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PorteletWith a reputation for more sunshine hours than any other part of the United Kingdom, and increasing protests about the carbon costs of air travel, we recommend doing what your grandparents did for their summer hols and catching the ferry to Jersey. While tourist numbers have decreased in recent years, there's been no decline in lush green lanes, golden beaches and mysterious Norman towers (who is Norman and did he have a complex about his height?). There is history, and dairy and some inhabitants who look like they arrived after their last bank job in the 1960s.

Jersey Highlights

Greve de Lecq

Say no to shrimp netsFor the consummate family seaside holiday experience visit Greve de Lecq where you can buy British food, tacky seaside souvenirs, buckets and spades and shrimping nets (I saw one very quivery shrimp the whole time I was there - please stop the shrimping nets - SAY NO TO SHRIMPING NETS). You can hire a sun lounger and a lovely sun umbrella (i.e. formerly owned by the pub up the road so consequently decorated by Coke or Stella). You can even buy a cup of tea in a polystyrene cup. The view is delightful and the sea just the right colour.

Glass Church

St Matthews

For a moment of serious aesthetic rapture visit the Glass Church of St Matthew's. The fairly ordinary exterior hides a most extraordinary modernist interior, with serene white glass-scapes designed by Rene Lalique.

Not last century but worth visiting anyway

St Brelade's Parish Church is worth visiting in its own right, and so is the Fisherman's Chapel with its medieval fresco, but what really makes this a special place to visit is the last surviving 'perquage' or sanctuary path. According to Jayne's Jersey, "These paths were set up during the Middle Ages to allow criminals, seeking the sanctuary of the church, safe access to the sea where a waiting boat would take them away to permanent exile from the island."

Don't mention the war

Tower

The German occupation of the Channel Islands during the Second World War has left its mark. Jersey has not forgotten, and you can visit significant sites around the island from the occupation period. Architectural features left around by the occupiers now stand as monuments for reflection, education and reconciliation.

Don't mention Bergerac

Bergerac? Who's he?

Accommodation

When we were in Jersey we stayed at the Alister Guest House and we liked it. The room was spacious and airy. They make a jolly good cup of tea. And breakfast comes accompanied by hits of the 1960s.