Short break: A wild wellness weekend in Jersey

For a mini break with maximum adventure, Jersey has oodles to offer. Here’s how to plan your restorative island escape...

7 mins

Where is Jersey? 

Where is Jersey? (Visit Jersey)

Where is Jersey? (Visit Jersey)

Far closer to France than it is to the UK, the island of Jersey feels surprisingly far-flung – though it’s only an hour’s flight from London. It’s just 120 sq km in size (which makes getting around easy), but what it lacks in size it makes up for in bombastic, beautiful scenery: from white-sand beaches and wildflower-strewn meadows, to crashing waves and wind-whipped headlands. The mainland is dotted with picturesque settlements, where you’ll find friendly hotels and a flourishing foodie scene – as well as a real sense of community.

Getting to and around Jersey

How to get to and around Jersery (Visit Jersey)

How to get to and around Jersery (Visit Jersey)

It takes as little as 40 minutes to fly from the UK to Jersey, with direct options from all over the UK. Departure airports include Gatwick, London City, Bournemouth, Dublin, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Exeter and more. From London alone, there are 12 flights every day; visit Jersey.com to find your most convenient route. If you’re travelling with camping gear or surf boards, or want to take the car, catch the ferry from Poole (4 hours) or Portsmouth (8 hours).

Getting around Jersey is a breeze. Public buses connect the island’s major settlements, and taxis are readily available. Roads are quiet and the speed limit is just 40mph: great news for cyclists and road trippers. While it’s easy to bring your own car on the ferry, there are rental outlets at the airport too.

Where to stay in Jersey

Where to stay in Jersey (Visit Jersey)

Where to stay in Jersey (Visit Jersey)

On Jersey’s southern shore – just a few steps from St Brelade’s Bay – L’Horizon Hotel & Spa offers comfortable rooms, soothing sea views, and luxurious wellness facilities galore. There’s a fitness centre with sauna, steam room and swimming pool; a relaxation lounge and sleep room; and six treatment studios offering everything from Elemis massages to Jessica manicures.

For a unique holiday rental, look to Jersey Heritage’s characterful collection: old lighthouses, castles, fortresses, Second World War relics and more. They’ve all been transformed into stylish, spacious retreats – often with incredible views of the coast and countryside. Our tip? Radio Tower is ideal for families: it sleeps six guests, and its observation deck overlooks Jersey National Park. For couples, Archirondel Tower is a cosy coastal retreat that played a key defensive role in Jersey’s history.

Day one: Yoga, foraging and kayaking at sunset 

Morning

Ease yourself into island life with a yoga session (Visit Jersey)

Ease yourself into island life with a yoga session (Visit Jersey)

Ease yourself into island life with an early morning yoga session – what better way to soothe away the stresses of everyday life? There are plenty of options all over Jersey, from state-of-the-art studios to one-to-one outdoor workshops. Local tutor Amanda Cassar teaches vinyasa flow and yin yoga on the beach – ideal for an early-morning sun salutation – while Kalimukti Yoga Studio offers classes in its St Helier HQ. On Saturday mornings, join Toyah Tomkins for hatha yoga and mindfulness on the sea-view rooftop of The Waters Edge Hotel, in beautiful Bouley Bay.

Afternoon

Go foraging for food in Jersey (Visit Jersey)

Go foraging for food in Jersey (Visit Jersey)

You’ve got a really wild lunch date, so pack your walking boots and an appetite for adventure. Islanders have been foraging for food throughout Jersey’s rich coast and countryside for generations, and now you can have a go too. The island’s hedgerows are laden with fruits, mushrooms and herbs, while the beaches and rock pools are rich in fresh seafood, shellfish and edible seaweed. Wild Adventures Jersey offers 2.5-hour foraging trips, getting hands-on in Jersey’s outdoor larder – gathering ingredients for lunch cooked on a campfire.

Late

Watch the sunset (Visit Jersey)

Watch the sunset (Visit Jersey)

Jersey’s sunsets are always glorious, a riot of crimson and gold that colours the cliffs, beaches and waves. But for the best view, book a guided twilight paddling session with Jersey Kayak Adventures: you’ll explore the west coast by kayak, venturing to wildlife-rich coves and hidden beach bays, while the sky blazes overhead. All kit is supplied and no experience is necessary – but there’s a real sense of adventure.

Day two: Wildlife, secret islands and twinkling sands

Morning 

Explore Jersey's vast national park (Visit Jersey)

Explore Jersey's vast national park (Visit Jersey)

Covering 21.5 sq km of the island’s coastline, Jersey National Park is a haven for both wildlife and national heritage – and it’s yours to discover this morning. The best way to explore its scenery and sights is on foot: there are clifftop tracks, forest pathways and breezy beach trails to wander – and plenty of spots for a wild swim. The 5.1km track between La Corbière and Portelet Bay encompasses tangled woodland and peaceful sands – ideal for a gentle morning stroll. Visit the national park website for trail maps and itinerary ideas.

Afternoon

Look out for dolphins in Jersey National Park (Visit Jersey)

Look out for dolphins in Jersey National Park (Visit Jersey)

Delve deeper into the national park this afternoon on a boat trip with Jersey Seafaris to Les Écréhous – an idyllic cluster of islands, reefs and rocks around 15 minutes from the mainland. The journey is an adventure in itself: you’ll spy sea birds, seals, and maybe even dolphins along the way – before coming to rest in Listerine-coloured shallows. With white sand beaches and barely another soul in sight, this is a stunning location for a picnic lunch and a paddle.

Late

Watch Jersey's most spectacular natural phenomenon - the bioluminescence on the beach (Visit Jersey)

Watch Jersey's most spectacular natural phenomenon - the bioluminescence on the beach (Visit Jersey)

Tonight you’ll bear witness to Jersey’s most spectacular natural phenomenon. When night falls, glow worms twinkle on some of the island’s most secluded sands – to find them, you’ll need to enlist the help of Jersey Walk Adventures. With a shimmering carpet of bioluminescence before you, and the gentle applause of the waves, this is a walk you’ll never forget – and a breathtaking finale to your wild wellness escape.

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