Overview
This utterly unique journey links some of Britain’s most ancient and intriguing settings—famed Stonehenge, the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, Dorset’s rural landscape, and the exquisite Channel Islands, closer to France than England, with a fascinating fusion of French and English cultures. We’ll view Stonehenge, then head to Dorset to hike along the World-Heritage-listed cliffs of the coast. In the sunny Channel Islands, with their cobbled lanes and aquamarine seas, we’ll hike on Guernsey, Sark, and Jersey, soaking up the Anglo-Norman heritage and vibrant foodie scene.
This was a new experience for me—more refined and luxurious than any of the other hikes or climbs I've done over the years. I liked it, but you may have ruined me for more prosaic hikes! The leaders were superb. I will be looking for more Wilderness Travel trips in future.
— Mike A., Washington, DC
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-2
Salisbury / Stonehenge / Jurassic Coast
Share a privileged close-up view of the stone monoliths of Stonehenge, then head into the sublime landscapes of Dorset County in southwest England, with its gold-stoned cottages and fields of sheep. Three quarters of Dorset’s coast is World Heritage-listed, including the sheer limestone cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, where Victorian-era fossil-hunters unearthed specimens dating back 185 million years (the hit BBC series Broadchurch was filmed along these cliffs). Our hike along this breathtaking coast brings us along the horseshoe-shaped bay of Lulworth Cove on the South West Coast Path.
Days 3-4
Channel Islands / Guernsey Island
Just three hours by ferry and we’ll be in a different world—the Channel Islands, lying within the sight (about 27 miles) of the coast of Normandy. We land in St. Peter Port, Guernsey Island’s tiny capital, and enjoy walks along rocky headlands and through wooded valleys. Guernsey’s stunning beauty hides its history, which has included Viking attacks, French invasions, and pirates. We’ll see forts and towers built during the Napoleonic wars and observation towers from the German occupation during World War II. The islands have their own currency—you can pay for your pint with a Guernsey Pound or a Jersey Pound!
Days 5-6
Sark Island / Little Sark
We ferry to the serene, car-free little gem of Sark Island, designated the world’s first “Dark Sky Island” for its exceptional night skies. There are no cars, no modern roads, and no streetlights on this island. We’ll visit Sark’s dark-sky observatory and hike to a craggy headland called L’Eperquerie Common, site of a ruined 16th century fort built by the French. A hike right from our hotel brings us to Little Sark, a peninsula that forms the southern part of Sark Island.
Days 7-9
Jersey Island
The largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey is just 14 miles from France. Right from our hotel door, our hikes bring us down quiet country lanes, through tidy green pastures and woodlands, and along an old sea wall to St. Catherine’s Bay, where the fabulous Mont Orgueil Castle, built in the 13th century to defend Jersey, dominates the views. The island was occupied by Germans during World War II, and we’ll visit the Jersey War Tunnels to hear stories of the islanders’ resistance. Depart on Day 9.
Walking England’s Jurassic Coast and Channel Islands
