Archipelago Tourism by Godfrey Baldacchino

Author:Godfrey Baldacchino [Baldacchino, Godfrey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472424303
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2015-03-28T00:00:00+00:00

Location and Dislocation

The Channel Islands are located just off the north coast of France in the Bay of St. Malo (see Figure 6.1). The islands are British, but not part of the United Kingdom, nor are they a part of the European Union. The Channel Islands comprise two bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The former has one main island, Jersey, along with several uninhabited reefs and small islets; and the latter includes the island of Guernsey along with several smaller islands, two of which have their own jurisdiction within the Bailiwick: Alderney and Sark.

The Bailiwick of Jersey is the most southern of the jurisdictions, and the island of Alderney (part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey) is the most northerly island and closest to both England and France. A further group of small islands called Chausey is also located to the southwest of the Channel Islands, although Chausey belongs to France; there are no direct commercial crossings to Chausey from the Channel Islands; one marine adventure business occasionally visits the location.

The Bailiwick of Guernsey comprises several islands. From large to small, the islands are Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, Brecqhou, Jethou and Lihou. Each of the islands is populated, except for Lihou, although it does have accommodation for special groups of visitors such as school students. There are also several uninhabited small islets and reefs, some of which are also included as tourist destinations (e.g., Burhou, where birdwatchers can view puffins and either stay in a small hut with very basic facilities, or take a cruise around the island). Each of the Bailiwick’s populated islands is visible from Guernsey. Lihou is the closest to Guernsey and it takes just several minutes to cross the causeway to reach it at low tide. From Guernsey’s capital, St. Peter Port, the islands of Herm and Jethou are the next closest, and it takes just a few minutes to make the 4.8 km journey by ferry to Herm (Jethou is privately leased). A short distance further are the islands of Sark and Brecqhou (the islands form the fief of Sark), which are only accessible by boat (tourists must travel to Brecqhou from Sark), except for the owners of the Brecqhou island tenement (landholding) who travel to and from the island by helicopter. Much further away is Alderney, which is accessible by air or boat from Guernsey.

The Channel Islands belonged to the Duchy of Normandy at the time of the Norman conquest of England in 1066. In 1204, the Channel Islands maintained their allegiance to their “Norman” ruler, King John of England, even though he lost the Duchy of Normandy to King Philip II of France. Thereafter, the Channel Islands developed their own unique system of government, were divided into two Bailiwicks, and are nowadays referred to as British Crown Dependencies. Due to their very close proximity to France, they were the only part of the British Isles to have been occupied by German forces from 1940 to 1945 during World War II.

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