sea sark magazine 2016
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Isle of Sark Shipping's Onboard Magazine and Guide to Sark 2016TRANSCRIPT
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The Isle of Sark Shipping Company Magazine
Things to doWhere to eatWhat to see
Living on SarkSummer 2016
Sea
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A Small Island Publication for the Isle of Sark Shipping Company Ltd
Photography & design by Sue Daly LRPSTo advertise contact
Inside This IssueUseful information 5
Dolphin Magic 6Carriage tours 8Cycling on Sark 10
Walking on Sark 12Adventures on Sark 14
La Seigneurie Gardens 16An Island of Inspiration 18
Top 10 Things To Do 20Map of Sark 22
Exlporing Litte Sark 24Seeing Stars on Sark 26
Rocquette Cider & the Sark Folk Festival 28
Events On Sark This Year 29Eating on Sark 30
Staying on Sark 36 Weddings on Sark 40
Living on Sark 42
Open Monday to SaturdayFacilities include badminton, table tennis, snooker, pool & darts
Sark Island Hall
Corporate events & BBQs catered for
Evening mealsWednesday & Saturday 6pm - 7.30pm, Friday 6pm - 8pm
Specials - Friday nights, fish & chips Saturday nights, pizza - both eat in or take away
Open Monday to Saturday until 10pmSelling off sales 10am - 10pm
The Maple Bar
The Sunflower Café Breakfast 9 - 11.30, Lunch 11.30 - 2.30
Afternoon teas until 4pmTea, coffee & cakes, delicious homemade soup, toasties,
jacket potatoes, sandwiches & our famous Sark cream teas
WiFi
Phone 01481 832666 to book or for more information
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Useful Sark InformationIsle of Sark Shipping Company Sark Ticket Office - 01481 832450
Sark Tourism01481 832345
Sark Constable (Emergency) 07781 101908
Sark Occupation Museum07781 113386
Sark Doctor’s Surgery01481 832045
Sark Island Hall01481 832666
Useful Guernsey InformationLambourne Taxis
01481 235006
Fonacab07781 103135
Hertz Hire Cars01481 239516
Guernsey accommodation - special rates for Sark residents at Les Cotils
Call 01481 727793
Isle of Sark Shipping Company Guernsey Ticket Office
01481 724059
Book Online atwww.sarkshippingcompany.com
Like us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter
ISLAND DELIVERIESCarting for all your needs
Household or Commercial
FOOD STOPThe Avenue, Sark
For all your groceries, newspapers, fresh meat, fruit & vegetables
We are also proud to sell
WAITROSE goods
Please phone, fax or email your order prior to your arrival & we will be happy to deliver it to your accommodation on the day you arrive
Phone 01481 832660 Fax: 01481 832549Email - [email protected]
Tel 07781 437822 or 01481 832288Email [email protected]
Mon Plaisir StoresFor all your groceries, fresh fruit & veg, local meat & homemade produce. Also Sark lobster & crab (cooked if you prefer) & local wet fish to order. Take away cream teas. Free deliveries 6 days a week.
We’re opposite the Methodist ChapelTel 01481 832600
Email [email protected]
Les Cotils Situated on the top of the hill just outside the centre of St Peter Port,
enjoying fine views over the harbour and neighbouring islands.
With twelve acres of grounds to enjoy, a coffee shop, restaurant and bar as well as 26 ensuite bedrooms it is well worth a visit.
Enjoy lunch or dinner
overlooking Herm and Sark, or
how about champagne
afternoon tea?
telephone: 01481 727793e mail: [email protected]: www.lescotils.com
Welcome AboardThank you for travelling with us and welcome to the Isle of Sark Shipping’s On Board Magazine, where you can find information about your stay on Sark.We are delighted to continue providing a vital role in transporting people and goods between Guernsey and Sark, as well as taking visitors on unforgettable holidays, uniting friends and loved ones. Owned by Sark islanders, our ferries carry over 45,000 passengers on up to 100,000 sailings each year. Isle of Sark Shipping is the only shipping company in the British Isles that belongs to those it serves. It is no surprise then that the sight of the tough little Bon Marin ploughing its way through the swirling winter seas off Bec du Nez or the sturdy Sark Viking coming alongside Maseline Harbour laden with cargo fills many Sarkese with pride. We are constantly looking to improve satisfaction, so please feel free to complete our On Board Customer Feedback forms or ask a crew member for details. Thank you once again for choosing to travel with us, enjoy your trip and we look forward to welcoming you on-board again soon. From the Isle of Sark Shipping Company
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Dolphin Magic
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Sark-based natural history photographer Sue Daly shares her thoughts on Sark’s most enchanting wildlife. With a whoosh of exhaled breath and a spray of salt water a dolphin erupts from the sea a yard from the boat then plunges back beneath the waves. I’m all fingers and thumbs with my camera. Another leaps on the other side of the boat, far too quickly for me to even aim the lens, but I’m left with a mental snapshot of an intelligent eye looking back at me and a mouth-line that so much resembles a smile. At the bow another two dolphins surf effortlessly just beneath the surface like pieces of the sea made solid. After a few minutes of magic though the dolphins regroup and almost as one take a vertical dive returning, presumably, to the important business of fishing.In the past both bottle-nose and common dolphins have occasionally been seen around Sark but over the last year bottle-nose dolphins seem to have made themselves very much at home here. George Guille has had passengers on his round the island boat trip almost falling overboard in their efforts to get closer, people canoeing with Adventure Sark have had dolphins almost within touching distance and passengers on the Isle of Sark Shipping Company’s inter-island ferries have had amazing views of these most endearing wild animals. Someone else asked me if I thought the dolphins were aware of the effect they have on us. If they do think about us at all I imagine they have us down as noisy imbeciles for the way we shout and point and jump up and down at the first sight of a fin or two. As if to prove my point the Sark Belle (below), packed with passengers inside and out, pulls away from Maseline Harbour and heads towards Point Robert. The dolphins appear from several hundred yards away and make a bee-line for the ship, the youngsters leaping clear of the water in their excitement. A combined shriek of delight erupts from the hundred and eighty passengers on board and, I suspect, the crew too as the sleek, grey missiles surf effortlessly alongside the ship and swirl in and out of the bow wave. Watching them, I can’t help but think that the dolphins are enjoying life around Sark as much as we are all enjoying having them here!
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The image to the
left is available to
buy as a poster from
the Sark Visitor
Centre price £7.50
On your journey to Sark, in addition to the stunning views of St Peter Port, Herm and Sark, if you keep an eye out you may be lucky enough to catch sight of the dolphins that are often seen in Sark waters.
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Exploring Sark
Horse Power
Above - Cooling off in Creux Harbour after work
If there is one sound that perfectly captures the essence of Sark it must be the clip clop of hooves accompanied by the rumble of cartwheels and when you arrive at the top of Harbour Hill and see the horses and carriages waiting you know straight away that this island is different; a place where horse power rules the roads and mostly comes in single units. Of the forty or so horses on Sark at the moment just over half work for a living, pulling carriages of various sizes from two-wheeled buggies that carry a couple of passengers to the larger
wagonettes and vans that take twelve. The gentle pace allows the driver plenty of time to point out the most interesting sights and talk about island life and the elevated seating position provides an excellent view over hedges and garden walls. Just as importantly, a carriage ride gives anyone visiting Sark the chance to engage with someone who lives here, an opportunity lacking on a coach tour or other large, impersonal ‘visitor experiences’ offered elsewhere. A horse drawn carriage is also the perfect way to show royalty and other important visitors around the island and a night-time ride, with the carriage lit by oil lamps, is a magical way to visit a favourite restaurant. For weddings too this most traditional form of transport is ideal. Both horses and carriages are beautifully turned out and trimmed with ribbons and fresh flowers and custom dictates that the bride and groom are driven along the Avenue after the knot is tied, whichever direction their reception lies.The working season for the horses starts gradually as the spring weather improves and visitors start returning, building to a peak in July and August. In autumn the horses
continue working as long as there are visitors but at the end of the season their shoes are removed and they are turned out into their fields. Although their owners still have plenty of work to do feeding and caring for their four-legged employees, winter is a time for the horses and their drivers to take a well-earned rest.Horse and carriage tours start and finish from the top of the Harbour Hill. There are two sight-seeing tours on offer: a one-hour tour taking in the north of Sark, or a two-hour tour which covers the north of the island and then goes south to La Coupée. Most tours stop at La Seigneurie Gardens. If you are not with a tour group ask any driver if they are available. Prices can vary depending on the tour, so check before setting off. It is also possible to pre-book a carriage trip by contacting them before you arrive. The drivers will also do private tours and night taxis by prior arrangement. Fred Bracewell - 07781 462749Philip Perrée - 07781 106058Danny Wakely - 07781 113386 Stocks Hotel - 01481 832001Carriage rides to Little Sark - 01481 832061
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Danny Wakley CarriagesAn amazing day out on Sark
Tel 01481 832135 or 07781 113386www.dannywakley.com
Don’t forget to visit the Sark OccupatiOn
& Heritage MuSeuM
Sark Carriages
www.sarkcarriages.co.uk
Michelle Perrée01481 832027Stopping at
the new café, Shenanigans
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Exploring Sark
Pedal Power
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On a small island without cars there’s no better way to explore than by pedal power. Given a single day and a set of wheels you can cover the island from one end to the other and there are few hills to slow you down. A bike gives you the freedom to go where you want, when you want and stop off wherever takes your fancy. The distance between the beautiful Eperquerie Common at the northern most tip of Sark to the coast of Little Sark on the south of the island is just three and half miles with fabulous scenery to enjoy along the way. From east to west the island is just a mile and half wide with stunning views over Point Robert lighthouse and Maseline Harbour on one side and the gorgeous Gouliot headland on the other.
There are few restrictions on where you can ride your bike, just the Harbour Hill and on the Coupée for safety reasons, and there are plenty of parking areas for you to leave your wheels and explore the smaller paths on foot. But cycling on Sark isn’t just for visitors. For those who live here it’s a way of life and you’ll see locals carrying all sorts of things on their bikes. Gardeners tow trailers laden with strimmers, spades or even lawn mowers and Sark’s window cleaner can often be seen cycling along with a ladder over his shoulder - not something for the beginner biker to try! Some of the island’s growers deliver vegetables by bike and Sark’s resident doctor is a familiar sight pedalling along on his calls
with his stethoscope around his neck. One of the many advantages of cycling everywhere is that it is so much more sociable than being trapped inside a car. It’s impossible not to acknowledge a fellow pedaller and easy to stop for a chat. Not owning a car means no expensive fuel, maintenance and repair bills and no worries about having a drink or two and getting home. There is one expense involved in owning a bike on Sark though. Like the carriages and tractors each one must have a licence but at just £11 a year it makes travelling around the island one of the cheapest transport systems in the world. And of course, it keeps you fit!There are three cycle hire centres on Sark all providing a range of bikes including mens, ladies and all sizes for children. Tag-a-longs are popular for parents with small children and there are child trailers for babies and toddlers to ride in in comfort while an adult does all the work. Trailers are also available to hire if you need to carry any type of equipment. All of the hire centres provide helmets and baskets as required and if you fancy a bicycle made for two you can even hire a tandem!
A to B Cycles
01481 832844 [email protected]
www.atobcycles.com
Contact us today to discuss your hire requirements.
The freedom to enjoy Sark at your own pace
1Hr min notice for cycle booking 24Hr min notice for cycle tours
Flexible cycle hire -Competitive prices. -Wide range of cycles for all ages -Childseats & trailers -Tag-alongs -Adult tricycles -Tandems. - Guided cycle tours - free breakdown service
10% discount
with advance booking
Prices from £6.50 a day
See Sarkon a Bike
AVENUE CYCLE HIRE
LARGEST SELECTION OF CYCLES ON THE ISLAND
CHILD TRAILERS, TAG-ALONGS & CHILD SEATS
FAMILY DISCOUNT AVAILABLE
01481 832102avenue.cycle.hire@cwgsy.netwww.avenuecyclessark.co.ukAvenue Cycles, The Avenue,
Sark, GY10 1SF
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The Hogs Back & Sark Henge This walk is from Sark Strolls published by Small Island Publishing, a beautifully illustrated guide to 11 fabulous walks around Sark by Jan Guy and Sue Daly. This circular walks takes about an hour and a quarter and takes in the Hogs Back, Dixcart and Derrible Bays and Sark Henge. If you just wish to visit the Henge begin the walk as instructed but simply follow the signs for the Derrible Bay and Sark Henge.
At just three miles long by a mile and half wide, Sark is the perfect size to explore on foot. There are tranquil lanes and gently sloping paths for those who enjoy an easy stroll but for the more energetic walker there are steep descents to the island’s gorgeous beaches and hidden bays to test those leg muscles. Either way, you will be treated to breath-taking views of Sark’s stunning coastline, woodlands and countryside every step of the way. Little Sark, just across La Coupée, is also stunningly beautiful and the perfect size to explore on foot so don’t forget to bring your walking boots!
Jan Guy is available to lead personalised guided walks on Sark for small groups. Contact her on [email protected] or telephone 07781 128631.Sark Tourism also runs guided walks throughout the season. Ask in the Visitor Centre or visit www.sark.co.uk for more information.
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Exploring Sark
Walking
Start at the Collinette and head south following the sign for Derrible Bay. Follow the main road bearing left where it forks. At an attractive small stone house, La Peigneurie, turn right, signed Dixcart Bay. Continue down the track until you reach a three way junction then bear left, signed Hog’s Back. Walk between two field gates along a wide grassy track noticing distant views on your right over Little
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Available on Sark price - £5.50Available on Sark
price - £9.95
Sark. The path narrows and, in spring you are surrounded by the confetti-like blossom of the blackthorn. Sloes, the fruit of these plants, are harvested by locals, as well as a few sloe pirates from Guernsey and Jersey.
At the next junction carry straight on enjoying wide sea vistas on each side. Continue to the end of the spine of the Hog’s Back where you will find a cannon lying on the ground. Dixcart Bay is on your right and Derrible on your left. L’Etac, an offshore islet which is home to puffins is ahead in the distance. The end of the Hog’s Back is a fabulous picnic spot but spare a thought for the commandos of Operation Basalt who ascended the cliff from sea level here on a misty night in October 1942, when much of Sark was mined.Retrace your steps to the first junction and this time follow the path on your right along the coast. Pass through a gate which crosses the path and keep ascending. At the top of the path, skirt the field towards a bench which you may well appreciate as perhaps it is time for a rest and also it is at this point that you
need to decide whether or not to embark on the steep descent to Derrible Bay. Ahead of you to the east is Sark Henge, a circle of nine standing stones made of Jersey granite. This beautiful monument was created in 2015 to celebrate 450 years since Helier de Carteret, Sark’s first Seigneur, arrived on the island with the forty settler families.The main walk continues from the bench which you passed right up at the top. Follow a dip in the field and then proceed through two gates, and passing a dew pond on your left, to get back to the road. The second gate has sign posts for Derrible Bay, Hogs Back and Les Laches. When you reach the road turn left and continue on it until it bends back to La Collinette.
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Round The Island Boat Tripswith George Guille - the perfect way to see Sark’s seabirds, dolphins & caves
Call George on 01481 832107 or 07781 112502
Exploring Sark
Adventures
* KAYAKING * COASTEERING * ARCHERY *
* SCHOOL ACTIVITIES * BIRTHDAY PARTIES *
* GROUP BOOKINGS * TEAMBUILDING ACTIVITIES *
* HEN AND STAG PARTIES * CORPORATE FUN DAYS *
*ACTIVIQUIZ WITH OR WITHOUT BIKE HIRE *
* HUNT THE ANSWERS BIKE RIDE *
Tel 01481 832 356 or 07781 115 167 Email [email protected] www.adventuresark.com
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While the peace and tranquillity of Sark makes it the perfect place to escape the noise and bustle of the modern world, the island also has plenty to offer those in search of a thrill or two. Adventure Sark was set up with just this in mind. On land they offer all manner of fun from team building games for families, birthday parties or corporate groups to their Activquiz that will take you all over the island in search of clues and challenges. With their archery experience you can even be Robin Hood for a while and, yes, costumes can be provided!On the coast Adventure Sark have an even greater range of exciting activities to choose from. If you fancy trying your hand at sea kayaking they offer a choice from short trips for the complete novice up to day trips taking in the whole island. Either way, from the sea you’ll enjoy stunning views of the island and might even experience a Sark Souffleur, a fabulous plume of water produced when just the right type of swell meets just the right shaped hole in the cliffs. The kayaking tours also take in some of Sark’s wonderful sea caves but for an even better view of those you need to take one of Adventure Sark’s coasteering trips. This exciting combination of rock scrambling, swimming and jumping into the sea will take you to parts of Sark you never knew existed and the tours on offer include the amazing Gouliot Caves.For a more sedate maritime experience take a trip around the island with Sarkee George
Guille. His boat, the Non Pareil, was designed and built on Sark in 1982 and since then both the boat and George have been as much a part of the island’s coastline as the rocks and reefs that guard it. George has a passion for Sark’s wildlife and will show you puffins, guillemots and razorbills in season and oystercatchers, gannets, fulmars, kestrels, buzzards and peregrine falcons can be seen all year. If you’re really lucky you might even see the dolphins that play in the bow waves of the island’s boats from time to time. When tidal and weather conditions allow George also visits some of the island’s caves and can take his boat almost to the back of the beautiful Moie du Mouton cave. It’s worth doing George’s round the island trip at the start of your stay then you can spend the rest of your holiday trying to find the dozens of beautiful little bays, archways and bathing spots that he pointed out from the sea.Another way to enjoy Sark’s coastline is to take one of the Isle of Sark Shipping Company’s Coastal Cruises aboard the Sark Belle. The Belle has panoramic views with plenty of seating inside and out as well as a café serving tea, snacks and freshly ground coffee. (Call 01481 724059 to find out more.) However you choose to explore Sark, you can be sure that there’s plenty to discover on this island of adventure.
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A visit to the famous Seigneurie Gardens is not just a horticultural treat but a tour through Sark’s fascinating history. The Gardens surround La Seigneurie, the traditional home of Sark’s Seigneur. The main house dates from 1675 and although the current Seigneur and his wife, Michael and Diana Beaumont, now live in a smaller house in the village, it still belongs to the Beaumont family. The crenelated clock tower and ornate drawing room wing were Victorian additions built by the Reverent WT Collings, the great great grandfather of the present Seigneur, who also built the beautiful dovecote. (Keeping doves was one of many Seigneurial privileges.) Close to the dovecote is the battery with yet more reminders of the island’s intriguing past. The brass cannon was presented by Elizabeth I to Helier de Carteret, Sark’s first Seigneur, in 1572 and the iron ship’s cannon are 18th century and come from a trading vessel owned by John Allaire, another of the current Seigneur’s forebears. The field gun was left behind by
the German forces who occupied the island during the Second World War and the nearby signalling tower was used in the early 19th century to communicate with Guernsey. On the adjoining wall there are plaques to commemorate the much-loved pets of the Dame of Sark.Beyond the battery are the ponds and well originally created by the monks of St Magloire’s Priory that occupied this part of the island many centuries ago. Other interesting features include a maze and the building known as the Chapel although in fact it was never consecrated. It now houses an exhibition and artefacts describing the history of Sark and its Seigneurs and is also used for civil wedding ceremonies and other celebrations. The walled garden is aligned with St Peter’s Church, the central arches once framing a view of the church tower until the new Island Hall was built. The high granite walls provide a gentle micro climate and shelter from the wind allowing half-hardy plants such as the
Australian Bottlebrush and New Zealand Teatree to thrive. Other notable plants in the extensive collection include the large climbing geranium on the south-facing wall, the giant Echium pininana that can reach over ten feet high and the abundance of St Peter Daisy and Geranium Maderense. There is also a Victorian vine house and outdoor vegetable and fruit growing areas that generate produce for sale and a recent venture into bee-keeping results in La Seigneurie Gardens honey that sells out in days. Probably the oldest surviving feature within the walled garden is the formal rose garden
History & Horticulture
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edged with box hedging. The circular rose garden is much more recent, designed in 2000 by Seigneur Michael Beaumont. Like his wife Diana, he worked most days alongside the other gardeners until their retirement in 2008 when a trust took over the running of the Gardens. La Seigneurie Gardens Trust also oversaw the conversion of a ruined building near the gates to create the café and bistro, Hathaways, named after the previous Seigneur, Dame Sibyl Hathaway. It’s the perfect place to end your exploration of these enchanting gardens.
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1918
Your online guide to everything Sark’s artists and crafts people
have to [email protected]
.,Creative SarkAn Island of Inspiration
For hundreds of years the beauty and tranquillity of Sark have been inspiring creative people. In 1832 Turner sketched the stunning natural architecture of the Coupée and Sark’s cliffs. Half a century later painter William Topliss visited Sark on holiday, fell in love with the island and spent the rest of his life here painting its rugged coastline in intricate detail. Later in the 20th century Sark’s seascapes and countryside also inspired artists Ethel Cheeswright and Margaret Waller and the writer, artist and illustrator Mervyn Peake lived here for several years setting his novel Mr Pye on Sark. The island’s abundance of natural beauty
has also attracted film-makers. In 1936 it was the backdrop for Toilers of the Sea and the remains of the metal work used to create the shipwreck for the film can still be seen at low water near Les Autelets. In 1951 David Niven and Glynis Johns starred in Appointment with Venus, a wartime tale set on Sark during the German Occupation. Last year the island was a movie set once more when Sark Theatre Group made their first feature film here, a comedy version of Macbeth. (Available on DVD from the Gallery Stores).Today the island continues to inspire artists of all kinds working in a variety of media including music, watercolour, ceramics, textiles, silver and photography. Their work is for sale all around
the island giving visitors the chance to take home a really special memento of their time on Sark. Calendars, cards and prints featuring photographs by resident photographers Lydia Bourne, Rosalie Ro and Sue Daly are for sale at various outlets on the island and Rosalie has a small gallery open to the public near the mill. Sue Daly has recently started making jewellery with vitreous enamel and fine silver that can be seen at Sark Glass Take Two on the Avenue. Sark born artist Rosanne Guille, who studied at the Royal College of Art, has a gallery at her home, La Maison Rouge, near the Seigneurie where her prints and watercolour paintings are for sale. Cheryl Tonks has a shop on the Avenue, Sark Silver, selling her jewellery and glassware and just off the Avenue is Lorraine’s Pottery selling beautiful silver work and ceramics by local artist Lorraine Nicolle. Textile artist Suzanne Williams recently opened her shop, Suz Button Art, at the top of Mermaid Lane and Sue Melling’s lovely bags and hats are for sale in Sark Glass Take Two along with the work of other textile creatives. You can also buy cards and prints here featuring quirky island scenes by Sark artist Martin Remphry. On the
way to the Coupée you will find L’Espace Gallery featuring pencil, pastel and painted images by Annie Dachinger inspired by her love of Sark, folk lore and astronomy. For music lovers look out for Gentle Land, a CD of hauntingly beautiful songs by resident singer-song writer Peter Gabriel Byrne. If Sark stimulates your creative juices there’s the chance to take part in the Sark Tapestry Weaving project this year and some local artists offer workshops and tuition. (Ask at the Visitor Centre for more information.) Alternatively, the Gallery Stores sells a full range of art materials so why not follow in the footsteps of the wonderful Sark artists and let the island inspire you.
Potter & silversmith Lorraine Nicolle at work in her studio
Guillemots by Rosanne Guille MA (RCA)
Silver & vitreous enamel pendants by Sue Daly
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Our Top 10 Things To Do On Sark
Take a Carriage RideYour driver will take you to some of the island’s best view points and tell you all about Sark’s fascinating history and unique way of life.
Picnic on the Gouliot HeadlandSark’s first Ramsar Site, this spectacular head-land is smothered in wildflowers in spring and summer and offers fabulous views all year.
Explore Sark on a BikeWith very few hills and no cars Sark is perfect for pedal power. There are three cycle hire shops with tag-a-longs and trailers for children.
Swim in Dixcart BayA great place for swimming, rock pooling, a picnic or just a paddle with sand uncovered as the tide retreats and a gracious rock archway.
Cross La Coupée & Explore Little SarkThe tiny isthmus that connects Little Sark to the main island is simply stunning with views of Jersey from one side and Guernsey from the other.
Peer Through Window in the RockThe window was created by order of the Victorian Seigneur WT Collings to perfectly frame the stunning view of the west coast.
Discover the Buddhist CarvingCarved in 2000 by Buddhist monks, this prayer written in granite is near the end of the wild and unspoilt Eperquerie Common.
Visit La Seigneurie GardensBeautiful walled gardens, a maze, shop and an exhibition explaining the history of Sark’s Seigneurs and Dames.
Discover Sark HengeThe 9 stones above Derrible Bay celebrate Sark’s 450-year long connection to Jersey and line up with key locations or astronomical positions.
Go to PrisonOne of the smallest in the world, it has two cells but you’ll have to take our word for that because you can only go inside if you are arrested!
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Sark Visitor CentreAll the information you need about Sark and what’s going on as well as different exhibitions throughout
the year. We have internet access, toilets and acosy reading area.
Our friendly staff are always on hand to answer your questions. We’re at the end of the Avenue, just five
minutes walk from the top of Harbour Hill. Open daily all year round.
Call 01481 832345 for more information.
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Exploring Little Sark
Little Sark - Ideal Honeymoon Destination [email protected]
For a truly memorable day or stay, be sure to enjoy the magical beauty of this famous haunt. Rest and refresh yourself at La Sablonnerie Hotel and Tea Gardens, where a delicious Gourmet Luncheon or a superb Sark Cream Tea is served in this idyllic setting. Also, dine romantically by candlelight
in the 16th Century restaurant, renowned for its excellent cuisine. The hotel is highly recommended by leading hotel guides for its comfort and good food. Own horses and carriages for hire. La Sablonnerie was recently highlighted by the hotel guide Which? as “The place to stay in the Channel Islands”.
For further details and reservations call Elizabeth Perrée on (01481) 832061 or Fax (01481) 832408 www.sablonneriesark.com Don’t leave the Channel Islands without visiting Sark and Little Sark. ‘It will be an experience that will live with you forever’.
Sark’s fascinating history is written in its landscape. There is no better way to see this than to visit Little Sark, joined to the main island by a narrow isthmus known as La Coupée. Early descriptions of the passageway aren’t complimentary, with islanders too afraid to cross in case they were blown off by a strong
wind. This was, however, before the protective railings were built in 1900, after much deliberation between locals and the Seigneur of Sark as to whose responsibility it was to maintain this high ridge, which is a staggering 80 metres (262 ft) above the sea and some three metres in width. La Coupée is also reported to have been haunted and, most notably, Dame Sibyl Hathaway’s donkey refused to cross it. The current roadway and railings were built in 1945 by German prisoners of war under the direction of the Royal Engineers.Sark’s ancient history is also recorded on Little Sark with two dolmens; an intact one on the south coast and another in
ruins on the west, both thought to be around four thousand years old. The remains of a windmill, built in the 18th century to challenge the Seigneur’s monopoly on milling flour, can be seen close to La Sablonnerie. Its stone tower is almost completely over-grown with ivy. The coast of Little Sark is noted for its fine scenery, caves and inlets. La Fontaine Bay, named for a small spring located nearby, is particularly well known for its views and is a lovely spot for swimming. Venus and Adonis pools are also popular bathing spots although finding them can be something of adventure and only recommended for the sure-footed. (The La Trobe Guide to the Coast, Caves and Bays of Sark will help you find these natural treasures. See page 14.) Named as such by Victorian artist William Toplis, great care should be taken when visiting
these pools due to the deep and fast flowing race of water that fills the pools upon high tide.Little Sark is also synonymous with the ill-fated silver and copper mining ventures of the early nineteenth century. Although the mines were abandoned due to flooding and the lack of ore, there is still evidence of them and worth a visit before heading to Little Sark’s only hotel, La Sablonnerie, for a refreshing cream tea or lobster lunch.
Enjoying lunch al fresco at La SablonnerieThe beautiful Venus Pool
Mine chimney
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Seeing stars on Sark
In 2009 Sark resident Felicity Belfield was inspired by news that Galloway Forest in Scotland was designated as the UK’s first Dark Sky Park. She gathered up a group of fellow islanders and stargazers and together they set about getting Sark’s beautiful inky black night sky the recognition it deserves. Scientists from the International Dark Sky Association were invited to the island to measure the darkness of the night sky and plans were put in place to keep to a minimum the lighting used around the island. Advice was given on how to avoid light pollution and the very few lights that were wrongly set were adjusted. Sark Astronomy Society (SAstroS) came into being to help with the project and, after a huge amount of work and with the help of Sark’s government and people, Sark was officially designated as the World’s First Dark Sky Island in February 2011. The news brought media interest from around the world including a write up in National Geographic Magazine. SAstroS now hold regular Starfest weekends which
have attracted some of Britain’s best known astronomers including the BBC’s Sky at Night presenter Professor Chris Lintott and Dr Marek Kukula, the Public Astronomer for the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Sadly, Felicity is no longer with us but thanks to her passion for Sark’s wonderful starry sky, the island has the recognition it deserves as one of the best places in the world for stargazing.
How to see the stars on SarkWith no cars or street lighting and very few outside lights on buildings, the view of the night sky over Sark is spectacular from just about anywhere on the island. Over seven thousand stars and planets are visible with the naked eye and the Milky Way stretches from one horizon to another. (Don’t forget to bring a torch though – Sark really is dark!) The best views are when there is little or no moon so check out the dates of the new moon when you plan your visit. Full moon nights though hold their own beauty and walking home by moonlight is one of the many magical experiences to be had on Sark.
Sark ObservatoryIn 2015 Sark Astronomy Society opened the island’s very own observatory. The purpose-built construction, situated near St Peter’s church, was designed and pre-fabricated in Norfolk by Home Observatories UK then shipped to Sark. It has a roof that slides open to give a wide view of Sark’s amazing night sky. The observatory was opened in October 2015 by Dr Marek Kukula, the Public Astronomer from Greenwich Royal Observatory, and houses a Meade LX200 telescope. To visit the observatory enquire at the Sark Visitor Centre for opening times. (Tel 01481 832345)
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A stunning view of the Milky Way above the Seigneurie tower, Sark
Admiring the constelleation of Orion from the Pilcher monument, Sark
An annual subscription to Sark LifeThe perfect gift for anyone who loves Sark
£22 for the Bailiwick of Guernsey, £25 UK & Jersey, £30 for Europe & beyond
Subscribe online at www.smallislandpublishing.sark.gg
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Isle of Sark Shipping caught up with brewer James Meller at his organic orchard to find out more about Rocquette Cider, proud sponsors of Sark’s annual Folk Festival. Taking place this year from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd July, the festival will be in its 6th successful year, showing no signs of slowing down. It’s a magical line up of both local and international acts and has become one of the most-talked about celebrations of folk, roots and acoustic music.‘We’ve been sponsoring the Festival in Sark since it started,’ explains James, preparing a much-needed cup of tea after a late shift tending to the farm’s sheep.‘We’re right in the middle of lambing season, so it’s very busy round here,’ says James, who has a close connection with Sark. ‘I always go to the festival and we have a couple of the boys come over here from Sark to shear our sheep for us,’ he says.
James and his team at the Rocquette Cider Company produce quality, local cider from the organically grown trees he planted, quenching thirsty locals in the Channel Islands and beyond since 1998. When we caught up with him he was preparing to plant a few thousand more trees and also keeps lambs and bees.James provides festival goers with a specially brewed still cider, Bec du Nez, an extremely popular blend and a real crowd pleaser. ‘We brew it about a week before the event,’ explains James who sends around 44 casks over to the island for the live music event. Judging by consumption two years ago he may have to send a few more, as it was so popular, festival goers ran out of cider. But they were able to grab a pint or two from the Bel Air and Stocks, who also supply Rocquette’s Cider on draft, and the Mermaid, in bottles.
Rocquette Cider & the Sark Folk Festival
Real ciderReal tasteFermented from 100% apples, Rocquette is a
full bodied cider free from artifi cial fl avours,
colours and sweeteners. Guernsey’s unique
climate of long summer days and fresh Atlantic
breezes help produce the intense fruit fl avours
that Rocquette is famous for. Complete your
visit to Sark by sampling a refreshing glass of
this local speciality.
www.rocquettecider.com
Wildflower Fortnight24th April to 8th May
Scarecrow Week28th May to 5th June
Taste of Sark - Celebration of Local CuisineThroughout June
Midsummer Flower Show29th & 30th June
Sark Folk Festival1st to 3rd July
Sheep Racing Weekend15th to 17th July
Dog & Pet Show31st July
Church Fete6th August
Sark Cream Tea DreamThroughout August
Grand Autumn Show31st August & 1st September
Opera Sark7th to 14th September
Sark Roots Festival16th to 18th September Autumn Walking week
1st to 9th OctoberA Sark Christmas Carol
16th & 17th December
Events On Sark This YearSark has a fabulous schedule of events offering fun and entertainment for all the family. The Folk Festival and Sheep Racing weekends are already firm favourites and this year we see the return of Opera Sark, a feast of live music that charmed visitors and locals alike with its first events last year. New for 2016 is the Sark Roots Festival, a weekend celebrating land, sea and the community within these islands. There will be music, food, dancing and plenty of new skills to learn. Add to this guided natural history, garden and historical walks as well as street markets, concerts and exhibitions throughout the year and you’ll never be short of something to do on Sark.
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One of the joys of visiting any where new is trying out the local cuisine and food lovers won’t be disappointed on Sark. As an island it’s not surprising that seafood features high on most menus. Local fishermen use pots to catch lobsters and crabs and with a closed season for five months over the winter the stocks of shellfish are protected from over fishing. You can have an equally clear conscience if you choose fish as the delicious bass,
pollack, bream, turbot and other fish landed on Sark are all done so from the small boats that make up the island’s tiny fleet. Scallops are another delicacy from local waters and, with a ban on dredging, Sark scallops are only taken by divers which means there is absolutely no damage done to the seabed or other marine life.Meat eaters are in for a treat too. Pork and beef are raised in small quantities and there are four farmers raising lamb. All will tell you that their animals lead stress-free lives and, when the time comes, are slaughtered on the island. Eggs are also produced on Sark both by a small-scale commercial operation and by many of the islanders themselves. Home raised hen and duck eggs feature in many a Sark breakfast and you will see them for sale outside several houses. Sark’s climate also lends itself to growing
Eating Out On Sark
Taste of Sark MonthThroughout June Sark celebrates the best cuisine on the island showcasing some of our most tempting produce such as lobster, crab, scallops, local fish, Sark cream teas, fruit preserves and Sark lamb. Pick up your special guide and map from the Sark Visitor Centre.
Where To Eat & DrinkSee the map in the centre pages for locations
AJ’s Café - Tel 01481 832580Beau Sejour - Tel 01481 832034
Caragh’s Chocolate Factory - Tel 01481 832703Clos de Vaul Creux Tea Garden - Tel 01481 832527
Fleur de Jardin Tea Garden - Tel 01481 832255Harbour Café - Tel 01481 832396
Hathaways Café & Bistro - Tel 01481 832209Island Hall Sunflower Café & Bar - Tel 01481 832666
La Marguerite Tea Garden - Tel 07781 192132La Sablonnerie Restaurant & Tea Garden
Tel 01481 832061Le Vieux Clos Tea Garden - Tel 01481 832341
Mermaid Tavern - Tel 01481 832022Nicole’s Restaurant- Tel 01481 832302Petit Beauregard - Tel 01481 832940Shenanigans Café - Tel 01481 832827Stocks Restaurant & Poolside Bistro
Tel 01481 832001
fruit and vegetables. There are two commercial growers supplying fabulous fresh, seasonal produce all year round and many residents enjoying growing their own. This passion for home grown produce is best seen in the two hotly contested flower and produce shows that are held on Sark, one around midsummer and the other in early autumn. Sark has its own dairy too. It is run by the Nightingale family whose herd of pedigree Guernsey cows supply the island with fresh, top quality milk and cream. An afternoon tea with home-baked scones and jam topped with a dollop of rich, thick Sark cream is a treat not to be missed. Diets certainly go out of the window on Sark but then again, with all the lovely fresh air, it’s easy to work up an appetite.Tuck in!
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Sark Island HallBreakfasts, snacks & lunch - Monday to Saturday
Evening Meals Wednesday, Friday &
SaturdayDon’t miss our
famous fish & chips on Friday nightsEat in or take away
Tel 01481 832666
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For the crème brûlée800ml Sark cream
2 eggs & 4 egg yolks2 garlic cloves, peeled & finely chopped Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
300g picked white crab meat100g freshly grated Gruyère
For the pickled cucumber1 cucumber
Good pinch of salt50g caster sugar
50ml white wine vinegar1 teaspoon sweet chilli sauce
Place the cream in a bowl with the eggs, garlic, pickled ginger and seasoning and mix well. Add in the crab meat and mix well again. Cover with cling film and place in the fridge to allow the flavours to infuse for at least 30 minutes, but ideally up to overnight. Pour the mixture into ramekins and place them in a roasting tray. Fill the tray with warm
water until the water comes halfway up the sides of the ramekins and cook at 150°C for 45 to 60 minutes, checking after 40 minutes. When cooked through, the mixture should be set but still have a slightly wobbly consistency. Allow to cool to room temperature. To make the pickled cucumber slice the cucumber as thinly as you can, place it in a bowl and sprinkle with a little salt. Set aside for ten mins, rinse and squeeze dry. Bring the sugar, vinegar and chilli sauce to the boil and reduce for 30 seconds. Allow to cool completely then pour the liquid over the cucumber and stir gently. When ready to serve sprinkle a very thin layer of Gruyère on top of each ramekin and brown under the grill. Serve with the pickled cucumber, lemon wedges and really fresh bread or toast.
Eating LocalHathaway’s Crab Crème Brûlée
with Pickled CucumberChef Andrew Tortice of Hathaways Café and Bistro is passionate about using Sark produce as much as possible. Here he combines delicious fresh crab with a rich Sark cream crème brûlée offset with tangy pickled cucumber. For the ultimate in luxurious indulgence he recommends enjoying this with a glass or two of Muscadet.
Morning coffee, light or long lunches, afternoon teas or evening suppers for a full à la carte menu using the best of Sark produce & seafood
Open from Easter to September every day from 10am to 5pm Dinner from 6pm (Closed Tuesday & Wednesday evenings)
By DayLocal Pork Rillettes, Local Fish & Chips, Ploughmans, Local Lamb Faggots &
Mash, Local Lamb Shepherd’s Pie
By NightSark Lamb Trio, Sark Beef Duo, Local Fish & Chips, Whole or Half Lobsters &
Crab Croquettes
Hathaways Café & Bistro at La Seigneurie Gardens, Sark
Vegetarian & vegan meals available, children welcomeTel - 01481 832209 Email - [email protected]
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Just 50 metres from the top of Harbour Hill with beautiful garden & conservatory dining areas
Our varied menu includes freshly caught Sark seafood and local meat and produce as well as Mark’s delicious
authentic Indian curries. Tel 01481 832302
Nicole’s Restaurant
Preheat your oven to 180°C, 350°F or gas mark 4. Lightly grease a round, deep cake tin and line with grease proof paper. Measure all of the ingredients for the cake into a large bowl and beat well with an electric hand whisk for 2-3 minutes or until smooth and well blended. Turn the mixture into the prepared tin and level the surface. Bake for about 35-40 mins or until the cake has shrunk slightly away from the sides of the tin and springs back when lightly pressed with a finger.While the cake is baking, make the topping. Put the lemon juice and sugar into a bowl and stir until well blended. When you take your cake out of the oven make a few deepish holes in the top with a small skewer and then spread the lemon paste over the top whilst the cake is still hot. Leave in the tin until the cake is cool then turn out and enjoy with lashings of Sark cream and a pot of tea.
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4oz soft margerine6oz caster sugar
6oz self-raising flour1 tsp baking powder
2 size 2 eggs
4 tbsp milkFinely grated rind of a lemon
For the crunchy toppingJuice of one lemon
3oz granulated sugar
S Island Food S Mrs Gill’s crunch-top lemon drizzle cake
Le Vieux Clos Licensed Tea Garden& Conservatory Restaurant
Open every day for morning coffee, lunch & afternoon tea. Home made bean jar, Guernsey gâche, quiches & cakes. Evening meals by arrangement with homegrown produce & Sark seafood, lamb & pork.
Tel 01481 832341 or 07781 453709email [email protected]
La SabLonnerie HoteL & tea Garden
Little Sark’s award-winning hotel & restaurantDelicious gourmet luncheons & superb
Sark cream teas served in idyllic settings For reservations call 01481 832061
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Staying on SarkCould Sark be the best place in the Channel Islands to retreat, relax and rejuvenate? From its award-winning hotels to its stunning scenic camp sites, Sark should be on your top 10 places to stay list!Sark boasts the beautiful Stocks Hotel recently awarded Trip Advisor’s ‘Traveller’s Choice Award 2015’. The stunning, family-run hotel dates from 1741 and is just 10 minutes from Dixcart Bay, surrounded by acres of bluebell woodland, meadows and gardens. Whether it’s a long, romantic weekend or a simple dip ‘n’ dine in the hotel’s pool, all the family will enjoy their home baked breads, home smoked fish and meats. Also worth a try is their homemade sloe gin and Sark apple brandy. Word of mouth and exceptional cuisine coupled with a list of awards has made La Sablonnerie Hotel on Little Sark an exquisite hotel. Owned and managed by Elizabeth Perrée, the hotel is nestled in gorgeous gardens where guests and non-residents can enjoy a glorious cream tea or lobster salad. Most notably it has received the ‘Most Romantic Hotel’ from Condé Nast Johansen for its excellent service and idyllic setting. Sark also has a wide chose of bed and breakfast accommodation from small family homes with one or two rooms to larger properties. Whichever one you choose you can be sure of a warm welcome and a breakfast fit for a king. If you prefer self catering there is also plenty of choice from quaint cottages that sleep two to larger houses with four or more bedrooms as well as super-stylish boutique properties. All come fully equipped with everything you need to feel perfectly at home. There are two food shops on the island offering a very wide choice of groceries including locally produced meat and vegetables and Sark seafood as well as Iceland and Waitrose lines. Should you feel like eating out there is also plenty of choice of cafés and restaurants. Whilst you enjoy your stay on Sark, be sure to visit the Island Hall and join in with the thriving local community activities held there such as badminton, table tennis, pool and darts. They also serve delicious breakfasts with fresh Sark eggs in the Sunflower café and Maple Bar and Friday night is fish and chip night to eat in or take away. Booking is essential! For full list of accommodation on Sark collect a copy of the Sark Visitor Guide from the Sark Visitor Centre or visit www.sark.co.uk
Port es saies & the Dower house Clos Princess B & B
Breakfast includes eggs from our own hens & homemade marmalade & jams
Tel 01481 832324 - Email [email protected]
Self catering accommodationYour home from home on the beautiful island of Sark
Contact Diane Baker on 01481 832112email [email protected]
Le Vieux Clos Licensed Guesthouse & Tea GardenCentrally situated, open all year with seven rooms including double and family. 5 mins walk from the village and within easy reach of cliff walks and beaches. Evening meals by arrangement with foods sourced locally whenever possible.
Tel 01481 832341 or 07781 453709email [email protected]
Where to Stay on SarkBeau Sejour - B&B & Self Catering
Tel 01481 832034 Email [email protected] Beau Vista 2 - self catering
Tel 01481 2955 Email [email protected] House - Self Catering
Tel 07781400449 Email [email protected] Clos de La Tour Apartments
www.closdelatour.ggClos De Menage Country House
Tel 07781 462545 Email [email protected] de Vaul Creux
Tel 01481 832527 Email [email protected] Princess B&B
Tel 01481 832324 www.closprincess.co.ggDunromin B&B
Tel 01481 832257 Email [email protected]
La Carrière - self cateringTel 01481 832002 Email [email protected]
La Vaurocque - self cateringTel 01481 832060 Email [email protected]
La Sablonnerie Hotel Tel 01481 832061 www.sablonneriesark.com
Le Vieux Clos Guest House Tel 01481 832341 Email [email protected]
Mr Hesters - Self CateringTel 07781 161010 www.mrhesters.com
Pourquois Pas - Self CateringTel 01481 832703 Email [email protected]
Port es Saies & the Dower HouseTel 01481 832112 Email [email protected]
Stocks Hotel Tel 01481 832001 www.stockshotel.com
LUXURY HOLIDAY APARTMENTS ON SARK
Our apartments are set in the private gardens of Clos de la Tour & offer a
peaceful retreat with the luxury of a home away from
home.For further details visit www.closdelatour.gg
La CarriereSelf-catering
Nestled in a secluded spot with superb views, overlooking a valley & the distant sea.
Comfortable accommodation for up to three people.
Impressive family-run guesthouse renowned for its luxurious B&B or self-catering accommodation
offering warm and homely hospitality. Evening meals by arrangement using delicious fresh produce from our farm.
Please call Hilary on 07781 462545or email [email protected]
Clos de Menage Country House
La VaurocqueCentrally located self-catering &
guest house accommodation
Cottages sleep 2-6, fully equipped to a high standard, open all year, situated in extensive rural grounds
Tel 07781 132060 or 01481 832060 www.sarkholidays.com
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Camping on Sark
Pomme de Chien campsiteTel 01481 832316
Email [email protected]
Beau SejourBed & Breakfast and
Self Catering apartment.
Open to non-residents for simple evening meals on most Monday & Tuesday
evenings.Booking essential.
Tel 01481 832034 Email [email protected]
La ValetteCampsiteOur family campsite has
fabulous sea views & modern washing & toilet facilities. Bring
your own tent or hire one of our pre-erected fully equipped
tents including our new wooden glamping pods.
Tel 01481 832202Email [email protected]
For the adventurous traveller camping out under the fabulous starry skies is the perfect way to enjoy your stay on Sark. The island has two campsites. La Valette is on the east coast near the lighthouse and has wonderful sea views and Pomme de Chien is near the beautiful Dixcart valley. Both have plenty of room for playing games and offer fully equipped, pe-erected tents or pitches for you to put up your own tent. With modern shower and toilet facilities, both of Sark’s campsites offer a great way of spending time on Sark for families and other visitors who enjoy the great outdoors.
Clos De Vaul Creux
Self-catering & B&B Tel 01481 832940www.petitbeauregard.com
Le Petit BeauregardFarmhouse
If you like it for a day, come back & stay
For all the information you need on Sark, including where to eat & stay, please call in at the Visitor Centre to collect the free 2016 Visitor Guide or visit our web site
www.sark.co.uk
Sue’s Bed & Breakfast Make yourself at home
Call 01481 832107 Email Sue on
L’EcluseNestled in a sheltered private valley.
4 self catering cottages sleeping2 – 5 people. Excellent facilities.
For details, ring Mary Teeron 01481 832468
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With a choice of venues for your service and reception, stunning scenery for photographs and the added bonus of horse-drawn transport, Sark is a wonderful wedding destination. The island also has two wedding photographers, florists and a hair and beauty salon. With a change in the law recently you now need only three days residency on the island to be married here. Here’s the information you need to help you plan your perfect day.
Church WeddingsThere are two churches on Sark both steeped in history and character with beautiful stained glass windows. St Peter’s is a C of E church and dates back to 1820. (Contact Vicar Revd. Julia Dallon - 01481 832040.) Sark’s Methodist Chapel was originally built near the east coast but in 1925 was moved brick by brick to its current location near the centre of the island. (Contact Pastor Karen Le Mouton - 01481 832115.)
Civil CeremoniesThere are several venues for civil ceremonies on Sark. The Assembly Room is a lovely old stone building where Sark’s government meets and the court is held. Stocks and La Sablonnerie Hotels are able to host civil wedding ceremonies as well as receptions in their beautiful grounds. Both also have their own horses and carriages. The Island Hall is also a civil wedding venue and offers receptions
Sark, the Perfect Wedding Destination
The Wedding Chapel at La Seigneurie Gardens The perfect venue for a fairytale weddingrReceptions available on site at Hathaways
vvr
www.laseigneuriegardens.com
inside the elegant main hall or outside in a marquee. The newly renovated ‘chapel’ building at La Seigneurie Gardens is also a wedding venue. Couples and their guests are able to have their photographs taken within the magical walled gardens and Hathaway’s, the café and restaurant within the grounds, caters for receptions of all sizes.
Who To ContactFor any civil ceremony if you are not ordinarily resident on Sark you will need to contact the island Deputy Registrar-General, Trevor Hamon, to obtain a licence and fulfil the other legal requirements. You can contact him on 01481 832012 and by email on [email protected]. His office hours are 2.30 to 4pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
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Sark is a wonderful place to visit, be it just for a day trip or a longer stay, and the island is so much more than just a tourist destination; it’s a living, working community and home to about five hundred people. Farmers, fishermen, builders, gardeners, artists and many other professionals live here all year round and the workforce is swollen in summer by seasonal workers involved in Sark’s busy hospitality industry.Although the island is small, just three miles long and a mile and a half wide, it has all the services needed for comfortable, modern living. There are two fully stocked grocery shops and a wide range of excellent locally produced meat, vegetables. Seafood is also abundantly available through the season. There’s a post office with doorstep deliveries five days a week, banking services by HSBC and NatWest and shops selling everything else you might need from gardening supplies and gifts to building materials and books, one is locally known as the world’s smallest (and most perfect) department store. Sark has a resident doctor, a constable and a fully-trained fire and ambulance service and the Flying Christine ambulance boat can evacuate emergency cases to Guernsey hospital should the need arise. We come within the Bailiwick border control. Guernsey is just a short ferry trip away with its vibrant choice of high street shops, restaurants and entertainment and its airport has daily connections to London, regional UK airports and some European cities. Sark School educates children from four years old until the completion of GCSEs at sixteen in a modern, purpose-built school with small class
sizes. The island has good Internet coverage and very little crime. Sark has its own democratically elected government, and is a low tax jurisdiction; it is also not part of the UK’s National Health Service so residents and visitors are encouraged to take out private medical insurance.A small number of properties on Sark are reserved for the local market (those who have lived here 15 years or more or are born here) but apart from that there are no restrictions on British and EU citizens who may wish to reside here. Cars are not allowed on the island which means no costly visits to the fuel pump, no traffic jams, no parking fees and none of the other costs involved in running a car. Instead, walking and cycling everywhere keeps you fit, in tune with nature and constantly aware of Sark’s beautiful coast and countryside. Deliveries around the island are done by tractor. If you have mobility problems you can hire a mobility scooter on island; you even get a driving licence for it!For many who live here the most important aspect of island life is being part of the community. There’s plenty going on all year round including sports, fundraising projects, concerts and cultural events and newcomers are always welcome. So why not say goodbye to the hustle and bustle of the everyday world? Come and be part of this unique way of life
For further information about coming to live on Sark visit the Sark Government website at www.gov.sark.gg. Sark Estate Agents can also help with a wide portfolio of domestic or business properties.
Sark Estate Agents, established in 1970, offers an unrivalled wealth of experience in all aspects of property purchase and property rental within the island of Sark. Our dedicated and highly motivated team are here to help with every aspect of your island move. We can provide you with all of the information and contacts necessary for a stress-free and successful relocation to our beautiful island. We also offer a highly comprehensive property management service.
You can find our office located at the entrance to The Avenue in the centre of Sark where you will find a comprehensive portfolio of domestic and commercial properties for both sale and rent.
Sark Estate Agents is licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.
Summer opening timesOpen Monday to Saturday or by appointment.
01481 832604
www.sarkestateagents.com
Sark Estate Agents Ltd, The Avenue, Sark, GY10 1SB
Living on Sark
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Sailing model boats on Good Friday - one of the many annual community events on Sark.
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