Make a holiday rental home or cottage in the Channel Islands your home away from home

The Channel Islands offer a continental break with all the benefits of a trip to France with the convenience of paying in Pounds and speaking in English. While Jersey, Channel Islands is the most popular tourist destination and where most self-catering accommodation can be found, the other four islands of the group (Guernsey, Herm, Sark and Alderney) also have plenty to see and do and are close enough to make a day trip from Jersey.

Things to do in the Channel Islands

The size of the Channel Islands and the relatively flat terrain makes for a great opportunity to explore the islands on bicycle or by foot, with numerous tracks around the island.

The huge ratio of coastline to land also means that water sports feature high on the list of activities available on the islands, including kayaking, kite surfing, swimming, SCUBA diving, surfing, water skiing, windsurfing, sailing and fishing.

Land-based activities also abound, with abseiling, climbing, archery, blokarting, shooting and golf also all available. Then after a hard day's adventuring, guests can visit one of the island group's range of spas, or relax by the fire in your own self-catering holiday cottage.

Places to visit on holiday in the Channel Islands

Jersey is the main destination for most Channel Island holidays and is the largest of the group. Here holidaymakers can visit a number of heritage attractions, including Elizabeth Castle, a garrison on its own nearby island. The Discovery Pier in St. Martin offers visitors chance to learn about the local marine life and there are numerous other museums in the town. Living Legend in St. Peter is a multi-media recreation of Jersey's history and features lots of entertainment and leisure activities which are sure to keep any family entertained.

Guernsey is the second largest island in the group and also has lots to see including museums dedicated to such diverse subjects as local history, telephones, diamonds, shipwrecks and military history. There are also lots of beautiful gardens on the island, many of which host different events over the summer months.

All motor vehicles are banned on both Sark and Herm, so both are truly unspoilt, and make for a great day trip for walkers, who can look forward to sandy white beaches and lush green countryside.

Weather in the Channel Islands

The weather in the Channel Islands is very similar to that in the South of England. Average daytime temperatures reach around 18C in the summer months, but drop to around 7C in the winter. The summer months are also the driest and sunniest, making April to September the best months Channel Island holidays.

Travel to the Channel Islands

Short breaks in the Channel Islands are easy and relatively inexpensive from the UK, with numerous budget airlines flying directly to Jersey airport (JER) and Guernsey airport (GCI) from across the UK. For visitors who prefer to sail there are also ferry services from Poole, Portsmouth and Weymouth as well as between the islands.