrey Canyon and much more.
Date: 30th September
Guide: Soo Wellfair Silver Accredited Guide
Meet: Starts and ends at the bus layby near Pembroke Bay
Start: 10.30am | End: 12.30pm
Contact: soowellfair@yahoo.com | 07839 202058
Finding the location: Perry’s ref: 6, C2 | What3Words: ///aged.tardy.lefthander
Bus routes: 12, 91, 92
Ability: Moderate
Cost: £10
Length: 3 miles
10 - Pure Bred Donkey of the Castel Parish
Guernsey people are affectionately known as “donkeys” and are proud to be strong and resilient like their namesake, but did you know that each parish has a donkey name? On this tour, you’ll find out more about the Purebred Donkeys of the Castel.
Date: 23rd September
Guide: Korinne Le Page Silver Accredited Guide
Meet: Castel Church Car Park
Start: 2.00pm | End: 4.00pm
Contact: korinne@guernseytourguide.co.uk | 07839 200553
Finding the location: Perry’s ref: 15, H4 | What3Words: ///verify.sharer.evolutionary
Bus routes: 60, 61
Ability: Moderate
Cost: £10
Length: 2 miles
11 - Le Vingtaine de L’Epine
Explore bunkers, bulls, wrecks, reserves and more in a walk in the detached part of the Vale Parish.
Date: 24th September
Guides: Andy Walker Silver Accredited Guide
Meet: Grandes Rocques rear car park
Start: 9.30am | End: 12.30pm
Contact: andrewwalker@suremail.gg | 07911 729731
Finding the location: Perry’s ref: 8, B2 | What3Words: ///repaid.riots.belly
Bus routes: 41, 91, 92
Ability: Hike
Cost: £10
Length: 3.5 miles
12 - The Water Lanes of St Peter Port
A tour of the northern part of town with stories of schooling, mail and industry plus a look at some German road signs from bygone times.
Date: 2nd October
Guide: Andy Walker Silver Accredited Guide
Meet: Beau Sejour Leisure Centre main entrance
Start: 9.30am | End: 11.45am
Contact: andrewwalker@suremail.gg | 07911 729731
Finding the location: Perry’s ref: Town E 3 | What3Words: ///target.outpost.care
Bus routes: 31, 32
Ability: Moderate
Cost: £10
Length: 3 miles
