BRITAIN IN BLOOM - Herm Island

To book your holiday telephone The White House Hotel +44 (0)1481 75 00 75 or
for Holiday Cottages and Camping +44 (0)1481 75 00 00 or visit www.herm.com
BRITAIN IN BLOOM
Gold Award & Winner 2002 & 2008

WELCOME TO HERM
Castaway to an island of clear waters and golden
sands, wild cliff paths and tended gardens, cosy
Inns and fine dining, pretty cottages and countrystyle
hotel luxury, and a history rich in smugglers’
spoils and Prussian princes. In this little pocket
of the Channel Islands you will discover a unique
holiday destination with a landscape as diverse
as its history.
Four nights as a castaway in Herm is
worth a month anywhere else. We are
ready to face the world again!
Herm is an island of great beauty
and tranquillity, which offers a
retreat from the modern world
and a return to life’s purest
pleasures: walking, swimming,
observing wildlife, eating and
sharing happy times with friends
and family. People come from
near and far to let the stresses
and strains of life melt into the
warm waters of the Gulf Stream
but, despite its popularity, there
is an absence of crowds even in
the height of the season. With no
cars, no transistor radios and no
pressures to do anything, this is
the place of childhood memories:
clean, safe and a source of endless
adventure.
Herm has an incredibly rich
history: from Neolithic resting
place to monastic sanctuary and
from allegiance to the Duchy of
Normandy to hive of industry in
the 19th century with its granite
quarries. Over the centuries
the Island has been let to some
very eccentric tenants including
the Prussian Prince Blücher von
Wahlstatt who introduced a
colony of wallabies (long-since
vanished), writer Compton
Mackenzie who wrote ‘Whisky
Galore’, and Sir Percival Perry, a
Chairman of Ford who gave the
White House Hotel its name
in homage to his transatlantic
connections.
During the Occupation, Herm
was spared the concrete
structures that scar the coasts
of the other islands and after
the war it was bought from the
Crown by the States of Guernsey
to ensure that visitors could
enjoy it in perpetuity. The search
for a suitable tenant ended in
1949 with the arrival of the Wood
family who worked tirelessly
to create an outstanding legacy
before passing the mantle to the
Starboard Settlement in 2008.
The island’s new guardians are
dedicated to ensuring that its
natural beauty and peacefulness
are preserved for future
generations.

Neolithic graves
Extensive easy
strolling around
flat north
moorland
See oyster
catchers from
Oyster Point
Good sea
bass fishing
from the
rocks
Shell Beach - crystal
clear turquoise water over
endless golden sand
Manor Village with
Holiday Cottages,
St Tuguals Church,
Herm School &
staff cottages
Belvoir Bay
- unforgettable
by moonlight
Mermaid
Tavern
Low tide
causeway to
Hermetier
Island and
Oyster beds
Caquorobert
Islet
Gift
Shops
The Drive,
up the hill
from the
Harbour
to Manor
Village.
Seagull camping
site, secluded
and private
with stunning
sea views
Woodland
bluebell walk
planned
Putrainez Islet -
scramble across
at low tide
The White
House Hotel
Bracing cliff
walks on the
south coast.
We spent the morning walking around
the beautiful coastline, finishing at the
Mermaid for a well-earned lunch.
See puffins
from here.
From here you
can see all
the Channel
Islands on a
clear day!
Coppermine
shaft
Explore the
caves at low
tide. Sign the
visitors book.
TAKE TIME TO EXPLORE
Getting to Herm is just a twentyminute
ferry ride from St Peter
Port. At high tide the boat docks
in the small harbour and at low
tide passengers disembark at
the whitewashed Rosaire Steps
before making their way along
the track to the hub of this small
community. Here you will find
a collection of gift shops and
taverns as well as the stunning
White House Hotel with its
award-winning gardens.
Following the path around the
coast leads to the splendour of
Shell Beach with its white sands
stretching back as far as the eye
can see, strewn with the millions
of shells that give it its name.
The track winds on to heavenly
Belvoir Bay, the perfect spot to
while away a few hours and bathe
in the impossibly clear waters.
Both Shell Beach and Belvoir
Bay are home to cafés serving
fantastic coffee and sandwiches all
day - as well as the all-important
ice creams.
Through the centre of the Island
runs the tranquil Spine Lane,
which stretches from the dunes
to the clifftops. At sundown,
swallows sweep up and down
this lane and the stunning variety
of butterflies that adorn the
hedgerows is testament to the
environmentally friendly way that
the island is managed. By the
time you reach the picturesque
campsite, you will start to feel
that Herm has been lifted straight
from the pages of a 1950s
children’s adventure book.
In the heart of the island are the
granite holiday cottages with
gardens full of tropical plants,
where visitors can live the Herm
life for a while. This is also where
the tiny 11th Century chapel,
Manor and Keep can be found.
Look closely and you may even
spot the resident peregrines
standing sentinel on an ancient
ledge.
Herm is as perfect for parents
who want carefree fun for their
family as it is for those seeking
solitude and relaxation. If you are
the former, you will watch your
children blossom in the freedom
that the island offers and if you
are the latter, you will find many
a spot to take a breath and enjoy
being away from it all.

DISCOVER A NATURAL
WONDERLAND
We sit and watch the tiny puffins
perform their amazing air displays.
The climate in the Channel Islands
is a few degrees warmer than the
south of England and so we enjoy
mild springs and long summers.
But Herm can be enjoyed all year
round and Christmas in particular
brings its own charm as guests
hole up in one of the cottages for
a wonderful family Yuletide.
Whatever the season, one of
the biggest attractions of Herm
is the way it draws you in to
the great outdoors to make the
most of its natural splendour.
As well as the glorious beaches,
the island also boasts fabulous
cliff-paths with wild flowers in
abundance and seabirds from
puffins to turnstones with every
type in between. There is also
a sizeable colony of Atlantic
grey seals that have made their
home in the northern rocky
outcrop and nature reserve of
The Humps. Recordings of minke
whales, harbour porpoises and
risso dolphins are frequent and
both bottlenose and common
dolphins are regularly observed.
Occasionally there are sightings of
basking sharks, the largest fish in
European waters. To get a ringside
view, you can arrange a RIB ride,
a leisurely cruise or charter your
own yacht.
The temperate climate allows
for an exotic and broad array of
flora from fuchsia-pink foxgloves
to succulents not generally seen
in the northern hemisphere.
The common alone boasts more
than five hundred species of
wildflower. Tenants dating back
to the late 18th century have left
their mark on the landscape with
the introduction of new species
such as Monterey pines and New
Zealand flax and if you look up as
you explore you will be amazed
by the diversity of the canopy.
There is always something new to
discover on Herm. Although you
can walk around it in less than
two hours, the changing tides,
light and seasons create enough
views, colours and moods to
last a lifetime. The fact that the
island is one and a half miles long
makes its diversity all the more
remarkable - and all the more
accessible. Perhaps that is why so
many visitors return year after
year to discover it all over again.

THE WHITE HOUSE HOTEL
With its emphasis on peace and
comfort, The White House Hotel
is the perfect place to unwind
in style. There are no televisions,
no clocks on the walls and no
telephones in the bedrooms so
you can set your own pace and
escape from the 21st century for
a while. The Hotel has an oldfashioned
elegance and sense of
decorum that transports you back
to more genteel times: residents
dress for dinner and are invited
to enjoy drinks in the Monk’s
Bar overlooking the gardens
before dining in the world-class
restaurant and watching the sun
set behind Guernsey.
The AA rosette restaurant is
a popular venue for Guernsey
residents as well as Hotel guests
and offers an excellent fine dining
table d’hote menu that changes
daily to follow the seasons and
of course the catch of the day.
Our wine list is one of the most
extensive in the Channel Islands
and we personally source new
and often exclusive wines every
year to keep the cellar impeccably
stocked.
There is a wonderful community
spirit in Herm that has resulted
in some staggering achievements:
the island has twice now been
awarded a coveted Britain in
Bloom Gold Medal, most recently
in 2008, and the stunningly
landscaped gardens of The White
House make the perfect retreat.
Guests can take tea by the pool,
play a game of tennis or croquet
on the lawns or simply pick a
sofa and curl up in front of the
fire with a coffee and admire the
views.
Tradition is cherished at The
White House and many families
have been coming for three
generations for a little R and R.
There are a variety of bedrooms,
including Harbour Cottage with
its own garden, the luxurious
Crow’s Nest Suite and several
family rooms. Children are very
welcome and there is a popular
high tea for smaller diners as
well as a baby-listening service so
that Mum and Dad can enjoy a
romantic dinner in the restaurant.
Each morning we throw open the windows
to let in the morning sun and admire
the breathtaking sea views.

STAYING ON HERM
Herm has been a home from home and
it has been wonderful to become a part
of this warm community.
Holiday Cottages
One of the most authentic ways
to experience life on Herm is to
live in one of our fully equipped
holiday cottages or apartments or
pine logs cabins, offering all of the
comforts of home in a wonderful
setting. Several cottages have
open fires and pretty private
gardens and most have central
heating to keep guests cosy in the
cooler months. High chairs and
cots are available and babysitting
can be arranged to allow a bit
of downtime. Our self-catering
accommodation makes a
wonderful base from which to
explore Herm Island and each
season brings its own delights,
from a bluebell walk in springtime
to a bracing stroll across the
common in winter.
Camping
Sleeping under canvas is a
wonderful way to enjoy the
tranquillity and unspoilt beauty
of Herm. Seagull Campsite sits
on the top of the island and has
a total of 80 pitches, modern
toilet and shower facilities, a small
laundry, communal barbecues and
a dedicated warden to ensure
that your holiday is as enjoyable
and carefree as possible. You can
either hire one of the spacious,
equipped tents or pitch your own
on the lush, sea-facing terraces
and step out in the morning to
unforgettable views across the
cliff tops to Sark and France.
The morning stroll to collect
milk from the harbour is a
mainstay of the camping lifestyle
in Herm and a great way to give
the children a bit of freedom.
Eating and drinking
There is a small grocery shop at
the Mermaid, which stocks all the
basics along with fresh bread and
pastries and if you pre-order, your
provisions will be delivered to
your door - or tent - on arrival.
If you don’t fancy cooking then
you are spoilt for choice with
The White House, The Ship, The
Mermaid and the beach cafés
all serving a fabulous range of
food from à la carte feasts to
the humble bacon sarnie. Recent
additions include the popular
Black Rock Grill, where your food
is served cooking on volcanic
rocks, and the equally sociable
hog roasts, but the legendary
Mermaid barbecues and Captain’s
Table carvery still maintain a
fiercely loyal fan base.

GETAWAY FOR A FEW DAYS
The list below will give you an idea of the possibilities for holidays or shortbreaks
on Herm Island but it is by no means exhaustive. Whether you crave
a few days walking, fishing with friends, a whistle-stop bird-watching tour or a
painting holiday, Herm is the place to make your vision a reality.
Bluebells in Bloom
March to May
(excluding ‘package weekends’)
Gourmet Weekend
Late September
Sunset Sailaway
Throughout September and
early October
Life seems to slow down here and
each day stretches before us to be
filled with fun and adventure.
This two or three night getaway
is a wonderful opportunity to
see the island coming to life
after the winter. Staying in The
White House Hotel, the package
includes return Travel Trident
tickets, breakfast, evening meal
(with a bottle of wine on the first
night) and Herm Island cookies
and fudge.
As guests of The White House
Hotel, you will be treated to
exquisite six-course gourmet
feasts created by our head chef
with fine wines specially selected
to complement each course. The
weekend includes two six-course
meals with wines to complement
each course, full English breakfast
and a traditional Sunday lunch.
This enjoyable weekend satisfies
the most discerning taste buds.
Book a two or three night break
staying at The White House Hotel
and let the combination of long
walks, fine food, country hotel
ambience and glorious views help
you unwind and rejuvenate. The
package includes return Travel
Trident tickets, breakfast, evening
meals with a bottle of Brown
Brothers Pinot Noir Sparkling
wine and a box of chocolates.

HOW TO
GET HERE
The only way to arrive in Herm
is by boat - either aboard a
private yacht or on the regular
Travel Trident passenger ferry,
which takes just twenty minutes
from St Peter Port. But first you
need to get to Guernsey and you
can do so by air or by sea.
By Air
Flights to Guernsey are available
from Gatwick, Stansted, Belfast,
Birmingham, Bournemouth,
Bristol, Dublin, Exeter, Glasgow,
Manchester and Southampton as
well as some major Continental
European airports. A regular
schedule of inter-island flights
also operates between Guernsey,
Alderney and Jersey.
Aurigny Air Services
Tel: +44 (0)1481 822886
www.aurigny.com
Flybe
Tel: 0871 7002000
www.flybe.com
Blue Islands
Tel: 08456 202122
www.blueislands.com
ENGLAND
ENGLISH CHANNEL
GUERNSEY
JERSEY
By Sea
High speed regular direct
catamaran services to Guernsey
run from Poole, Weymouth and
St Malo. You can leave your car at
the port and travel in comfort as
a foot passenger. If visiting with
your own yacht, why not moor it
in St Peter Port Marina and treat
your family to a few days comfort
on Herm.
Condor Ferries
Tel: 0845 6091024
www.condorferries.co.uk
Travel Trident
Tel: +44 (0)1481 721379
FRANCE
BOOKING
YOUR HOLIDAY
Our staff will be delighted to assist you
with your reservation and can answer
any queries you may have.
The White House Hotel
Herm Island
Guernsey
Channel Islands
GY1 3HR
Tel: +44 (0)1481 75 00 75
Fax: +44 (0)1481 710066
Email: hotel@herm.com
Holiday Cottages and Camping
The Administration Office
Tel: +44 (0)1481 75 00 00
Fax: +44 (0)1481 700334
Email: reservations@herm.com