Thirty-five minutes from the château, two small harbours on the west coast face the Channel Islands, and from April to September fast boats cross to them in about an hour. A day in Jersey — English spoken, pounds in your pocket, tea at four — is one of the most surprising things you can do from a Normandy château, and you are back for dinner.
The company is Manche Îles Express. From Carteret (37 minutes from the château — directions) the boats go to Jersey; from Diélette (38 minutes — directions) to Guernsey and Alderney. Crossings take between 55 minutes and an hour and twenty-five, depending on the route. The ports are tidal, so departure times change from day to day: there is no fixed timetable to memorise, you check the date you want.
Three things that catch people out. Book ahead — firm bookings are taken until the day before, and summer boats fill. Check-in opens 90 minutes before departure and closes 40 minutes before; after that you are refused boarding and still charged. And bring the right document: the Channel Islands are outside the EU. French nationals on a same-day return can travel with a national identity card (not the extended “10 + 5” cards); everyone else, and anyone staying overnight, needs a valid passport and a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for online before you go — see the company’s FAQ.
In Jersey, St Helier is a ten-minute walk from the boat; the east coast, with Gorey harbour under the walls of Mont Orgueil castle, is a short bus ride. Guernsey’s St Peter Port is prettier still, and quieter. Either way, keep it simple: one town, one castle, a long lunch, the boat home.
Season: the 2026 crossings have ended; the company has announced that sailings resume on 3 April 2027. Last checked: 1 October 2026. We will update this page when the 2027 timetables are published — in the meantime, timetables and brochures are on the company’s website.