Get away to GUERNSEY

Distant enough to feel like an adventure, yet close enough for a weekend escape, this group of islands is a delight in spring

- LAUREN JARVIS

Cast out off the coast of Normandy geographically much closer to France than England - enchanting Guernsey is a holiday classic. It offers spectacular beaches, accessible outdoor adventures and a sprinkling of history plus, day trips to the car-free (and carefree) islands of Sark and Herm. Smaller than its glitzier Channel Islands neighbour Jersey, Guernsey's laid-back atmosphere will soon have you switching to island time and embracing life like a local.

Go on safari

A Land Rover safari with Tour Guernsey (tourguernsey.com) is a fun way to tick off the island's highlights. Starting in the pretty main town of St Peter Port, you'll pass Hauteville House (maisons victorhugo.paris.fr) - the onetime home of Les Misérables author Victor Hugo - then head onwards to the Little Chapel, a pebble-adorned miniature version of the pilgrimage site at Lourdes in France. You'll also pause at Napoleonic fortifications and ancient Neolithic standing stones, and visit the Second World War German Occupation Museum (germanoccupationmuseum.co.uk), with its moving stories from the island's challenging period under Nazi rule.

Catch a wave