The small, sandy outcrop of Herm Island is a paradise that lies just a quick 20-minute boat trip away from the island of Guernsey. A trip to the Channel Islands would not be complete without visiting this gem of an island. You will feel whisked away from the busy world to tranquil and picturesque heaven.
The Channel Islands is the perfect getaway from either the UK or France, providing you with pristine beaches and an insane amount of history.
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Herm is an idyllic day trip from Guernsey, perfect on a warm, sunny day either for a walk around the coastal paths or for a dip in the sea. In this guide, we will discuss the best things to do on Herm as well as the following
- What is Herm?
- Where is Herm?
- How to get to Herm?
- Why Should I go to Herm?
- When Should I go to Herm?
- Preparing for your trip to Guernsey
Herm Island – A Paradise Day Trip from Guernsey
What is Herm Island?
The small island of Herm is located just 3-miles off the coast of Guernsey. It is home to 60 residents and is a popular destination for those in Guernsey, looking to escape from the mainland for a short break. With expansive golden sands and turquoise blue waters, it really is true when they say that Herm feels like paradise.
Herm is only 1.5 miles long and 0.5 miles wide and can be walked around in approximately 2 hours. There are beaches towards the northern side of the island and clifftop views on the southern end. This means relaxing on the beach and climbing around the cliffs can easily be done in one day, with an entire loop of the island only taking 2-3hrs by foot.
Where is the Island of Herm?
Herm is an island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey and sits only a 20-minute ferry ride away from Guernsey Harbour.
Being only 2-hours on the boat away from France, Herm is lucky to have warm summer months with August reaching around 27 degrees centigrade. However, in the winter months, the temperature does drop close to freezing and you may have a rocky boat trip over!
How to Get to Herm?
Herm is only accessible by boat and is only a 3 mile and 20-minute ferry trip on the Travel Trident from Guernsey. The ferry leaves from St Peter Port Harbour numerous times a day depending on the season. You can purchase tickets at the kiosk beside the clock tower in St Peter Port harbour.
At high tide, the boat will leave from beside the Herm ticket kiosk at the Weighbridge clock tower and arrive at Herm Harbour. At low tide, it will leave from the Inter-Island Quay and arrive at Rosair Steps.
If you are travelling from Jersey, you can get a ferry or flight into Guernsey in around an hour and then get the Travel Trident across to Herm. The ferry from St Malo in France will take around 2 hours to reach Guernsey and from Poole in the UK, 3.5 hours.
Why Should I Go to Herm?
When you visit Herm, you feel like you are a world away from life on the mainland, in a magical paradise that you never want to leave. Most people who have visited Herm will agree that there is a special feel to the island, the north side flat opens grassy space and beautiful white sandy beaches. The south coast is home to the rocky cliffs and winding cliff paths carving the outskirts of the island.
Spend the day walking around the coast, soaking up the sunshine and incredible views on the beach and having a delicious meal in the mermaid Tavern. That would be our ideal day out on Herm.
When Should I go to Herm?
The best time to visit Herm is during the summer months when the temperatures are warm and the weather is more likely to be dry. The beach kiosks are open during the summer months when the weather is good so if this is something that you are looking for then it is another good reason to visit Herm during peak season.
Summer is also a great time of year to go camping on Herm where you can spend a few days exploring the island and swimming in the sea. Sometimes during the winter months, the Travel Trident reduce the ferry prices and you can go on a really cheap and quiet trip to Herm.
Things to do on the Island of Herm
Swimming in the Sea
When you arrive onto Herm, you will be more than tempted to get in that sparkling blue water for a swim. Our favourite beach to swim at in Herm is Belvoir Bay. This beach is sheltered and it is also one of the most beautiful beaches on Herm in our opinion. There are no lifeguards so you must swim in the sea at your own risk.
Walking Along the Cliffs
Herm is a beautiful island for a coastal walk and it takes only around 2 hours to walk around the whole island. There are spectacular views across to the neighbouring island Sark and also across to Guernsey. We would advise you to wear comfortable shoes for this walk as the terrain below can be a bit uneven at times.
Outdoor Guernsey Adventure Sports
There are many activities on offer in Herm with Outdoor Guernsey. Depending on the tide, it is possible to do a kayaking tour around the island. There are also other on land activities such as archery and clay pigeon shooting to enjoy.
Check out all of the activities Outdoor Guernsey has to offer over on their website.
Herm Village
Herm Village sits in the centre of the island at the top of the hill. Here you will find St Tugual’s Chapel, the smallest chapel in the Channel Islands. It is open to the public and worth a visit when you are visiting the island. From the top of the hill, you will also have fantastic views on a clear day over to the neighbouring islands.
Before You Leave for Herm
Before you leave on your trip to the beautiful island of Herm, there are a number of things you will need to organise to ensure a smooth and stress-free trip. These include what to pack, where to stay and what is the best travel insurance for the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
How to Get to Guernsey
Given that Guernsey is an island, you really have two choices of transport for getting there: plane or boat. Both of these transport methods are available from the UK, France and from the neighbouring Channel Islands.
Ferry to Guernsey
Condor is the best option for ferries to and from the Channel Islands from the mainland. Leaving from the mainland UK ports of Poole and Portsmouth, the French port of St Malo and the Channel Islands port of Jersey, two main ferries will bring you to Guernsey.
The faster boat, known as the Liberation, takes 3 hours to get from Poole to Guernsey, while the slower boat, known as the Clipper, takes 7 hours from Portsmouth. From St Malo, it will take you just under 2 hours aboard the Rapide to reach Guernsey.
Browse all of Condor’s ferries and routes on their website here.
Fly to Guernsey
Flying to Guernsey can be done from multiple airports across the UK with the Channel Islands airline, Aurigny. This is the quickest and easiest way to get to the island if you are only coming for a short period of time.
You can browse all of the available flights and routes on the Aurigny website here.
What to Pack for Guernsey
What you need to pack for Guernsey will rely highly on when you make your trip to the Channel Islands. During the Spring and Autumn months, temperatures and weather patterns vary wildly between beautiful sunny skies and storming gales.
The temperatures generally vary from 10 oC to 25 oC during these months, with a mixture between cold, northerly winds and warmer southerlies. There is a small amount of rain, with maybe 1 in 7 days receiving rainfall, which makes it perfect for days out exploring the beautiful island.
During the Summer months in Guernsey, temperatures tend to range from 20oC to 30oC, with some days topping 35oC. Summer days in Guernsey are perfect for the beach, with many locals and travellers alike sending their day soaking up the sun and playing in the sea.
If you need more inspiration on what to pack for your trip, check out our full packing guides for all-weather conditions over here.
When it comes to toiletries, we recommend that you don’t forget to pack sunscreen. The sun in Guernsey can be strong, especially in the summer months.,
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you will see in Guernsey, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
You can read what else we keep in our camera bag over here.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Main Lens – Sony F3.5-5.6 28mm-70mm
Wide Angle Lens – Sony F2.8 16mm-35mm G-Series
Camera Stand – Neewer Portable 177cm
Vlogging Camera – Sony HX90v
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 8 Black
Drone Camera – DJI Spark
Camera Bag – Yahan Camera Bag
What is the Best Travel Insurance for Guernsey
Regardless of what type of trip you are heading on, one thing that is essential for everybody is good travel insurance. Accidents can happen anywhere and at anytime and unexpected hospital bills will ruin a holiday. Remove the stress from your next adventure and get covered for the worst.
World Nomads Travel Insurance provides budget reliable travel insurance that will keep you covered for any level of adventure.
You can get your quote before you leave on your trip right here.
Where to Stay in Guernsey
When it comes to accommodation on Guernsey, you are simply spoiled for choice with a huge range of hotels, B&Bs and even campsites to choose from. No matter what your preferred level of luxury is, there is the perfect place for you.
Luxury – Spend your time on Guernsey in true luxury at the Old Government House Spa and Hotel in St Peter Port. This hotel has beautiful views over the harbour of Guernsey’s capital, as well as access to a luxurious spa, an outdoor terrace and a heated, outdoor pool.
Book your stay at the Old Government House Spa and Hotel here.
Mid-range – If you would like a taste of luxury at an affordable price, then the Auberge du Val Hotel is perfect for you. This 19th-century farmhouse sits on the west coast of the island and offers cosy, ensuite rooms, complete with tea, coffee and tv. The hotel is just a short walk from the beautiful nature reserves in St Saviour, perfect for a romantic trip away for the weekend.
Book your stay at the Auberge du Val Hotel here.
Budget – Situated just 2-miles from Guernsey airport in the heart of St Martins, the Carlton Inn is the best value hotel in Guernsey. With free parking and wifi, as well as access to the Wicked Wolf pub that sits in the same building.
Book your stay at the Carlton Inn here.
Camping – If you are up for a longer stay on the island there are a selection of campsites available to stay at on Herm. In our opinion, this is the best way to do it.
So there you have it, a complete guide to visiting Herm island! This is just one of the many beautiful islands in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, so make sure you read our other Guernsey guides to discover more of them.
If you enjoyed your trip to Herm, let us know what your favourite sight on this amazing island was in the comments section below. We love chatting you guys about this kind of thing, so let’s share our top experiences with everyone else! What beach was your favourite? Did you try any of the kiosks? How good is the Mermaid Tavern?!
Also, make sure you share this article with your family and friends to show them how beautiful the Channel Islands can be. Sharing is caring and we want to inspire as many people as we can to visit this unbelievable part of the world.
If you are planning a trip to Guernsey soon then check out our other Channel Islands content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from Guernsey and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers on our social channels!
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