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Sark beaches
Each of the Channel Islands has an entirely different character, resembling eccentric, charismatic siblings with a mix of French and English ancestry, but Sark is the most extraordinary of all. It has no motorised vehicles (other than tractors), and was, until the 2008 democratic elections, one of the world's last feudal states. It has a beautiful, Cornish-seeming coastline punctuated by cliffs, coves and beaches.
Although Sark's beaches take a little effort to reach, they are worth the trouble. Dixcart Bay is most easy to access - via a cliff path with some steps. It's a picturesque sandy beach with an arch and cave, and there's a walking path around the cliff top. Le Creux Harbour is a good place to swim, while Venus Pool, south of Little Sark, is a swimming pool-sized rock pool, accessed via a tangle of paths and is a spectacular place to swim and dive.
Hop back to Guernsey by ferry and catch a plane to Alderney, the third largest of the Channel Islands. It's home to a close-knit community and is a scenic place with some lovely beaches. The tranquil, cosy atmosphere is a world away from its chilling history: during WWII most of the population left and the island was turned into a labour camp. The coast is dotted by forts and German bunkers.
The beauty of Sark is its quirkiness and feeling of potential adventure. It is, in fact, two islands: 'Great Sark' and 'Little Sark', which are joined by a narrow isthmus, and together are a mere 5.6km (3.5 miles) long and 2.4km (1.5 miles) wide at the widest point. Children will love exploring its coves and caves, and you can take boat trips around the island.
Take a break from the beach and enjoy the gardens of La Seigneurie (www.laseigneuriegardens.com), which has been the home of Sark's Seigneurs since 1730. It has a large Victorian watchtower and is one of the best formal gardens in the Channel Islands. Alternatively, try not to get claustrophobic in Sark's 19th-century windowless prison (still occasionally used to keep disorderly drunkards for a night or two), then blow away the cobwebs with a trip to the ancient windmill, standing at the highest point in the Channel Islands.
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