Hop to Herm

IN TERMS of atmosphere, the tiny, hideaway isle of Herm is Enid Blyton-meets-Arthur Ransome, sometime around the Fifties. Access is by boat only. There are no cars, and radios are banned in public places. In fact, once the ferry has dropped you, the loudest sound you’ll hear is the waves lapping lazily on Shell Beach, which is made up of millions of tiny shell fragments. The island is a four-times winner of the RHS Britain In Bloom gold award — and head gardener Brett Moore leads informative tours of the incredible gardens. Visit for the day and stroll the cliffs and dunes, or stay in the hotel or a cottage — the perfect escape.

ON STEEP-SIDED, car-free Sark, transport is by bike, tractor or horse and cart. The small isle has a magical, castaway feel, billing itself as ‘a world apart’ and existing in a self-induced time-warp. Its scenery is breathtaking and there are some high-quality hotels and eateries, such as La Sablonnerie, perfect for a lobster lunch. And by night this Dark Sky island reveals a swathe of sequinned sky — the Milky Way. Highlights include Wildflower Fortnight at the end of April, Sark Folk Festival and Sheep Racing, both in July.

OUTDOORS is a way of life on Alderney, a haven of unspoiled beaches and wildflowers. The capital, St Anne, is a village of colour-washed houses, cobbled streets and shops. More than 250 bird species make their home here — from puffins to the hundreds of gannets that encircle Ortac, a dramatic rocky outcrop. A recent change in the law means that people can now be married on the island three days after arrival, making it a perfect wedding location.