I visited the British Isles’ official sunniest place – it doubles in size every day

Sunshine might not be the first thing that leaps to mind when you think of the British Isles – but the island of Jersey is bucking the trend as one of its sunniest places.

Patricia Wooding travelled to this gorgeous to enjoy its vast sandy beaches, stunning nature trails and superb restaurants  just in time for the 80th anniversary of its liberation from five years of Nazi occupation.

The Channel Islands were the only part of our islands to be occupied by German forces during the .

Hitler ordered Jersey to be transformed into an impregnable fortress with bunkers and underground lairs, which today act as major attractions on the tourist trail.

Liberation Day on May 9 is a but to mark the anniversary, special processions, exhibitions and celebrations will be held throughout the year.

Jersey is just nine miles long and five miles wide, but because of the large tidal range ,it doubles in size twice a day. Low tide reveals miles of extra sandy beaches with rock pools galore.

For nature lovers, there’s a coastal path which links the castles, coves, cliffs, beaches and pretty villages that are the island’s trademark. St Aubin is a lovely place to stop for lunch, with a host of hillside restaurants offering breathtaking sea views.

Across the peninsula is the popular holiday spot of St Brelade’s Bay, but the best beach, according to Patricia, is Beauport – a mile away.

She said: “It nestles in a secluded bay and is reached by a winding footpath from the car park. A mile or two further on stands Corbiere Lighthouse, which provides the most spectacular and not-to-be-missed views at sunset.

A little further afield is St Ouen’s Bay, renowned for its golden dunes and water sports activities, such as wakeboarding, scuba diving, jet ski adventures or plain sailing.”

Travelling to, from and around Jersey is incredibly easy. Patricia’s British Airways flight took just 40 minutes from Gatwick.

“Barely time to finish our in-flight drink and nibbles – and before we knew it we were booked into our room.

“We stayed in St Helier at the Club Hotel and Spa, a luxury boutique hotel within walking distance of the seaside capital’s beaches, shops, bars and restaurants.

It has indoor and outdoor pools, five treatment rooms and a thermal suite but the jewel in the crown of this superb hotel is its Michelin-starred restaurant Bohemia.”

One of the best experiences in Jersey was the “unforgettable dining expereince” at Bohemia.

Patricia said: “Chef Callum Graham uses local produce to create works of art, both for both the eyes and taste buds. From the first course, where he managed to work wonders with a humble carrot, to the dressed Jersey crab with red Thai curry panna cotta, peanut and kaffir lime, it was pure gastronomic rapture. All paired with wine from a sommelier with the descriptive powers of a poet.

“Like so many things in Jersey, the cuisine is a glorious blend of British and French cultures. You can see this in the shops, the bars and even the street names.”

There’s still plenty to see in the tiny capital. The great thing about staying in St Helier is that the whole island is waiting to be explored after a short walk from the hotel to Liberation Bus Station. 

It’s also well worth an afternoon’s shopping in St Helier, which has two excellent department stores, de Gruchy and Voisins, and a Victorian market.

If you have children in tow, head down to the harbour where there’s lots of activities to keep young minds active – and theirhands busy, too.

You could spend hours in the Maritime Museum, learning about pirates, and using hands-on sections to learn about tides and how to design your own ship. Don’t miss the giant Occupation Tapestry which is on display in a special room at this museum.

Its 13 panels, woven by islanders, tells the story of the life of hardship during the five years of Nazi occupation. Each section has an interactive screen in front of it.

If the sun is still shining when you’ve finished, it’s a few streets away to Havre des Pas, a sandy beach with a tidal bathing pool built in the 1890s and re-designed Art Deco-style in the 1920s. The pool fills with fresh seawater and provides a popular bathing spot for locals and visitors.

For more history, head across the causeway at low tide to Elizabeth Castle, which has defended the island for 400 years and is steeped in history.

You can climb the battlements dating back to when Sir Walter Raleigh was governor of Jersey. This fortress also provided sanctuary for King Charles II during the English Civil War and was used by the Germans during the occupation.

Further afield, on the east coast of the island, stands spectacular Mont Orgueil Castle, overlooking the charming seaside village of Gorey.

Be sure to check out the former Nazi bunkers which are still dotted all around the coastline and a stark reminder of Jersey’s dark days of the early 1940s.

For the modern-day visitor, a holiday in sun-kissed Jersey can be, well, liberating.

Book the holiday

• British Airways flies to Jersey from Gatwick and Heathrow starting at £41 one-way. 

• Rooms at The Club Hotel and Spa, St Helier, Jersey, start at £129 a night. 

• Bohemia Restaurant: Callum Graham Signature Tasting Menu from £129pp wine pairing from £66pp. 

• More info at