The pride the Islands take in their past is expressed in a number of heritage-themed museums such as the Folk and Costume Museum, housed in a group of 18th century farm buildings grouped around a cobbled courtyard. Through a series of reconstructed rooms we could see life as it was on the Islands 100 years ago.

Brother Deodat of the De La Salle order began an extraordinary project in 1923, single-handedly building a complete church in miniature. The "Little Chapel" claims to be the smallest in the world, just 5 metres long and able to accommodate a dozen people. The chapel is encrusted with shells, coloured pebbles and fragments of china.

Herm is a tiny island measuring just one and a half miles long and half a mile wide. Visitors come for the scenery, the walking and the wildlife. With a ban on cars, music played in public and "unseemly behaviour", Herm really is a place to "get away from it all". The best way to enjoy all this peace and quiet is to walk around the island which is what many of us did. Brett Moore the head gardener led us on a stroll around the island showing us the work which has been done during the past 15 years and pointing out many exotic plants from South America and Africa which thrive in the climate of the island. His tour ended at the Norman chapel of St. Tugual, a reminder that the island was once a purely religious community. Many of us then walked on to Shell Beach, considered by many to be the finest beach in the Channel Islands. About three quarters of a mile long it consists almost entirely of shells pulverised into sand by centuries of wave action. On our return crossing we were accompanied, at one stage, by a pod of bottle-nosed dolphins whose acrobatic leaps and dives enthralled us.

We were fortunate to be able to visit some of the gardens for which the islands are famed. Grange Court is a private garden in the centre of St Peter Port. It is an amazing garden, immaculately maintained, with lush rolling lawns, mature trees and mixed borders, obviously maintained with great expertise and love by it's owner.

Victor Hugo considered Sark to be "la plus belle" of the Channel Islands and after our visit few of us would disagree. As we approached after a 50 minute crossing we passed beneath towering cliffs, sea caves and evocatively shaped rocks. Once ashore we were transported by the famous horse-drawn carriages to the Seigneurie, home of the head of the island government. Following a tour of the beautiful garden we were privileged to be shown around his house by the Seigneur, Christopher Beaumont. A leisurely carriage ride took us back to the landing stage, calling en-route at St. Peter's church.

Our remaining time was spent visiting attractions in St. Peter Port and western Guernsey. Sausmarez Manor was the stronghold of one of Guernsey's oldest families and site of a fine old manor house and sub-tropical garden; Catherine Best Jewellery is housed in a wonderfully restored windmill; the private garden of La Petite Vallee and Castle Cornet, built in the 13th century to protect St. Peter Port. In western Guernsey we discovered a wonderful example of a mid 19th century farmhouse at Les Caches. Spectacular cliff scenery was explored around Le Gouffre while the German Occupation Museum served as a reminder of a grimmer chapter in the island's history.

Thanks to beautiful weather, a splendid hotel, a convivial group of travellers and an excellent guide, (Michael Gill,) this was a memorable tour. These islands are indeed very special.