In these days of low-cost air travel it is sometime easy to ignore what is right on your doorstep.

Many of us will jet off to the continent at the first opportunity rather than exploring what is on offer closer to home.

I am one of those who could be accused of not making the most of what we have got here in the United Kingdom but I am pleased to say I have just discovered a delightful little corner of our isles.

I had barely heard of Herm Island before arranging my trip there but my fiancée and I left completely won over by a place of rare tranquillity and stunning beauty.

The tiny little island, which is around a mile-and-a-half long and half-a-mile wide with just 66 permanent residents, is just a 20-minute ferry from St Peter’s Port in Guernsey.

We had arrived in the Channel Islands via a somewhat choppy crossing from Poole, where I have to say my sea legs deserted me but the service provided by the staff at Condor Ferries could not be faulted.

The journey was long forgotten though as soon as we arrived in Herm and began to explore our enchanting surroundings.

With no cars and everything accessible by foot, life almost slows down as soon as you step on to the island and you are able to take in the glorious scenery with stunning beaches, woodland walks and fantastic views out to sea.

We were staying at the White House Hotel, the only hotel on the island, which offers extremely comfortable rooms and the fact there are no televisions, clocks or telephones adds to the sense of getting away from it all.

Living in Dorset we tend to think we enjoy a relaxing pace of life in a peaceful environment but Herm takes peace and serenity to a whole new level.

Herm is leased from the States of Guernsey by Herm Island Ltd, which runs the hotel, Mermaid Tavern pub, campsites and 20 holiday cottages on the island.

It is committed to preserving the island as a haven for visitors and it is telling that around 75 per cent of those who come to Herm are regulars who travel there year on year – they must be doing something right.

There are also a number of special events, such as the wine-tasting weekend we were able to enjoy and a beer and cider festival in May, that again attract regular visitors as well as new ones.

In all around 70,000 visitors a year come to Herm via the Travel Trident ferry from Guernsey, with more coming on private boats.

They are able to take their pick from several fantastic sandy beaches – the stars of which are Shell Beach and Belvoir Beach on the east side of the island.

Boat or kayak trips offer a chance to encounter wildlife just offshore with a seal colony and nesting puffins among the residents of the waters around Herm. The island also boasts plenty of historical interest, with the presence of Neolithic tombs highlighting how long it has been inhabited. It would be wrong to write about Herm without also mentioning the fantastic service provided by the friendly and accommodating staff we encountered everywhere we went.

They seem to take a real pride in the island and making visitors’ trips to Herm as enjoyable as possible.

The food on offer at the White House is of the highest standard and I have had few dining experiences to match that of sitting in its Conservatory Restaurant looking out over the water back to the lights of Guernsey.

We also enjoyed a pub lunch at the homely and welcoming Mermaid Tavern, washed down with a drop of Herm Island Gold ale, which is specially brewed for Herm in Jersey.

Like any island – including our own – Herm is somewhat at the mercy of the elements but even when we encountered inclement weather on our stay we were able to snuggle up by the roaring fires at the hotel and Mermaid Tavern as well as enjoying a cream tea at the Ship Inn Brasserie.

After bidding a fond farewell to the island we spent an afternoon across the water in St Peter Port but found that almost all shops and most cafes were shut on a Sunday.

There did seem to be plenty on offer though and we could imagine it being a bustling seaside town on weekdays.

With Condor due to return to Weymouth this summer and sailings still running from Poole, it really is a great time for people across Dorset to start making the most of what the Channel Islands have to offer. Herm could just be the jewel in their crown.

  • For more information on visiting Herm go to herm.com