Jersey - The Island
Jersey has been hotly contested through the centuries, and its strategic position between France and Britain has left a long legacy of fascinating historical sites. From Medieval castles such as Mont Orgueil at Gorey, through to the evocative Jersey War Tunnels at St Lawrence – created by German occupying forces during the Second World War. Today, Jersey is a unique and intriguing destination to both explore and relax in. Within the beautiful and varied coastline, the island takes on a gentle verdant green countryside rich in all kinds of flora and fauna. Split into 12 parishes, Jersey very much takes on its English persona, with villages based around the parish church and the local pub all connected by leafy lanes ideally suited to cyclists and hikers. Along the way are some fine vistas across rich woodland and fields that grow both the famous Jersey Royal Potato crop and provide pasture for cute doe-eyed Jersey cattle that supply the unique and deliciously rich dairy produce famously used in the Jersey cream tea.Jersey really is a contrasting place, despite being only 116sq km in size. On the one hand, its isolation as an island and reliance on the land and sea creates a genuine sense that a visit is a trip back in time to a more idyllic less complicated world. Whereas in St Helier, the capital, the atmosphere and surroundings assume a confident, affluent air of fine hotels and dining, luxury marinas and high-end shopping mostly inspired by its high earning residents and its well established status as an off-shore banking centre.
