Hotel Review
Location:
Les Douvres Hotel is a former 18th century manor house situated in the quiet St Martins Parish, in the south eastern part of Guernsey and within a ten minute drive of the main town St. Peter Port and a similar distance from the airport. Guests have the option of picking up a hire car, arriving by taxi or even a bus as frequent services stop close to the hotel.
Arrival and check-in:
We arrived in Guernsey on board an Aurigny airlines flight from Leeds Bradford airport. As the airport is small and efficient we collected our luggage and exited the airport within 15 minutes of landing and with our pre-booked taxi ready and waiting, we sped off to the hotel in no time at all.
Les Douvres stands in its own extensive grounds and even as we approached, I knew instantly that it was going to be a beautiful hotel in which to spend a few days. It was hard to believe that we were just off the northern coast of France as it felt so much warmer than home. We’d both needed coats when we set off on a damp, dull morning but here people were sitting out without jumpers in the late afternoon sunshine. The entrance foyer is full of old world charm and on approaching the desk we were warmly welcomed by the receptionist on duty who had us checked in speedily, offering to help us up to the room with our luggage.
The Room:
We had been booked into one of the hotel’s newly furnished suites which was absolutely beautiful and tastefully furnished in New England style. The spacious accommodation comprised an attractive lounge with a comfortable sofa, two armchairs, wall mounted television and ample storage and hanging space. The sofa could be converted into a bed-settee making it ideal for family use.
Moving into the bedroom which was accessed by a short flight of six steps, there was an extremely comfortable super king size bed dressed with the finest Egyptian cotton bed linen. A second wall mounted television faced the bed and in one corner we found a hospitality tray filled with teas, fresh coffee, complimentary still and sparkling water and delicious Borders biscuits.
There was a large fitted wardrobe with shelves, a bedside clock and ample power points and USB sockets. Walls were painted in neutral shades, with lime washed wooden floors and shutters to the windows creating a seaside vibe. Views overlooked the gardens with the suite being lovely and quiet at all times. The newly installed en-suite shower room was of a good size and came equipped with thick, fluffy towels and luxurious Guernsey toiletries infused with seaweed.
Dining:
Dinner: Meals are served in both the bar and the garden room which opens out onto the terrace. The dining area has a cosy rustic charm with a variety of seating options ranging from booths for larger groups to smaller tables.
We stayed at the hotel for three nights and dined in the restaurant on the final one which was a Friday. It was just as well that we’d reserved a table as when we came down at 7.00 p.m. the restaurant was already busy as it’s a popular place for locals as well as guests.
The extensive menu is well priced and over glasses of wine we decided to begin with a charcuterie sharing platter which came with a plentiful supply of cold meats, olives, cheese and salad. We followed this up with mains of pan fried salmon and sticky ribs, again these were both nicely presented and flavoursome. Live music takes place on Friday evenings so we relaxed with our drinks enjoying the music and after a little rest were ready to tackle desserts. Eton Mess is one of my favourites so I plumped for that whilst Mr. C. steered away from his usual sticky toffee pudding, opting instead for a raspberry panacotta. Needless to say, we were both delighted with our sweet treats.
Breakfast: The morning starts well with breakfast at Les Douvres where we helped ourselves to yoghurt, cereals and fresh fruit from the bar top before selecting hot dishes which are then made to order. Cafetières of fresh coffee and thick slices of toast with marmalade combined with a read of the morning newspapers and we were then ready for the day ahead.
The Facilities:
The hotel has 18 rooms, all individually styled ranging from standard through to superior and suites, all of them having attractive garden views. In addition to the bar/restaurant there’s also a small function room suitable for private parties, meetings etc. The hotel is licensed for weddings with the hotel being a sought after venue on the island.
A solar heated swimming pool is located to one side of the hotel surrounded by a patio with sun loungers. There are two car parks within the grounds with electric charging points available. Wi-Fi is easy to connect to and worked well throughout the building as well as out in the beer garden.
Out and About:
I suggest starting your island tour by spending a day in St. Peter-Port, the charming small capital that’s simply referred to as ‘town’ which is only a 10 minute drive or a short bus journey from the hotel. St. Peter-Port is a shoppers paradise with its range of small independent shops and British favourites such as Marks & Spencer and Boots along its narrow, cobblestone streets. The town’s pedestrianised high street runs parallel with the Esplanade with the Old Quarter being just a few minutes walk from there. Here you will find small boutiques, craft and jewellery stores. Guernsey is a VAT free island so substantial savings can be made on jewellery and luxury goods.
Explore Candie Gardens
A gentle uphill stroll leads to the Candie Gardens on the edge of town. The gardens were established in 1894 in the grounds of Candie House and are free to visit. Lovingly restored between 1998-1999, it provides a rare example of a Victorian public pleasure garden.
Guernsey Museum
The Guernsey Museum is situated in the upper part of the gardens and contains several interesting galleries focusing on the Early People, Folklore, the Guernsey language and Collecting the World which displays some of the most exotic and beautiful objects from the museum’s reserve collection. The building is also home to an art gallery and gift shop.
Victoria Tower
Another reason to visit the Guernsey Museum is to collect the key to the nearby Victoria Tower. Guernsey people are very trustworthy and all you have to do is to ask nicely at the information desk and then you can sign out the key for a maximum of 30 minutes allowing ample time to climb the 99 steps to the top and to take in the views.
Guernsey Tapestry
Located downhill towards the centre stands the Guernsey Tapestry Gallery. Inside you will find the Guernsey Millennium Tapestry, a project that involved the entire community. 1,000 years of local history are depicted across ten exquisitely embroidered panels, each one covering one century. The panels were stitched by the residents of the Bailwick (Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm) with each one bearing the crest of the parish that stitched it.
Castle Cornet
Visit the 800 year old castle which guards the entrance to St. Peter-Port harbour. The castle provides a fascinating insight into the island’s history along with spectacular views back towards the town. There’s much to see as the castle comprises the Story of Castle Cornet, 201 Squadron RAF Museum, the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry Museum and the Royal Guernsey Militia Museum. Outside, explore the castle grounds including its four historic gardens. I would recommend allowing 3 hours to see everything.
Explore the coastline:
The entire coastline of Guernsey is beautiful and I can’t recall anywhere else where I’ve only been able to walk a few paces without needing to keep stopping to take more photos as the tranquil bays with their crystal clear water and fine, golden sand are absolutely stunning. With so many idyllic coves to choose from, I’ve limited my selection down to a couple, but believe me they are all sublime!
Cobo Bay
Along the bay you can view wartime German fortifications that Hitler ordered to be built to convert the Channel Islands into an impregnable fortress as part of his infamous ‘Atlantic Wall’. The Channel Islands were the only parts of the British Isles which were invaded and occupied by German forces during the Second World War. Continue along the bayside path, with the azure blue waters to one side and fields of wildflowers to the other. It’s a blissful walk and if it is low tide then it’s the perfect opportunity to explore some rock pools and collect a few sea shells.
Moulin Huet Bay
Just a 10 minute a short walk from the hotel stands the delightful Moulin Huet Bay. This bay is so beautiful that it feels as if you have been transported to the Caribbean with its crystal clear turquoise shallow waters and stunning cliff top views. Follow the Renoir Walk to discover where the famous artist got his inspiration from. Renoir spent just over a month on Guernsey in 1883 where he worked on 15 paintings all depicting the breathtaking views of Moulin Huet so it was a treat to follow in his footsteps. A trail has been created in homage to the French impressionist painter and is marked by five empty picture frames which have been placed in the exact spots where Renoir worked on his own paintings. After completing the trail relax with a coffee and pastry in the idyllic setting of the Renoir Tea Garden with its stunning views.
Go island hopping
Ferries operate regular services from St. Peter-Port to both Herm and Sark with journey times of under 55 minutes making it an ideal opportunity to go island hopping. A full day is needed to explore Sark which is the larger of the two islands but with Herm being much smaller you can easily walk around its perimeter and have ample time to stop for a drink or an ice cream on a half day visit. Both islands are car free and definitely worth visiting.
Overall:
Our stay at Les Douvres was perfect from arrival to departure and proved to be an ideal base from which to explore the island as being on a bus route it’s easy to get around either by car or public transport. Rooms are of a high standard and with reasonably priced food and good service by attentive staff I couldn’t recommend the hotel highly enough.
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