With a flight time of less than one hour from London airports, the Channel Islands are an easy to reach destination for an autumn short break. Guernsey and its sister islands of Herm and Sark are holding a number of themed weekends this autumn including a foraging weekend with River Cottage, a yoga retreat on a car free island, a stargazing weekend on the world's first dark sky island and a walking break on Guernsey's stunning coastal paths and inner island lanes.

Foraging weekend with River Cottage, Sark
12th-14th September
From £250 per person
River Cottage author and renowned forager, John Wright, will lead a two night foraging weekend on Sark from 12th-14th September. The eco-friendly island has no motorised vehicles with travel only by horse and cart, bike or foot, making it an ideal spot for some truly wild foraging.  Over the weekend there will be two foraging forays with John in the hedgerows, fields and on the seashores of Sark with accommodation in the four star Stocks Hotel. There will be one cooking session with foraged foods and a three course dinner based around foraged food and supplemented with seasonal, local delicacies. The trip costs £250 per person based on two people sharing including accommodation, foraging, breakfast and a three course dinner. www.stockshotel.com/ 01481 832001 

Yoga retreat, Herm
9th-11th October
From £269 per person  
Where better to spend a yoga retreat than on a tiny car free island where even the public playing of radios is banned? Herm Island, just off the Guernsey coastline is a few miles long and half a mile wide and lends itself to complete relaxation. The two night break is based in the White House Hotel, which has no televisions, clocks or telephones in the bedrooms to provide the ultimate escape from everyday life. The yoga sessions take place in the hotel's conservatory which has sea views over to Guernsey.

The weekend offers ten hours of tuition including asana (physical postures), pranayama (breathing exercises) and yoga nidra (yogic sleep). Between yoga sessions guests can take a cleansing swim in the sea or explore the island on foot. Packages are priced from £269 per person based on two people sharing or £319 for single room. This includes transfers from Guernsey, accommodation, meals and ten hours of yoga tuition. www.poweryogaguernsey.com  

Stargazing weekend, Sark
9th-11th October
From £270 per person
Sark, one of only two Dark Sky Islands in the world has incredibly dark and clear skies due to its remote location, lack of public lighting and low air pollution, making it a haven for stargazing enthusiasts. The island will be holding a 'Sark Trek' Festival from 9th-11th October with guest astronomers holding workshops and teaching the basics of stargazing and astronomy. The speakers are to be confirmed but in the past these have included Dr Marek Kukula, a public astronomer at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich and Professor Chris Lintott, an astrophysicist at the University of Oxford and the main presenter on BBC series Sky at Night. Stocks Hotel is offering a Sark Trek package with two nights accommodation, 14 hours astronomy tuition, breakfast and an evening meal for £270 per person.  www.stockshotel.com/ 01481 832001

Walking break, Guernsey
5th-19th September
From £230 per person
Guernsey's Autumn Walking Festival takes place from 5th-19th September and sees locals offering themed guided walks from just £6 per half day. Walks range from a two hour 'Shadows of Victor Hugo' walk to a six hour 'Ten Parishes on a Sunday' walk. For the full walk schedule: http://www.visitguernsey.com/autumn-walking-festival 

Guernsey's only five star hotel, the Old Government House Hotel or OGH is offering a walking package during the festival for £230 per person. This includes two nights accommodation, a copy of the walking on Guernsey book, a picnic for two to take on a walk, a walking boot cleaning service, breakfast, a meal in the OGHs' Brasserie restaurant, return airport transfers, a 10% discount in the spa and use of the gym, sauna and pools. www.theoghhotel.com/ 01481 724921 

Getting to the Channel Islands
To Guernsey: Accessible withflights from Gatwick, Stansted, London City and many regional airports. Return flights from Gatwick to Guernsey with Aurigny start from £94 (www.aurigny.com/ 01481 266465). Also accessible by sea with Condor Ferries. Prices start from £49.50pp for a car and two passengers each way (www.condorferries.com/ 0845 609 1024)

To Herm: 20 minute ferry from Guernsey. Adult return fares are £12.50 and child return fares are £6.50 (www.traveltrident.com) 

To Sark: 50 minute ferry from Guernsey. Adult return fares are £28.50 and child return fares are £13.20 (www.sarkshippingcompany.com) 

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For further information on Guernsey and its sister islands visit: www.visitguernsey.com

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