Sark Island Honeymoon
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Cars still haven't
replaced horse-drawn carriages on the island of Sark.
(Photo
courtesy VisitGuernsey.com) |
Dramatic cliffs rising 350 feet above the
sea, abundant wildflowers and wildlife, freshly caught
seafood, and a total lack of automobiles—these are the
highlights of Sark, the smallest independent feudal
state in Europe and one of the smallest Channel Islands. At just three miles long by a mile and a half wide, the
island’s 500 or so residents get around on bicycle or
foot, while tourists often hire one of the many
horse-drawn carriages available for hire.
It’s not just the lack
of motorized traffic that makes Sark a step back in
time. The island holds “the last remaining feudal
constitution in the Western world,” as it has since
Queen Elizabeth I made it a fiefdom in 1565, according
to the island’s website (see link below). It is governed
by the Seigneur of Sark (whose residence is one of the
island’s main attractions) and Chief Pleas, the
parliament.
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The Sark Tourism website offers a comprehensive list
of all accommodations and services; see the link below to check current
prices. When we checked (August 2004), hotel rooms ran from £30 to £70
per person per day. Guest houses cost around £20-£30 per person per
night. Self-catering cottage rentals ran from £150 to £950 per week, and
two campsites offered camping at £5.50 per person per night.
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The Sark Tourism website offers a
full rundown of things to see and do; here's a summary:
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Attend a festival or special
event. Multiply your possibilities on Sark by
planning your visit around one of the island's
celebrations. Highlights include the Sark Water
Carnival (August) and Wild Flower Fortnight (first
two weeks in May), during which visitors tour the
island's abundant wildflowers with expert guides.
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The formal gardens at
La Seigneurie, home to the Seigneur of Sark.
(Photo
courtesy VisitGuernsey.com) |
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La Seigneurie. La
Seigneurie has been home to the Seigneurs of Sark
since 1730. The mansion itself is dramatic (but not
open to tourists), as are the formal gardens on the
estate.
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Cliffs and caves. The island
boasts dramatic cliffs that can be seen from walking
paths or explored by tour boat. The cliffs are full of
caves, some of which are accessible for exploration. The
Boutique Caves, once a smugglers' hiding place, can be
explored during low tide. The Gouliot caves (also
accessible during low tide) is lined with beautiful
rainbow of anemones.
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See Sark by carriage or bike.
Both horse-drawn carriages and bicycles are available
for rent from numerous vendors. A sixteenth-century
windmill and a 1912 lighthouse are among possible
destinations.
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Shopping. Shop for pottery,
chocolates, or artwork along the main street, simply known
as "the Avenue."
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Visit Little Sark. Little Sark is
connected to the main island by a narrow isthmus with drops
of several hundred feet on either side. How narrow is the
isthmus? "Before 1900 when protective railings were erected,
children from Little Sark had to crawl on their hands and
knees to avoid being blown over the edge," says the Sark
website. Little Sark Village is a hamlet of old cottages;
although the thatched roofs have been replaced by tin, they
retain their old-world charm down to the witches' seats used
to ward off evil spirits. The remnants of a 19th century
copper and silver mining operation can also be seen here.
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Go swimming. Swim in Venus Pool at
low tide, or on the sandy beach at the bay of La Grande Gréve.
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Visit the other Channel Islands. If
you make Sark your home base, you'll have plenty of time to
explore the other
Channel Islands as well.
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London Telegraph: Travels with Patch in Sark
Writer Gavin Bell visits Sark with his dog, Patch. Sark "is like being
on Treasure Island without having to worry about Long John Silver and
his mob," Bell writes. By his account, the island's greatest treasure is
its laid-back, car-free pace and an unspoiled countryside.
Surfing the Channel: The Islands of the English Channel
"Life does not get much more secluded and idyllic
than on Sark," writes Valerie Summers in her travel account of Sark,
Guernsey, and Jersey. Includes pictures.
Sark Tourism
The official Sark Island website, and your best
guide to the island on the web.
Also read about this destination on the
web's best travel destination guides (Frommers, Rough Guides, Lonely
Planet, etc.), which you'll find on our
destinations guides
page.
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Your honeymoon story
Have you done this trip (whether on
your honeymoon or other travel)? We'd love to hear about your experience
so we can share it with others . . . just
drop us a line.
Last Updated:
August 18, 2004 |
