The full programme of events for the 2016 Channel Islands Heritage Festival across the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey is now complete, featuring exclusive openings, guided walks, family adventures and coastal tours from 25 March to 10 May 2016.

Marking the shared history of a group of small islands in the English Channel, the 2016 Channel Islands Heritage Festival will take a maritime focus in celebration of the Islands' coastal significance and naval traditions. Across Guernsey and the Bailiwick islands of Herm, Sark and Alderney alone there will be 55 events and activities, 42 guided walks, four cycling tours, two coach tours, three boat tours  and 11 exhibitions that can be visited and enjoyed over the 45 days. The full list and details of all activities taking place across the Bailiwick of Guernsey, as well as those taking place in Jersey, can be found in the comprehensive Festival Guide, available to download from VisitGuernsey.com at www.visitguernsey.com/sites/default/files/2016_channel_islands_heritage_festival_booklet.pdf

The Victor Hugo in Guernsey Festival will run alongside this year's Heritage Festival from 2 – 10 April to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Victor Hugo's novel, Toilers of the Sea, which was inspired by and set in Guernsey during Hugo's time in exile. Eight days of Hugo-themed events will take place across the island to explore how the Channel Islands influenced the writer's life and works. Highlights include Hugo's Banquet des Enfants - a six course lunch at Guernsey Inner Market Buildings replicating meals given by Victor Hugo to poor children at his home; tours of Hauteville House – Hugo's beautiful home on the island; In the Footsteps of Hugo walking tours of Hugo's favourite haunts around Guernsey; and a series of seminars and lectures from leading authorities on the life and works of Victor Hugo.

The latest events to be added to the Bailiwick's programme at the 2016 Channel Islands Heritage Festival include:

Resistance Nest Schonbucht Mitte

Belle Greve Bay Bunker

25 March, 14.00 – 16.00

Festung Guernsey, a group of local volunteers dedicated to restoring and preserving the Island's wartime defences, will be giving a guided tour of the German defences of Belle Greve Bay on Guernsey's east coast. The resistance nest was built by the Germans during their occupation in the Second World War and includes a type 676 Pak casemate for a Czech 4.7 anti‐tank gun. Admission is free.

www.visitguernsey.com/event/resistance-nest-schonbucht-mitte-1

Seafarers Coach Tour

Liberation Monument

28 March, 2 May, 9.30 – 17.00

From famous admirals to Bordeaux, the fishing port that inspired Victor Hugo's Toilers of the Sea, this day long tour around the island delves into Guernsey's rich maritime and seafaring heritage. It will also include a visit to two working harbours, entry to La Vallette Underground Military Museum, the Shipwreck Museum at Fort Grey and lunch. The price is £55 per person.

www.visitguernsey.com/event/seafarers-tours-coach-tours

Maritime Themed Talks with Local Experts

Frossard Theatre, Candie Gardens

Every Wednesday from 30 March to 18 May, 14.30 – 16.00

Each week during the festival, a leading expert will give a talk on the Bailiwick of Guernsey's maritime heritage. Speakers include former Guernsey harbour master Captain Peter Gill, local historian Gregory Stevens Cox on Shipping in Victor Hugo's time, archeologist Jason Monahan on Guernsey's Roman shipwreck, Castel historian Eric Grimsley on Coastline Towers, Richard Lord from Sealord Photography on Fish and Foreshore, and Guernsey's former Greffier Ken Tough on the Effect of the Occupation on Guernsey's coastline.  The talks are £5 per session (pay at the door), or £35 for all eight sessions (pay online).

www.visitguernsey.com/event/maritime-themed-talks-local-experts

The Sea Around Us – guided walk in Sark

Sark Visitor Centre

7, 21 April and 5 May, 11.15 – 13.10

A two hour guided walk on the island of Sark, a 45 minute ferry from Guernsey, to explore the island's fishing methods, local navigation and pilotage, and the natural history of the archipelago's seas and shores. The fairly easy stroll will finish at Pilcher Monument on the island's west coast. The price is £4 for adults and £2 for children under 14.

www.visitguernsey.com/event/sea-around-us-sark

Batterie Generaloberst Dollman Open Day

La Trigale

1 May, 13.30 – 16.30

This German Coastal Artillery Battery houses the last gun of its type in Europe and was restored by Guernsey Armouries in 1997. When the restoration project was started, initial inspection showed the bunkers to be remarkably intact with armoured doors and a bunker telephone still in situ. Today, work still continues to put final touches in place with new features still being restored. However, the site will be fully open to the public during the festival for a day of living history and displays. Simulated gun firing will take place on the hour at 14.00, 15.00 and 16.00. Entry is by donation.

www.visitguernsey.com/event/batterie-generaloberst-dollmann-open-day

Nautical Gin Tasting

Bella Luce Hotel & Restaurant, St Martins

6 May, 19.00

The proprietor of Bella Luce, Luke Wheadon, will be giving an exclusive gin tasting and dinner evening, where he will give an introduction to distillation and explain the history of gin flavours, botanicals and its maritime roots. Luke will look at the at the effect of the trade and movement of spices by sea from the East and the effect that companies such as the Dutch East India Company has had on the flavour that we know as gin today. The evening will include tasting gins from various port cities in the UK as well as Luke's very own gin, Wheadon's, which is distilled on the hotel premises, plus dinner in the bistro restaurant. The gin tasting and dinner is £55 per person.

www.visitguernsey.com/event/nautical-themed-gin-tasting

Shanties at Sunset

Fort Grey

7 May, 18.30 – 20.30

Guernsey's popular all-male folk group, GU10, will be playing a very special one-off gig at Guernsey's iconic coastal fort, Fort Grey, fondly known as the 'cup and saucer' for an evening of nautical-themed music. Concert goers will be able to jig along to sea shanties and songs about the sea as the sun sets over the west coast of the island.  Food and a cash bar will be available on the night. Tickets are £7. Doors open at 17.45 and the event closes at 21.15.

www.visitguernsey.com/event/shanties-sunset  

For a full list of events and activities, please visit www.visitguernsey.com/heritage-festival

Packages to Guernsey during the Channel Islands Heritage Festival:

Four nights from £165 per person: Channel Islands Direct offers a four-night Guernsey Heritage break staying at the Pandora Hotel, which sits in the quaint and historic area of Hauteville - just a ten minute walk from the sights and attractions of St Peter Port and ideally located for exploring Victor Hugo's favourite surroundings. Four nights with travel to Guernsey by sea from Poole is priced from £165 pp, or by air from London Gatwick, Bristol, Exeter or Southampton from £229pp. The price includes return travel, one free night and complimentary breakfast throughout. This offer is based on two adults sharing and is valid for travel between 1st March – 30th April 2016, subject to availability.

Three night four star break from £195 per person: The four star Bella Luce Hotel is a rural country house hotel, tucked away in a tranquil village just a short stroll from the island's south coast and Moulin Huet Bay where Victor Hugo was famously known to have picnicked. Guests who stay during Heritage Festival can enjoy the selection of events and activities taking place around the island, before retreating back to the Bella Luce to relax and unwind in the evenings. Channel Islands Direct offers a three night break from £195pp by sea from Poole or from £265pp by air from London Gatwick, Bristol, Exeter or Southampton; including return travel, one free night and complimentary breakfast throughout. This offer is based on two adults sharing and is valid for travel between 1st March – 30th April 2016, subject to availability.  

For more information or to book any of the offers detailed above, contact Channel Islands Direct on 08444 937 486 or visit the website: www.channelislandsdirect.co.uk

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For further general information on Guernsey, visit www.visitguernsey.com

For press enquiries please contact Jules Ugo or Georgina Oakley at Lotus on jules@wearelotus.co.uk / georgina@wearelotus.co.uk or call the office on 0207 953 7470