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    Home › Travel Guides›

    The Channel Islands

    If you're looking for somewhere exclusive but not far-flung for your next tour, head to the Channel Islands – but be sure to read our travel guide first

    Published: January 31, 2014

    Practical Motorhome visits Jersey - Watch and find out how you can visit Jersey with your 'van – be inspired - Copyright: Practical Motorhome Productions
    Visit Jersey, a stunning destination and the only place you can enjoy touring caravan holidays in the Channel Islands
    Visit Jersey, a stunning destination and the only place you can enjoy touring caravan holidays in the Channel Islands
    Practical Caravan shares its top tips for the best caravan holidays on the Channel Islands
    Practical Caravan shares its top tips for the best caravan holidays on the Channel Islands
    On the east of Jersey is the village of Gorey, the castle one of Practical Caravan's must-see places to visit during caravan holidays in the Channel Islands
    On the east of Jersey is the village of Gorey, the castle one of Practical Caravan’s must-see places to visit during caravan holidays in the Channel Islands
    This lavender farm is one of the top tourist attractions featured in the Practical Caravan travel guide to caravan holidays in Jersey
    This lavender farm is one of the top tourist attractions featured in the Practical Caravan travel guide to caravan holidays in Jersey
    Practical Caravan's top tips can help you get the most from your caravan holidays in the Channel Islands
    Practical Caravan’s top tips can help you get the most from your caravan holidays in the Channel Islands
    The Channel Islands boast miles of sandy Altantic shoreline, such as this stretch of north Jersey, but read our travel guide as there's a lot for motorcaravanners to know before travelling
    The Channel Islands boast miles of sandy Altantic shoreline, such as this stretch of north Jersey, but read our travel guide as there’s a lot for motorcaravanners to know before travelling
    When you book a pitch, the campsite or your agent will arrange the ferry crossing to the Channel Islands
    When you book a pitch, the campsite or your agent will arrange the ferry crossing to the Channel Islands
    Visit the Channel Islands in time for Liberation Day, when the German occupation ended, which is celebrated on 9 May
    Visit the Channel Islands in time for Liberation Day, when the German occupation ended, which is celebrated on 9 May
    A campervan is a great way to explore the Channel Islands, including narrow roads such as this in St Peter Port
    A campervan is a great way to explore the Channel Islands, including narrow roads such as this in St Peter Port
    Castle Cornet has stood guard over Guernsey's capital of St Peter Port for 800 years
    Castle Cornet has stood guard over Guernsey’s capital of St Peter Port for 800 years
    Visit Jersey, a stunning destination and the only place you can enjoy touring caravan holidays in the Channel Islands
    Practical Caravan shares its top tips for the best caravan holidays on the Channel Islands
    On the east of Jersey is the village of Gorey, the castle one of Practical Caravan's must-see places to visit during caravan holidays in the Channel Islands
    This lavender farm is one of the top tourist attractions featured in the Practical Caravan travel guide to caravan holidays in Jersey
    Practical Caravan's top tips can help you get the most from your caravan holidays in the Channel Islands
    The Channel Islands boast miles of sandy Altantic shoreline, such as this stretch of north Jersey, but read our travel guide as there's a lot for motorcaravanners to know before travelling
    When you book a pitch, the campsite or your agent will arrange the ferry crossing to the Channel Islands
    Visit the Channel Islands in time for Liberation Day, when the German occupation ended, which is celebrated on 9 May
    A campervan is a great way to explore the Channel Islands, including narrow roads such as this in St Peter Port
    Castle Cornet has stood guard over Guernsey's capital of St Peter Port for 800 years
    It is only Jersey and Guernsey that accept motorhomes

    Things To Do

    Visit the Durrell Wildlife Park. Set up over 50 years ago by Gerald Durrell, author (including his semi-autobiographical account, ‘My Family and Other Animals’) and naturalist, the wildlife park is sanctuary to more than 130 endangered species with an important rearing programme. The wildlife park is considered one of the best attractions to visit on Jersey.

    Explore the cobbled streets of Guernsey’s capital St Peter Port, enjoy the marina and soak up the atmosphere in one of the cosmopolitan cafes or restaurants. Don’t forget a visit to Castle Cornet, which has stood guard over the town for 800 years; you’ll hear the Noon Day Gun fire daily wherever you are!

    Take a trip underground at the Jersey War Tunnels, which tells the story of the German occupation of Jersey during World War Two. The tunnel complex, a heritage site, plays host to a series of galleries detailing the experiences of those who lived through the war.

    Do some island hopping to walk the Channel Island Way, a 115-mile route that takes in the coastlines of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Herm and Sark. Boats sail from St Helier to Guernsey (where you can hop on another 15-minute boat ride to Herm) and Sark. Both Herm and Sark are absolute ‘must-see’ destinations; they are traffic-free (except for farm tractors, bikes and horses). 

    Enjoy a wander around the lavender fields and gardens of the Jersey Lavender Farm. Find out how the therapeutic lavender oil is extracted and, at harvest time, watch the essential oils being distilled from the flowers. Then treat yourself to one of the unique lavender products from the shop. Lesser known but no less stunning is Le Noir Pré and the smaller Le Clos du Seigneur. These two adjoining wetland fields are the last remaining strongholds of the rare Jersey Orchid. The fields erupt with colour during May and June.

    When To Visit

    Liberation Day is a major mark in the calendar commemorating the liberation of the Islands from German occupation on 9 May 1945. Many events across all the islands take place on this day. In particular the five-week Channel Islands Heritage Festival captures the spirit of the Islands between April and May.

    Also in May is the gleaming Jersey Boat Show in St Helier and the Jersey Food Festival, with events taking place across the island to celebrate the Jersey Royal potato, seafood and dairy produce. And in August, one of Jersey’s largest and most colourful events, the Battle of Flowers takes place in St Helier. The spectacular carnival has been running for over 100 years. Guernsey also hosts floral festivals in spring and autumn.

    Getting There

    Taking a motorhome to the Channel Islands requires some planning. It is not possible simply to pitch up unannounced at a ferry port on mainland Britain and hop on a boat.

    Condor Ferries operates a route to Jersey (St Helier) from Poole; there are also routes from Normandy in France if you plan to add the Channel Islands onto a trip to Continental Europe. 

    To travel to both Jersey and Guernsey (the only two islands that allow motorhomes/campervans) with a ‘van, it is necessary to obtain a permit. Your chosen campsite on either island will make the booking for both your accommodation on site and the ferry crossing, and will obtain the permit. This permit, showing valid dates, must be displayed in the window at all times during your stay on either island. Separate permits are required for each island if you are going to visit both. Guernsey allows just 14 motorhomes on the island at any one time, which makes a visit all the more ‘exclusive’.

    Motorhomes are allowed to stay for a maximum of one month and you must have third party insurance and proof of ownership with you at all times. Vehicles must return to the booked campsite each night.

    The maximum width of a motorhome allowed on either island is 2.3m; the maximum length on Jersey is 9.3m and on Guernsey it is 6.9m. That said, Condor Ferries requires exact dimensions. The ‘van should not exceed a maximum weight of 3.5 tonnes when fully laden and you can only carry one gas canister up to 5kg weight (it must be turned off prior to boarding). Motorhomes exceeding the dimensions provided upon booking are unlikely to be able to travel.

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