"good things come in small packages" and "good things come to those who wait"
Setting off from Alderney always feels like an adventure, even though we were only "hopping" to Guernsey! We were delighted to be travelling on the new Aurigny Dornier 228 - for a mere 6 minutes in the air - and although the windows are smaller than the Trislanders', we were still able to catch a glimpse of the islands in the early morning mist...
The aeroplane feels like a touch of luxury after years of bombing about in the squashed little baked-bean-tin Trislanders (don't get me wrong, I'm still a huge fan of G-JOEY and his pals) and the leather seats, two pilots, fast journey and extra leg room were all major plusses for a nervous flyer like me.
We hadn't been promised summer weather - but we chanced our arm and failed to pack a brolly, coat or mac-in-a-sack...we were tempting fate but knew Herm would pull through for us...and she did!
We headed straight to the top for the best views and were appeased by the calm seas on our swift journey!
The Man with One Eye then tried to tell me that the island next to Herm was Brecqhou (errr...no honey, it's certainly not Brecqhou...it's beautiful Jethou, a private island that was originally joined to Herm before a storm in 709 AD severed the link!!)
First impressions speak volumes: every footpath, rock-bench(!), litter bin and viewpoint was beautifully well-kept without being showy.
Herm's vibe felt so charming and honest - we'd only taken 3 steps and we were in love.
The hotel oozes colonial charm and offers every guest a unique and personal experience...from your very own "special table" at breakfast/lunch/dinner to the courteous and attentive staff who go the extra mile to make your stay utterly memorable.
Although we had been blessed with warm weather - I HAD to have a Herm Island branded Lazy Jacks sweater (which I still haven't been able to part with for nearly a week...and is now requiring a most-necessary visit to the washing machine).
This annual festival is held at The Mermaid pub, Herm's hottest spot for great banter, friendly faces and some seriously good hospitality.
We grabbed our "beer bingo card" for £10, which came with a commemorative Herm Ale Festival half pint glass, and scanned the Festival menu for something to quench our thirst...as it was lunchtime we decided to use our Ale Tokens on some Island Hopping ale (how apt) and some of the amazing Guernsey-made Rocquette Ciders (Merry Berry was my favourite!)
Don't worry - my plate of WHALE (cod) and chips was enough to feed a small army and soaked up the cider-y residues pretty quickly (yes, I ate it ALL and yes, it was BLOODY DELICIOUS)! The photo doesn't do it justice - our delightful lunch had given us the energy to start our walk around the island!
The Man with One Eye had to drag me away from this little piece of perfection...next time I'm spending the whole day here...
We explored the Obelisk, met some very friendly visitors with their canine friends running around in dog-walking heaven, and I found myself absent-mindedly humming the theme tune to Jurassic Park; such a lovely green space that gave this petite paradise another winning aspect (Mr CIG reckoned it would make the perfect golf course!).
In the residents' lounge, we sipped on Guernsey's famous Blue Bottle Gin and tonics whilst we perused the menu and the extensive wine list. The lounge is welcoming and exceptionally unique. Each seating area boasts a beautiful view, elegant seating, unique decor and an intimate-yet-chic space in which to relax.
Wow.
To finish our evening, a quick nightcap of Veuve Cliquot vintage rose champagne from the Festival menu whilst we enjoyed the Ska band at The Mermaid!
The White House Hotel prides itself on a quiet and peaceful environment away from all the stresses and strains of modern life. One particular omission is the television. All rooms have Wifi access, but no TV...which was actually really GREAT! Strange to start with, as we're so used to having the TV on before bed, or when we're getting ready to head out. But instead we had this gorgeous vintage radio above our bed tuned to three stations (we chose BBC Radio Guernsey) and a direct contact to the main hotel reception! It was so quirky and absolutely gorgeous.
We ended up listening to Friday night radio and enjoyed it so much that we have decided to ditch the telly in our own bedroom at home!!
We had just 2 hours before our return boat back to Guernsey - so a whistle-stop tour of the South Cliffs and anything we might have missed!
We were sad to go...and obviously stupid...as 150 passengers piled off at Rosaire Steps excited to experience our special island, just 15 of us reluctantly shuffled on board to go back to Guernsey!
"`Herm is perfection...nothing to do and not enough time to do it in"!
How wonderful!
Although the island is teeny-tiny, there was so much to see and explore! Space to roam and cartwheel and skip, lots of friendly faces (everyone we passed said "hello", which isn't that unusual for the Channel Islands, but it seemed more concentrated on little Herm) and gentle dusty roads to amble along.
We'll be back Herm...I need at least 5 days next time: 1 on Belvoir Bay, 1 on Shell Beach, 1 for eating in all the different restaurants, 1 for walking the island and 1 for DOING NOTHING!