Heritage Retreat
What to expect:
Day One: Thursday 24th September 2026
Arrival
Settle into your fabulous castle accommodation and enjoy an orientation tour of the castle, familiarising yourself with your home for the next few days.
Uncovering the Secrets of Elizabeth Castle
Join your Blue Badge Guide on a journey of discovery around the 16th Century Elizabeth Castle. Peel back the layers of Jersey’s history, climb battlements dating back to the 1590s, explore the turrets and bunkers and visit the Hermitage where St Helier, the Patron Saint of our Town is thought to have lived around 550 A.D.
Built on a rocky islet in St Aubin’s Bay, Elizabeth Castle has defended Jersey for more than 300 years. Discover the original site of the Abbey of St Helier, and visit the Governor’s House, once temporary home to important historical figures such as Sir Walter Raleigh and Charles II of England.
Take an entertaining trip through the Castle’s long and varied history. Discover just how significant our small Island was in important historical events, through the days of the Empire, Civil War and the World Wars of the 20th Century. Enjoy stories of battles, and their heroes. Explore occupation bunkers, Tudor stairways, and a Georgian Parade Ground.
The visit is a 70 minute moderate climb through the castle. There are many stairs, but the climb is gradual with many stops along the way.
Please do remember however that the surfaces are uneven and 400 years old, so we recommend sensible walking footwear.
Day Two: Friday 25th September 2026
A full-day Island Panoramic Tour – On the Occupation Trail
Visiting:
Corbiere Lighthouse with Strongpoint Corbiere
St Brelades Bay, Fisherman’s Chapel and the 10th Century church
Noirmont Point – Batterie Lothringen
War Tunnels (The German Underground Hospital)
Get your bearings on this beautiful Island with an entertaining Western Panoramic Tour
Visit a Lighthouse – admire the views!
Corbière Lighthouse and Strongpoint Corbière 10:30 to 12 noon
Jersey is a little island with a BIG story, and we have only a short time to showcase one of our splendours – our natural environment.
Our first stop this morning is the dramatic South West coast, where we get to explore the interior of Corbière Phare, our remarkable lighthouse with a fascinating history, situated on a tidal Island. The lighthouse, the most southerly in the British Isles, is accessible by causeway at low tide and provides some fantastic photographic opportunities.
Take a journey through history with your Jersey Uncovered Blue Badge Guide and learn about the construction of this historic monument to maritime safety over the past 150 years. As you climb the cast iron staircase, admiring the highly polished brass handrail, you will come to understand the lives of the Lighthouse keepers of the past, see where they worked, and marvel at the 19th century instruments they used, still in place and gleaming, as if the keepers had stepped out of the room just a moment ago.
This headland is also known as Strongpoint Corbière, and is littered with German fortifications, now restored by the Channel Islands Occupation Society, to their [almost] operational state. Your guide will reveal the stories behind the bunkers, observation tower and behind our remarkable lighthouse.
12:30 to 13:00 St Brelade’s Bay - Church, Chapel and Occupation heroines
Our next stop is the award winning St Brelade’s Bay, bustling with activity, and a breathtaking vista.
We will take a gentle stroll across the golden sands of the bay, uncovering German fortifications along the way. Discover the cleverly hidden secret sanctuary path into the Churchyard of our wonderful 11th Century Church dedicated to St Brelade.
Here we will linger to admire this fascinating church. There will also be time to visit the wonderful Medieval Fisherman’s Chapel, decorated still with beautiful frescoes, a reminder of a bygone era.
Strolling through the churchyard, we will pause awhile to gaze over the Bay, recently voted as one of Britain’s top 10 beaches on TripAdvisor. Take a moment to admire from afar the striking headland, home to La Cotte de St Brelade, a true ice age marvel.
Tales from the Occupation
From here you can also see the former home of two famous Frenchwomen, Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore (Lucy Schwob and Suzanne Malherbe).
This brave and eccentric pair, known as “the Surrealist Sisters” led the Commanders of the Occupying Forces on a merry dance during the WW2 occupation of the Island, with their cleverly planned and executed Resistance activities.
From the Bay it is just a short drive up the Hill to discover the enchanting Portlet Bay Inn for a delicious lunch.
13:15 to 14:00 - Free time for lunch in the Bay - (refreshments costs not included)
14:15 to 14:45 - Noirmont Point and Batterie Lotheringen
Our Occupation trail continues with a visit to Noirmont Point. The commanding headland once held by the German Occupying forces, and populated still with their imposing bunkers, gun emplacements and observation towers.
From this point you can admire the sweeping views of the South Coast, the 20th century fortifications overshadowing those of the 19th and 18th Centuries far below, and hear about the construction of these remarkable 20th Century fortifications, still standing strong 76 years on. The sinister echoes of the past mingle with the delightfully colourful flora and fauna covering the ancient headland.
15:00 to 16:15 - The Jersey War Tunnels
It is a short journey through St Peter’s Valley to the War tunnels where you will explore the network of tunnels buried deep into the hillside.
During World War II, the Crown left Jersey defenceless and the Island became occupied by German forces.
Jersey War Tunnels are a product of five long years of occupation.
Dug deep into the hillside by forced and slave workers from nations across Europe, they now contain an underground collection of thought-provoking exhibits that tell the fascinating story of Jersey’s occupation from resistance, through to starvation, then eventual liberation.
Return to St Helier 16:30
Day Three – Saturday 26th September 2026
A St Helier Adventure
10:00 Catch the first ferry shoreside
Discovering Historic St Helier – Guided Tour 10:30 to 12:30
Visiting:
Liberation Square
Merchant’s House
Town Church
Royal Square
French Lane
Victorian Markets
If you like to admire architecture through the ages, and see how Jersey commerce has developed over the last few centuries, take a stroll through the lanes, streets and squares of St Helier and gain an insight into what makes Jersey unique. On this walk you will hear about the man who gave this town its name, and about its rich and varied history. You will also have the opportunity to visit St Helier’s Victorian markets, a must for any visitor to Jersey, and you might even see a herd of beautiful Jersey cows grazing in the centre of town!
12:30 to 14:00 Free time for a light lunch at one of our lovely waterfront cafés or in the Yard at Jersey Museum. (refreshments costs not included)
Afternoon at Leisure.
Day Four – Sunday 27th September 2026
A full day Eastern Adventure
10:00 Catch the first castle ferry to Shore and meet your driver
Visiting
La Hougue Bie, 6,000 year old dolmen, and the coin hoard
Gorey Village – lunch overlooking the seafront
Afternoon visit to Gorey Castle
La Hougue Bie 10:30 to 13:30
Heading east past picturesque Bays, your first port of call on this adventure is the fascinating La Hougue Bie, which houses a command bunker built during the German Occupation, housing a unique memorial to the slave-workers who were brought to the Channel Islands by invading Nazi forces during the Second World War.
But La Hougue Bie is so much more. Older than the pyramids, and almost as mysterious. Once the site of the historical Prince’s Tower, in the early 1900’s an enticing discovery was made underneath the 18th Century Gothic tower built over a chapel on the high mound. Further investigations revealed a 6,000 year old Neolithic passage grave. The tower, being deemed unsafe, was demolished, revealing a treasure trove of history beneath.
Today you can enter one of Europe's finest passage graves where you can learn about life in Jersey's Neolithic community 6,000 years ago.
A medieval chapel sits on top of the prehistoric mound and dolmen dominating this tranquil and spiritual site. Take the time to admire our award-winning neolithic longhouse, built by volunteers three years ago, using only the tools which would have been available in neolithic times. It provides an excellent insight into island life thousands of years ago.
Ancient treasures are waiting to be found in the museum, which showcases our famous coin hoard, discovered in 2012 and dating back to 100 BC, also including its iron age swords and 2000 year old jewellery, beautifully restored.
After a fun Jersey Picnic in the gardens, or in the pretty Victorian Tea Rooms, we head down to Gorey Village and Harbour, overshadowed by our magnificent 13th Century Mont Orgueil Castle.
Gorey Harbour 14:00 to 14:30
Enjoy some free time for a gentle stroll around this ancient harbour with its pretty shops and stunning views.
Afternoon - Uncovering the Secrets of Gorey Castle – Mont Orgueil 14:30 to 16:00
Take in the magnificent view of our incredible castle, before heading inside this medieval monument. As we wander through the castle wards on this time travelling adventure, discovering hidden rooms and passageways, we are walking in the footsteps of figures such as Sir Walther Raleigh, Sir Anthony Paulet and Queen Victoria. Learn of its fascinating history, and of the many significant historical figures who have featured in it.
On our adventure you will learn why the castle was built, and by whom, and about the famous and infamous characters who lived (and some who died) there.
The visit is a 70 minute moderate climb through the castle. There are many stairs, but the climb is gradual with many stops along the way. Please do remember however that the surfaces are uneven and 800 years old, so we recommend sensible walking footwear.
There is much to see in this magnificent castle, and the views of nearby France are second to none, so this is an adventure to remember.
16:15 Return transfer to St Helier
Day Five Monday 28th September 2026
It is time to Say Goodbye - Departure Transfer
After your Jersey adventure your driver will return to collect you at the pre-arranged time, for your transfer to the Airport/Ferry Terminal for your return journey home.
