Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society Tour

Experience the locations featured in the best-selling book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, written by Mary Ann Shaffer and her niece, Annie Burrows.

On route to the various locations, the driver guide will recount real-life tales of heroism, triumph over adversity and sheer determination shown by the Guernsey people during the long period of German occupation.

Tour timings

The tour runs every Friday from 2 May to 31 October, starting at 10.30am, and lasts 3.5 hours.

Hotel pick-ups

Hotel pick-ups are available for hotels outside of St Peter Port. Pick-ups will start from 9.45am, with the last ones around 10.20am.

Tour schedule

• Depart the bus terminus 
• At Jerbourg (opportunity to take photos)
• Little Chapel
• Guernsey Pearl (refreshments)
• West coast (enjoy the views!)
• White Rock pier (opportunity to take photos)
• Tour ends at Liberation Monument in St Peter Port

Tour details

On departing the bus terminus, the tour will head to Jerbourg.

Jerbourg

Many scenes from the book are set here, on the southeast cliff-top. See where Dawsey, Amelia and Isola 'lived', as well as the lanes, meadows, and farmhouses where the colourful characters conducted their lives.

Walk to the viewpoint for splendid views of the other Channel Islands and France (on a clear day). It was here that Elizabeth met her German lover Christian and watched the German warplanes flying over to drop their bombs on London.

The Little Chapel

The tour will then head to the Little Chapel, which Dawsey took Juliet to see.

Built by Brother Deodat, the Little Chapel is regarded as the smallest consecrated church in the world. To impress his Bishop, Brother Deodat decided to cover the Little Chapel with many different types of shells and broken pieces of pottery - making for a beautiful piece of architecture.

Guernsey Pearl

On leaving the Little Chapel, the coach will head down to the west coast to the Guernsey Pearl, where you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, plus a piece of Guernsey gâche.

White Rock Pier (and harbour)

After a short break, the coach will take you along the west coast and around the north of the island. On the way to the White Rock Pier, you will see the many German fortifications as well as the Witches' Stone and Les Trepieds Dolmen that Dawsey showed Juliet.

The harbour played host to one of the darkest days in Guernsey’s history. Mistaking a queue of tomato trucks for military vehicles carrying troops, German aircraft dropped a number of bombs, causing the deaths of 34 innocent civilians. You will see a memorial dedicated to local residents who perished in the raid.

The harbour is also where Eben tells Juliet about the difficult decision many islanders had to make about whether to evacuate their children to England or keep them in Guernsey.

End of the tour

The tour ends at the Liberation Monument coach bay at 2pm.

From here you can explore the quaint town of St Peter Port, or adventure further afield. The Liberation Monument was erected in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of Guernsey's liberation from the Germans.

A taxi rank is opposite the coach bay, and the bus terminus is a short walk south along the seafront.

Things to explore in St Peter Port after the tour

The cobbled streets of the High Street, Smith Street and Mill Street will take you to boutique shops and cafes/restaurants serving delicious food.

On the seafront (opposite the Crown Pier and looking out over the visitors marina) is the old Crown Hotel – now the Ship & Crown. This is where Dawsey was heaving slates for the Crown Hotel’s new roof (referenced in his letter to Juliet).

A short walk up Mill Street will take you to the Art for Guernsey Gallery – showcasing both local and international artists.

A walk south along the seafront will take you to Castle Cornet or, if you walk further south, to the recently renovated La Vallette area of town. Drop in to the Underground Military Museum or walk further along to the Victorian Bathing Pools where you can swim or just grab a coffee and a snack, whilst taking in the panoramic views of the other islands of Guernsey.

A walk up Smith Street and on to Candie road will take you to Candie Gardens. Here you can visit the Guernsey Museum at Candie, which hosts a Guernsey history museum along with art collections, hands-on activities for Children, a café and much more.