Getting Away From It All: The Isle of Sark (Island of Sark)

Member Name: beccc

Product:	Island of Sark
Date:	08/08/03 (462 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Relaxation, Views and Walks, Friendly islanders

Disadvantages: None, as long as you want a quiet, undemanding holiday.

The Isle of Sark is quiet, relaxed, beautiful and unspoilt. Three and a half miles long with a population of around six hundred people, it has no chain stores, no cars and no streetlamps. Consequently it can be quite tricky to find your way home in the dark, but stumbling along the uneven paths with a torch beneath a sky full of stars only adds to the charm! The island has a number of sandy and stony beaches and the height of the cliffs makes for some breathtaking views. Travel in the springtime to experience absolute peace and quiet and go for walks in woods full of bluebells, or in the summer to experience a more bustling Sark, warmer weather and of course the Water Carnival and Sheep Races!

Places to visit include La Coupee, which is a very high and narrow strip of land connecting Big Sark and Little Sark with fantastic views over the sandy beach at La Grande Greve. Despite being only six feet wide in places, this used to have no railings at all until German prisoners of war made it safe after the Occupation in the Second World War. Now it is safe with spectacular views. On a clear day you can see the nearby privately owned island of Brechou as well as Herm, Jethou and Guernsey to one side and Jersey to the other. The Seigneurie Gardens are well worth a visit, especially in June, and the boat trip around the island is an exhilarating and educational experience not to be missed! Finally, no visit would be complete without a trip around the island in a horse and cart, complete with anecdotes about the island and breaks to admire the fantastic views.

Culinary experiences include the unmissable Sark Ice Cream - I highly recommend all and any of the numerous flavours, and Butterscotch in particular!

Having spent three months working at the Dixcart Hotel I couldn't recommend it strongly enough for a warm and friendly atmosphere, excellent food and service and beautifully kept rooms and grounds. The wood fire burning in the lou
nge is delightful on colder evenings and the bar is an island hotspot, especially on Sundays when the other pubs on the island are closed.

Sark has no airport so the best way to travel there is to fly from Gatwick to Guernsey (prices vary according to season) and then take a ferry from Guernsey to Sark for approximately £20 return. Relax, live at a quieter pace for a week and be prepared to say hello to every single person you see while you're there!

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