Ahoy, me hearties (said in my best pirate voice!) welcome to TREASURE ISLAND. We are super excited to invite you to take part in our half term treasure hunt. We’ve teamed up with the lovely people at the Bailiwick Staycation Club to get people exploring Guernsey and visiting places they may not have been to before. You’ll be rewarded with treasure and your chance to win BIG PRIZES!
How it Works
- Find The Loot: 12 treasure boxes have been hidden across the island packed full of treasure (loot includes Guernsey pin badges, bouncy balls, key rings, purses, pens, highlighters, small toys, gems, pirate coins and more! All you have to do is follow the Treasure Island map to locate a loot box.
- Trade Treasure: As we want there to be loot for all treasure hunters, feel free to take something from the treasure box but please can you swap your loot for something that you bring with you (if you have Geocached before you will be used to the idea of trading/swaps). They only need to be small items, a great way to use party bag stuff that lies around the house!
- Return the Treasure Box: Once you’ve traded your loot please put the box back where you found it. It’s as simple as that!
Golden Tickets
To make it even more exciting a GOLDEN TICKET will be hidden in one box each day and it could be put into the box at any time during the day. The first person to find the golden ticket, take a photo of themselves with it and post the pic to the GuernseyWithKids Facebook page will win that prize. Click HERE to post to our page.
Treasure Island starts on Saturday 24th October and will run for the whole of half term, finishing on Sunday 1st November. 9 days of treasure hunting with 9 GOLDEN TICKETS up for grabs! Details of that day’s Golden Ticket prize will be posted on our Facebook page so keep an eye out.
Golden Ticket Prizes
This wouldn’t have been possible without the support from Bailiwick Staycation Club members who have kindly donated these great golden ticket prizes….
- 6,720 worth of frequent flyer points from Aurigny Air Services (that’s enough for 2 return tickets to Gatwick!)
- A Discovery Pass for Guernsey Museums
- £25 voucher from Tours of Guernsey giving admission for 1 adult and 1 child on an excursion for 2021 including Batterie Mirus Tour, Batterie Scharnhorst Tour, Town Walk, & L’Eree Coastal Walk.
- Afternoon Tea Takeaway Box for 2 people from La Barbarie Hotel
- A Swim followed by Afternoon Tea for 2 adults and 2 children courtesy of Les Rocquettes Hotel
- Large Make a Bear voucher from Oaty & Joey’s Playbarn
- 2 x Adult and 2 x Child tickets valid for any daytime or evening Xmas lights tour on board Petit Train
- 2 adults and 2 children admission for Pirate Bay Adventure Golf
- Travel over to Herm for 2 adults and 2 children from Travel Trident
Treasure Island Map - Where's the Loot?
As you can see, treasure boxes are hidden across the island. You might be very familiar with some of the locations, whereas others might be totally new to you, therefore, we’ve written a full write-up of each location including a map, parking info, lots of photos and details. Just click on the location title below to go through to the more info page for that treasure spot.
The ruins of this 17th Century fort makes for a great place to explore, with safe rocks to climb (as in rocks not on the side of a cliff!), windows looking out to sea, a gaol and small stone passages, to name just a few.
For more information about Fort Le Marchant, take a look at our write-up HERE.
Treasure Box Clue: The treasure is captured behind rusty bars, those will be lucky who can reach far.
A prehistoric passage and chamber grave which you might think is the last place you would take your kids, but ours really enjoy it! Think low ceilings, limited lighting and side chambers with large stones to sit on, they will be making up spooky tales within minutes.
For more info including parking info and more images check out our write-up HERE.
Treasure Box Clue: Duck when you enter this little cave, with hidden treasure just for the brave.
We really enjoy a stop-off at Vale Castle because, for the kids, it’s a real-life castle play area! The large grassed area of the lower level is great for running around and the upper level allows you quite a unique experience because you can walk around the top of the castle, taking in the scale of it and the beautiful views of Herm. Note that there is no safety barrier on the top level, with a big drop to the lower level, so little kids must be watched closely if they venture up the stairs. During the Second World War, the German occupying forces fortified the castle with four concrete machine-gun positions, three 5cm mortar positions, trenches, four torbruk pits and personnel shelters. They remain at the castle, and make great places to explore and good talking points with the kids.
For more information about Vale Castle including where to park, how to access the castle and what there is to do there, check out our write-up HERE.
Treasure Box Clue: It’s up on the top deck your treasure awaits, you might need to duck unless you’re little ship mates.
Chateau des Marais, otherwise known as ‘Ivy Castle’ is a hidden area of tranquility in St Peter Port and a great place for kids to have a run around in a contained space. It offers the remains of the stone walled castle to explore and a fun bug trail where you need to look out for the numbered icons dotted around the site.
For more information about Ivy Castle and the Bug Trail check out our write-up HERE.
Treasure Box Clue: Treasure is hiding inside the old walls, pushed into a ledge so it doesn’t fall.
Candie Gardens
Beautiful gardens in the heart of St Peter Port with lawned areas and fish ponds and the most stunning views over St Peter Port harbour, Herm and Sark. Also offers a museum with a great Discovery Room for kids, art gallery, and a cafe housed in a Victorian bandstand. For more details about Candie Gardens check out our write-up HERE.
Treasure Box Clue: The lower level is the place to be, look for treasure nestled at the foot of a tree.
Whilst looking for treasure check out the Fairies & Folklore event taking place throughout half term at the Guernsey Museum, Candie where there will be seasonal activities, trails & crafts, a special visitor at 11am each day (it could be storytelling, magic, music or something else fun), two family films a day in the Frossard Theatre at 10.30am & 2pm (except 2pm on Saturday 31 October) and a sleepover for your cuddly toys on All Hallows Eve / Saturday 31st October!
Tucked away in St Saviour’s is a walk around the reservoir that will take you through lots of woodland, over a dam, over a few bridges and down some country lanes. It’s always an hour enjoyably spent and is suitable for children of all ages.
For full details of the Millennium Walk (with a map) and parking info, check out our write-up of the reservoir HERE.
Treasure Box Clue: Don’t walk the plank on the fallen tree, it’s the littlest pine where the treasure will be.
Saints Bay is nestled amongst the south coast cliffs, a pretty sheltered cove with a mix of sand and pebble and crystal-clear water. A short walk from the bay is Saints Harbour and Fisherman’s Landing, a tranquil spot with a handful of fishing boats bobbing in the water. The Fisherman’s Landing is located to the left of the slipway. To access the top level, with the stunning view, you need to climb a ladder (ensure young children are supervised as it’s quite unstable!). There are lots of ropes up there and things to trip over and no safety rail at the front so generally take care with kids up there. However, kids love it as it’s a proper hidden den!
For more information about how to access the Fisherman’s Landing and Saints Bay Beach, check out our write-up HERE.
Treasure Box Clue: Climb up the rigging as the treasure’s on high, but be careful on deck as you’re close to the sky.
The Little Chapel is up there amongst our favourite places in Guernsey as it’s just as interesting for kids as it is for adults. Even being called the Little Chapel cannot prepare you for how small the chapel is, to the point that you cannot believe it is big enough for people to fit inside! It is the miniature size of the chapel, alongside it’s beautiful decoration, that makes it fascinating for children (and adults).
For more information about the Little Chapel read our write-up HERE.
Treasure Box Clue: Follow the path and the treasure you’ll see, before you enter the chapel search low and leafy.
La Table Des Pions (The Fairy Ring) is a place our kids love to visit because they love the idea that fairies live there! Research suggests that La Table Des Pions was used until 1837 as a picnic table for servants who took part in the late 18th Century tradition called La Chevauchee, a formal procession of officials and servants, which ensured the roads and boundaries were in good order. Local folklore suggests the site is linked with fairies, witches, and elves and as such the locals call it ‘the Fairy Ring’.
The walk from Portelet beach to the fairy ring has it all…a beach, German bunker, a fort with cannons, trees to climb with rope swings, The Fairy Ring and the most stunning scenery in all directions. With plenty of benches to take in the view, and ample places to have a picnic, it’s a great place to explore during half term.
For more information about the walk including a map, parking info and lots of pics, read our write-up HERE.
Treasure Box Clue: The treasure lies East of the fairy home, tread carefully whilst looking for a dip in the stone. (I did use the compass app on my phone as I think the East clue is confusing people!)
Saumarez Park is the largest public park in Guernsey and our favourite for combining bike riding, feeding ducks, climbing trees and lots of playing in the fantastic playground for kids of all ages. Even in colder weather the park is a must for half term and with the Cafe open all year, you can stop off for a hot drink and a warm up!
For more information on the park’s location, parking, things to do at the park, check out our write-up HERE.
Treasure Box Clue: Cross the bridge to a foreign land, those that can see through bamboo will have treasure in hand.
Fort Hommet is a Victorian fortification on Vazon Bay headland consisting of a Martello tower and bunkers and casemates constructed by German forces during World War II. A great place to explore with 2 levels and stunning views across the bay. Fort Hommet is home to the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, a Second World War bunker transformed by Hubert Le Galloudec from a place of war into a place of peace and beauty using local seashells. Saturday 24th October 2pm to 4pm is The Shrine of the Sacred Heart’s last open day of the year, for more info click HERE.
For detailed information about Fort Hommet, check out our full write-up HERE.
Treasure Box Clue: The German defences the treasure does lay, with beautiful views to the side of the bay.
We love a trip to Grandes Rocques Fort (officially a battery but referred to as a fort) because there’s lots to explore, both in the fort itself, and the surrounding area. The fort was constructed c.1779 and was armed with three 24 pounder guns however, no guns remain on site today but there’s still lots to explore on multiple levels. The fort was altered by the German occupying forces during World War II, and what remains is fascinating for both adults and kids. Aside from the fort, the area is a natural playground of amazing rocks to climb, with hard and easier areas for kids of differing ages.
For more information about the fort and the surrounding area (rock climbing and the walk to Port Soif) click HERE.
Treasure Box Clue: Look for the concrete that did house a gun, the treasure awaits for loot swapping fun.
Treasure Island Terms & Conditions
- Treasure Island takes place from Saturday 24th October to Sunday 1st November.
- One golden ticket will be added to the treasure hunt daily.
- There will be one winner of a golden ticket daily.
- To claim the golden ticket prize the finder of the golden ticket must take a photo of themself with the golden ticket at the place it was found and post it on the GuernseyWithKids Facebook page.
- One prize per family only for the duration of the treasure hunt.
- There is no cash alternative for golden ticket prizes.
- Aurigny Frequent Flyer points do not expire.
- The Discovery Pass prize is valid from issuing for 12 months and gives access to one named individual over 18 years old and free entry to all accompanying children (under 18 years old).
- Tours of Guernsey prize voucher expires on 31st December 2021 and excludes the chocolate tasting tour.
- Les Rocquettes Hotel require 48 hours notice for the booking of the afternoon tea prize and please bring towels for the swimming pool.
- La Barbarie afternoon tea box prize voucher expires on 31st December 2020 and has date exclusions.
