I have to confess I had never considered Guernsey as a potential holiday destination before.

Despite being just a three-hour ferry trip away, it’s all too easy to overlook the second largest Channel Island in favour of Spain or France.

And yet this 24 square mile island has so much to offer, it’s a real hidden gem of a holiday destination.

Firstly, it’s ridiculously easy to get to, especially if like us you're travelling with children. You can travel from Poole or Weymouth, there are no lengthy check-in procedures and it’s far easier to entertain youngsters on a boat than on a plane or in a car.

Secondly, it’s part of the UK so there’s no need to change currency or worry about making yourself understood.

And most importantly, it’s also an absolutely beautiful place in which to relax, unwind and explore, easily able to compete with anything the Mediterranean can offer.

We left Poole at breakfast time and had checked into the Peninsula Hotel and were enjoying crab sandwiches on the Guernsey shoreline by lunchtime.

We had travelled with our car and found driving around Guernsey pretty simple. Apart from in St Peter Port, the island is remarkably tranquil and offers free parking.

After our picnic lunch, we headed five minutes along the coast to Cobo Bay, which we had been told was one of Guernsey’s best beaches.

We weren’t disappointed. Guernsey’s coastline not only has a spectacular rugged beauty, it also offers vast stretches of firm, compact sand and a shallow, calm sea.

The more adventurous can book surfing lessons or kayak tours but we were content to kick a ball about and investigate the countless rockpools.

A starfish and hermit crab later, we were back at our hotel enjoying the heated outdoor pool before heading back up the coast to Vazon Bay, where we found the ultimate child-friendly restaurant in Crabby Jack’s.

The next day we spent some time exploring Guernsey, which has a charming half-French, half-English atmosphere. The winding roads all have French names and the quiet, sleepy villages are far more reminiscent of Brittany than Britain.

In town, there are an abundance of independent bistros, many offering al fresco moules frites or crepes, yet there’s also a Marks and Spencer, Boots and other familiar high street names. It's a wonderfully eclectic mix.

While in town, we visited Castle Cornet, the ancient fortification set upon Cornet Rock, which stands guard on Guernsey’s main harbour.

The castle is home to five museums and beautiful gardens and also features a daily firing of the Noon Day Gun. There’s also dressing-up and children’s activities available.

The next day we made our way across Rocquaine Bay to the iconic Fort Grey, which is known locally as the Cup and Saucer. It was built in 1804 to defend Guernsey’s west coast but is now home to a shipwreck museum. This is another child-friendly activity, with activity sheets and spot-it guides provided to younger visitors.

If we had had more time, we could have visited Guernsey’s sister island of Herm or the popular Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery but we were blessed with good weather and the beach and hotel pool were just so tempting.

But there’s always next time – we might have been slow to discover Guernsey but it’s now firmly at the top of our holiday list.

Getaway

Condor Ferries operates a year-round service connecting the UK through Weymouth, Poole and Portsmouth, the Channel Islands through Guernsey and Jersey and the ports of St Malo and Cherbourg in France.

For reservations call 0845 609 1024 Prices start from £198 for a car + 2 return.

Foot passenger return is from £55 per adult.

condorferries.com