Pang Valley Ramblers Holiday at St Helier, Jersey – June 25th to July 2nd 2016
Thirteen members of the Pang Valley Ramblers group had a very enjoyable week’s walking on Jersey earlier this summer, kindly organised by our treasurer, John Stoves. We all flew from Southampton airport which we found to be a small but efficient place and not quite so intimidating as big airports like Heathrow, for example. At Jersey airport we met Angela, our walk leader for the week., who kept us in order and didn’t lose the way once as she led us up and down coastal paths, through wonderful wooded valleys and along Jersey’s many ‘Green Lanes’, past castles, lighthouses, dolmans and several relics of the German occupation.
We used the expertise of members of our party to explain to us all in layman’s terms the geology of Jersey and the history of the many mills which are to be found throughout the island. Evidence of the German occupation in WW2 is still very much in evidence; many have been turned into tourist attractions. The weather was good for the first three days but we then had showers for the remainder of the week. Our accommodation and room service in the Monterey hotel was excellent and we enjoyed their super food each day. It is situated about a mile from the bus station where we met each morning for a ride to the start of our days walk, returning the same way each afternoon.
We walked about eight miles every day except for a rest day when we all were able to do our own thing; some shopped, others visited museums, some even went for a walk or just had a lazy day. A visit was made by us all to the impressive and massive Hogue Bie, one of the ten oldest buildings in the world, built long before the Egyptian pyramids and with an entry passage aligned with the equinox. We all enjoyed cups of tea & coffee in many of the islands cafes and restaurants and beers in the various pubs we came across.
Our trip coincided with the European Football championships so after dinner many of us retired to the Renoir room to watch England lose to Iceland and Wales beat Poland. “Brexit” gave us lots to talk and think about!
It was a great way to spend a week and enjoyed by all of us.
Michael
Walking in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley