2019-08-01_Homes_&_Antiques 2

percent,bidding

hereisan

aractiveprospect.

Itiswellworth

bookingaguidedwalk,

especiallyifyouareonlyon

theislandfora briefstay.

Personableandextremely

knowledgeable,yourguidewillgetyou

uptospeedonwhateveraspectof

Guernseytraditions,historyorfolklore

youarelookingfor.Awalkfollowing

inthefootstepsofVictorHugoisan

excellentwaytogainaninsightinto

thetown’shistory,aswellasoneofits

mostfamous19th-centuryresidents.

Hishome,HautevilleHouse, has

recentlyreopenedaera completeret

andisa trulyfascinatingglimpseinto

thelifeandtimesofthisiconicFrench

writer. Guided tours are available, and

booking essential. (maisonsvictorhugo.

paris.fr)

Complete with its uniquely blue

Royal Mail post boxes, the town boasts

plenty of independent local traders,

relaxing cafes and lively bars in its

compact shopping quarter, as well as a

few well-known brands like M&S – a

concession within the family-owned

Creaseys department store, which is

the go-to for practically everything.

Finish o a day’s exploring with a

sh supper – head o to Octopus

(octopusgsy.co.uk), a welcoming

harbourside restaurant for your catch

of the day, with the freshest of sh and

a splendid selection of local gins.

Venturing further aeld up the hill

from St Peter Port brings you to the

leaer environs of St Martins, where

you’ll nd Sausmarez Manor, the only

stately home in Guernsey that’s open

to the public. Still lived in by the

current seigneur, Peter de Sausmarez,

it is a fascinating place to visit as it

tells the story of his family from the

1300s with an eclectic trove of antique

furniture, ceramics, art and textiles

acquired by the privateers, soldiers,

governors, inventors and other

charismatic ancestors of the present-

day generation. Guided tours of the

house are available (check the website

for details, sausmarezmanor.co.uk)

while in the grounds (it’s an RHS

Partner Garden) you can meander

around the contemporary sculpture

park and the workshops of the last

remaining artisan Guernsey

coppersmith. Visit on a Saturday

morning to enjoy the Farmers’

Market, with local produce and

vintage stalls. And, while we’re on the

subject of local produce, look out for

splendid homegrown ‘Hedge Veg’ for

sale by the roadside – it’s a popular

tradition here and payment is usually

an honesty box tucked among the

freshly picked greens.

About a mile further down the road

is Bella Luce Hotel, an excellent spot

for lunch (it also has restful rooms):

a historic 16th-century manor house

converted into a charming rustic hotel

In the leaer environs

of St Martins you’ll nd

Sausmarez Manor, the only

stately home in Guernsey

that’s open to the public.

DAILYTOURS

Therearedailytours

aroundSt PeterPortat

10.30ameverydayfrom30th

Marchto 31stOctober.Justturnup

at theGuernseyInformationCentre

ontheEsplanade,noneedto book,

andit’s£8perperson.

guernseyguided

tours.com

Access to Le Petit Port beach is via

270 steep steps. CLOCKWISE

FROM BELOW RIGHT

Sculpture on display in the

grounds of Sausmarez Manor;

blue letter box in St Peter Port;

Hauteville House.

140 Homes & Antiques August 2019