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To book your holiday telephone The White House Hotel +44 (0)1481 75 00 75 or<br />
for Holiday Cottages and Camping +44 (0)1481 75 00 00 or visit www.herm.com<br />
<strong>BRITA<strong>IN</strong></strong> <strong>IN</strong> <strong>BLOOM</strong><br />
Gold Award & Winner 2002 & 2008
WELCOME TO HERM<br />
Castaway to an island of clear waters and golden<br />
sands, wild cliff paths and tended gardens, cosy<br />
Inns and fine dining, pretty cottages and countrystyle<br />
hotel luxury, and a history rich in smugglers’<br />
spoils and Prussian princes. In this little pocket<br />
of the Channel <strong>Island</strong>s you will discover a unique<br />
holiday destination with a landscape as diverse<br />
as its history.<br />
Four nights as a castaway in <strong>Herm</strong> is<br />
worth a month anywhere else. We are<br />
ready to face the world again!<br />
<strong>Herm</strong> is an island of great beauty<br />
and tranquillity, which offers a<br />
retreat from the modern world<br />
and a return to life’s purest<br />
pleasures: walking, swimming,<br />
observing wildlife, eating and<br />
sharing happy times with friends<br />
and family. People come from<br />
near and far to let the stresses<br />
and strains of life melt into the<br />
warm waters of the Gulf Stream<br />
but, despite its popularity, there<br />
is an absence of crowds even in<br />
the height of the season. With no<br />
cars, no transistor radios and no<br />
pressures to do anything, this is<br />
the place of childhood memories:<br />
clean, safe and a source of endless<br />
adventure.<br />
<strong>Herm</strong> has an incredibly rich<br />
history: from Neolithic resting<br />
place to monastic sanctuary and<br />
from allegiance to the Duchy of<br />
Normandy to hive of industry in<br />
the 19th century with its granite<br />
quarries. Over the centuries<br />
the <strong>Island</strong> has been let to some<br />
very eccentric tenants including<br />
the Prussian Prince Blücher von<br />
Wahlstatt who introduced a<br />
colony of wallabies (long-since<br />
vanished), writer Compton<br />
Mackenzie who wrote ‘Whisky<br />
Galore’, and Sir Percival Perry, a<br />
Chairman of Ford who gave the<br />
White House Hotel its name<br />
in homage to his transatlantic<br />
connections.<br />
During the Occupation, <strong>Herm</strong><br />
was spared the concrete<br />
structures that scar the coasts<br />
of the other islands and after<br />
the war it was bought from the<br />
Crown by the States of Guernsey<br />
to ensure that visitors could<br />
enjoy it in perpetuity. The search<br />
for a suitable tenant ended in<br />
1949 with the arrival of the Wood<br />
family who worked tirelessly<br />
to create an outstanding legacy<br />
before passing the mantle to the<br />
Starboard Settlement in 2008.<br />
The island’s new guardians are<br />
dedicated to ensuring that its<br />
natural beauty and peacefulness<br />
are preserved for future<br />
generations.
Neolithic graves<br />
Extensive easy<br />
strolling around<br />
flat north<br />
moorland<br />
See oyster<br />
catchers from<br />
Oyster Point<br />
Good sea<br />
bass fishing<br />
from the<br />
rocks<br />
Shell Beach - crystal<br />
clear turquoise water over<br />
endless golden sand<br />
Manor Village with<br />
Holiday Cottages,<br />
St Tuguals Church,<br />
<strong>Herm</strong> School &<br />
staff cottages<br />
Belvoir Bay<br />
- unforgettable<br />
by moonlight<br />
Mermaid<br />
Tavern<br />
Low tide<br />
causeway to<br />
<strong>Herm</strong>etier<br />
<strong>Island</strong> and<br />
Oyster beds<br />
Caquorobert<br />
Islet<br />
Gift<br />
Shops<br />
The Drive,<br />
up the hill<br />
from the<br />
Harbour<br />
to Manor<br />
Village.<br />
Seagull camping<br />
site, secluded<br />
and private<br />
with stunning<br />
sea views<br />
Woodland<br />
bluebell walk<br />
planned<br />
Putrainez Islet -<br />
scramble across<br />
at low tide<br />
The White<br />
House Hotel<br />
Bracing cliff<br />
walks on the<br />
south coast.<br />
We spent the morning walking around<br />
the beautiful coastline, finishing at the<br />
Mermaid for a well-earned lunch.<br />
See puffins<br />
from here.<br />
From here you<br />
can see all<br />
the Channel<br />
<strong>Island</strong>s on a<br />
clear day!<br />
Coppermine<br />
shaft<br />
Explore the<br />
caves at low<br />
tide. Sign the<br />
visitors book.<br />
TAKE TIME TO EXPLORE<br />
Getting to <strong>Herm</strong> is just a twentyminute<br />
ferry ride from St Peter<br />
Port. At high tide the boat docks<br />
in the small harbour and at low<br />
tide passengers disembark at<br />
the whitewashed Rosaire Steps<br />
before making their way along<br />
the track to the hub of this small<br />
community. Here you will find<br />
a collection of gift shops and<br />
taverns as well as the stunning<br />
White House Hotel with its<br />
award-winning gardens.<br />
Following the path around the<br />
coast leads to the splendour of<br />
Shell Beach with its white sands<br />
stretching back as far as the eye<br />
can see, strewn with the millions<br />
of shells that give it its name.<br />
The track winds on to heavenly<br />
Belvoir Bay, the perfect spot to<br />
while away a few hours and bathe<br />
in the impossibly clear waters.<br />
Both Shell Beach and Belvoir<br />
Bay are home to cafés serving<br />
fantastic coffee and sandwiches all<br />
day - as well as the all-important<br />
ice creams.<br />
Through the centre of the <strong>Island</strong><br />
runs the tranquil Spine Lane,<br />
which stretches from the dunes<br />
to the clifftops. At sundown,<br />
swallows sweep up and down<br />
this lane and the stunning variety<br />
of butterflies that adorn the<br />
hedgerows is testament to the<br />
environmentally friendly way that<br />
the island is managed. By the<br />
time you reach the picturesque<br />
campsite, you will start to feel<br />
that <strong>Herm</strong> has been lifted straight<br />
from the pages of a 1950s<br />
children’s adventure book.<br />
In the heart of the island are the<br />
granite holiday cottages with<br />
gardens full of tropical plants,<br />
where visitors can live the <strong>Herm</strong><br />
life for a while. This is also where<br />
the tiny 11th Century chapel,<br />
Manor and Keep can be found.<br />
Look closely and you may even<br />
spot the resident peregrines<br />
standing sentinel on an ancient<br />
ledge.<br />
<strong>Herm</strong> is as perfect for parents<br />
who want carefree fun for their<br />
family as it is for those seeking<br />
solitude and relaxation. If you are<br />
the former, you will watch your<br />
children blossom in the freedom<br />
that the island offers and if you<br />
are the latter, you will find many<br />
a spot to take a breath and enjoy<br />
being away from it all.
DISCOVER A NATURAL<br />
WONDERLAND<br />
We sit and watch the tiny puffins<br />
perform their amazing air displays.<br />
The climate in the Channel <strong>Island</strong>s<br />
is a few degrees warmer than the<br />
south of England and so we enjoy<br />
mild springs and long summers.<br />
But <strong>Herm</strong> can be enjoyed all year<br />
round and Christmas in particular<br />
brings its own charm as guests<br />
hole up in one of the cottages for<br />
a wonderful family Yuletide.<br />
Whatever the season, one of<br />
the biggest attractions of <strong>Herm</strong><br />
is the way it draws you in to<br />
the great outdoors to make the<br />
most of its natural splendour.<br />
As well as the glorious beaches,<br />
the island also boasts fabulous<br />
cliff-paths with wild flowers in<br />
abundance and seabirds from<br />
puffins to turnstones with every<br />
type in between. There is also<br />
a sizeable colony of Atlantic<br />
grey seals that have made their<br />
home in the northern rocky<br />
outcrop and nature reserve of<br />
The Humps. Recordings of minke<br />
whales, harbour porpoises and<br />
risso dolphins are frequent and<br />
both bottlenose and common<br />
dolphins are regularly observed.<br />
Occasionally there are sightings of<br />
basking sharks, the largest fish in<br />
European waters. To get a ringside<br />
view, you can arrange a RIB ride,<br />
a leisurely cruise or charter your<br />
own yacht.<br />
The temperate climate allows<br />
for an exotic and broad array of<br />
flora from fuchsia-pink foxgloves<br />
to succulents not generally seen<br />
in the northern hemisphere.<br />
The common alone boasts more<br />
than five hundred species of<br />
wildflower. Tenants dating back<br />
to the late 18th century have left<br />
their mark on the landscape with<br />
the introduction of new species<br />
such as Monterey pines and New<br />
Zealand flax and if you look up as<br />
you explore you will be amazed<br />
by the diversity of the canopy.<br />
There is always something new to<br />
discover on <strong>Herm</strong>. Although you<br />
can walk around it in less than<br />
two hours, the changing tides,<br />
light and seasons create enough<br />
views, colours and moods to<br />
last a lifetime. The fact that the<br />
island is one and a half miles long<br />
makes its diversity all the more<br />
remarkable - and all the more<br />
accessible. Perhaps that is why so<br />
many visitors return year after<br />
year to discover it all over again.
THE WHITE HOUSE HOTEL<br />
With its emphasis on peace and<br />
comfort, The White House Hotel<br />
is the perfect place to unwind<br />
in style. There are no televisions,<br />
no clocks on the walls and no<br />
telephones in the bedrooms so<br />
you can set your own pace and<br />
escape from the 21st century for<br />
a while. The Hotel has an oldfashioned<br />
elegance and sense of<br />
decorum that transports you back<br />
to more genteel times: residents<br />
dress for dinner and are invited<br />
to enjoy drinks in the Monk’s<br />
Bar overlooking the gardens<br />
before dining in the world-class<br />
restaurant and watching the sun<br />
set behind Guernsey.<br />
The AA rosette restaurant is<br />
a popular venue for Guernsey<br />
residents as well as Hotel guests<br />
and offers an excellent fine dining<br />
table d’hote menu that changes<br />
daily to follow the seasons and<br />
of course the catch of the day.<br />
Our wine list is one of the most<br />
extensive in the Channel <strong>Island</strong>s<br />
and we personally source new<br />
and often exclusive wines every<br />
year to keep the cellar impeccably<br />
stocked.<br />
There is a wonderful community<br />
spirit in <strong>Herm</strong> that has resulted<br />
in some staggering achievements:<br />
the island has twice now been<br />
awarded a coveted Britain in<br />
Bloom Gold Medal, most recently<br />
in 2008, and the stunningly<br />
landscaped gardens of The White<br />
House make the perfect retreat.<br />
Guests can take tea by the pool,<br />
play a game of tennis or croquet<br />
on the lawns or simply pick a<br />
sofa and curl up in front of the<br />
fire with a coffee and admire the<br />
views.<br />
Tradition is cherished at The<br />
White House and many families<br />
have been coming for three<br />
generations for a little R and R.<br />
There are a variety of bedrooms,<br />
including Harbour Cottage with<br />
its own garden, the luxurious<br />
Crow’s Nest Suite and several<br />
family rooms. Children are very<br />
welcome and there is a popular<br />
high tea for smaller diners as<br />
well as a baby-listening service so<br />
that Mum and Dad can enjoy a<br />
romantic dinner in the restaurant.<br />
Each morning we throw open the windows<br />
to let in the morning sun and admire<br />
the breathtaking sea views.
STAY<strong>IN</strong>G ON HERM<br />
<strong>Herm</strong> has been a home from home and<br />
it has been wonderful to become a part<br />
of this warm community.<br />
Holiday Cottages<br />
One of the most authentic ways<br />
to experience life on <strong>Herm</strong> is to<br />
live in one of our fully equipped<br />
holiday cottages or apartments or<br />
pine logs cabins, offering all of the<br />
comforts of home in a wonderful<br />
setting. Several cottages have<br />
open fires and pretty private<br />
gardens and most have central<br />
heating to keep guests cosy in the<br />
cooler months. High chairs and<br />
cots are available and babysitting<br />
can be arranged to allow a bit<br />
of downtime. Our self-catering<br />
accommodation makes a<br />
wonderful base from which to<br />
explore <strong>Herm</strong> <strong>Island</strong> and each<br />
season brings its own delights,<br />
from a bluebell walk in springtime<br />
to a bracing stroll across the<br />
common in winter.<br />
Camping<br />
Sleeping under canvas is a<br />
wonderful way to enjoy the<br />
tranquillity and unspoilt beauty<br />
of <strong>Herm</strong>. Seagull Campsite sits<br />
on the top of the island and has<br />
a total of 80 pitches, modern<br />
toilet and shower facilities, a small<br />
laundry, communal barbecues and<br />
a dedicated warden to ensure<br />
that your holiday is as enjoyable<br />
and carefree as possible. You can<br />
either hire one of the spacious,<br />
equipped tents or pitch your own<br />
on the lush, sea-facing terraces<br />
and step out in the morning to<br />
unforgettable views across the<br />
cliff tops to Sark and France.<br />
The morning stroll to collect<br />
milk from the harbour is a<br />
mainstay of the camping lifestyle<br />
in <strong>Herm</strong> and a great way to give<br />
the children a bit of freedom.<br />
Eating and drinking<br />
There is a small grocery shop at<br />
the Mermaid, which stocks all the<br />
basics along with fresh bread and<br />
pastries and if you pre-order, your<br />
provisions will be delivered to<br />
your door - or tent - on arrival.<br />
If you don’t fancy cooking then<br />
you are spoilt for choice with<br />
The White House, The Ship, The<br />
Mermaid and the beach cafés<br />
all serving a fabulous range of<br />
food from à la carte feasts to<br />
the humble bacon sarnie. Recent<br />
additions include the popular<br />
Black Rock Grill, where your food<br />
is served cooking on volcanic<br />
rocks, and the equally sociable<br />
hog roasts, but the legendary<br />
Mermaid barbecues and Captain’s<br />
Table carvery still maintain a<br />
fiercely loyal fan base.
GETAWAY FOR A FEW DAYS<br />
The list below will give you an idea of the possibilities for holidays or shortbreaks<br />
on <strong>Herm</strong> <strong>Island</strong> but it is by no means exhaustive. Whether you crave<br />
a few days walking, fishing with friends, a whistle-stop bird-watching tour or a<br />
painting holiday, <strong>Herm</strong> is the place to make your vision a reality.<br />
Bluebells in Bloom<br />
March to May<br />
(excluding ‘package weekends’)<br />
Gourmet Weekend<br />
Late September<br />
Sunset Sailaway<br />
Throughout September and<br />
early October<br />
Life seems to slow down here and<br />
each day stretches before us to be<br />
filled with fun and adventure.<br />
This two or three night getaway<br />
is a wonderful opportunity to<br />
see the island coming to life<br />
after the winter. Staying in The<br />
White House Hotel, the package<br />
includes return Travel Trident<br />
tickets, breakfast, evening meal<br />
(with a bottle of wine on the first<br />
night) and <strong>Herm</strong> <strong>Island</strong> cookies<br />
and fudge.<br />
As guests of The White House<br />
Hotel, you will be treated to<br />
exquisite six-course gourmet<br />
feasts created by our head chef<br />
with fine wines specially selected<br />
to complement each course. The<br />
weekend includes two six-course<br />
meals with wines to complement<br />
each course, full English breakfast<br />
and a traditional Sunday lunch.<br />
This enjoyable weekend satisfies<br />
the most discerning taste buds.<br />
Book a two or three night break<br />
staying at The White House Hotel<br />
and let the combination of long<br />
walks, fine food, country hotel<br />
ambience and glorious views help<br />
you unwind and rejuvenate. The<br />
package includes return Travel<br />
Trident tickets, breakfast, evening<br />
meals with a bottle of Brown<br />
Brothers Pinot Noir Sparkling<br />
wine and a box of chocolates.
HOW TO<br />
GET HERE<br />
The only way to arrive in <strong>Herm</strong><br />
is by boat - either aboard a<br />
private yacht or on the regular<br />
Travel Trident passenger ferry,<br />
which takes just twenty minutes<br />
from St Peter Port. But first you<br />
need to get to Guernsey and you<br />
can do so by air or by sea.<br />
By Air<br />
Flights to Guernsey are available<br />
from Gatwick, Stansted, Belfast,<br />
Birmingham, Bournemouth,<br />
Bristol, Dublin, Exeter, Glasgow,<br />
Manchester and Southampton as<br />
well as some major Continental<br />
European airports. A regular<br />
schedule of inter-island flights<br />
also operates between Guernsey,<br />
Alderney and Jersey.<br />
Aurigny Air Services<br />
Tel: +44 (0)1481 822886<br />
www.aurigny.com<br />
Flybe<br />
Tel: 0871 7002000<br />
www.flybe.com<br />
Blue <strong>Island</strong>s<br />
Tel: 08456 202122<br />
www.blueislands.com<br />
ENGLAND<br />
ENGLISH CHANNEL<br />
GUERNSEY<br />
JERSEY<br />
By Sea<br />
High speed regular direct<br />
catamaran services to Guernsey<br />
run from Poole, Weymouth and<br />
St Malo. You can leave your car at<br />
the port and travel in comfort as<br />
a foot passenger. If visiting with<br />
your own yacht, why not moor it<br />
in St Peter Port Marina and treat<br />
your family to a few days comfort<br />
on <strong>Herm</strong>.<br />
Condor Ferries<br />
Tel: 0845 6091024<br />
www.condorferries.co.uk<br />
Travel Trident<br />
Tel: +44 (0)1481 721379<br />
FRANCE<br />
BOOK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
YOUR HOLIDAY<br />
Our staff will be delighted to assist you<br />
with your reservation and can answer<br />
any queries you may have.<br />
The White House Hotel<br />
<strong>Herm</strong> <strong>Island</strong><br />
Guernsey<br />
Channel <strong>Island</strong>s<br />
GY1 3HR<br />
Tel: +44 (0)1481 75 00 75<br />
Fax: +44 (0)1481 710066<br />
Email: hotel@herm.com<br />
Holiday Cottages and Camping<br />
The Administration Office<br />
Tel: +44 (0)1481 75 00 00<br />
Fax: +44 (0)1481 700334<br />
Email: reservations@herm.com
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