The tiny island of Herm, near the UK, has just 65 people living there and is around 2,100 metres long by 800 metres wide – and it has a unique lack of cars and bikes
A tiny island off the UK coast has put a ban on bicycles and cars to maintain its serene and tranquil environment.
The small community residing on Herm Island takes great pride in the peacefulness of their home. “Herm Island is a magical place,” states the Channel Island’s website. “Every inch of the island is steeped in history and mystery.”
Herm, measuring just 2,100m long by 800m wide and home to a mere 60 people, is perfectly sized for its longstanding ban on both cars and bicycles. The locals believe that the noise of motor engines and bicycle bells would disrupt the calm atmosphere they strive to uphold.
If you manage to visit – which involves a fair bit of ferry hopping despite being only 80 miles from England’s south coast – you’ll be treated to a surprisingly diverse landscape. The northern part of the island boasts stunning beaches and a vast grassy common, once roamed by woolly mammoths. This point was also a landing spot for smugglers selling their goods and where pirates were hanged as a warning to the few islanders.
To the east of Herm lie its main beaches, featuring soft white sand and pristine blue waters. During the summer months, beach cafés open to serve snacks and sandwiches, and sell ice cream made right on the island.
The south coast boasts towering cliffs, winding paths adorned with flowers and waves frothing white. Holiday cottages and log cabins are nestled in Manor Village atop the hill.
“This is where you can make a home from home, enjoy barbecues in the courtyard, and truly feel part of the island community,” entices Herm.com. A short stroll down the path leads to the Seagull campsite – an idyllic spot to set up camp for the weekend and gaze across to Sark.
Most of the island’s modest hustle and bustle is located to the west. “Here you can enjoy delicious food and Herm’s very own golden ale at The Mermaid Tavern and courtyard, or stock up on little treasures and souvenirs at the Herm Shop,” continues the island’s website.
The White House Hotel, open for decades, eschews phones or TVs in its rooms, maintaining the island’s tranquil atmosphere and encouraging visitors to leave their hectic lives behind.
It’s highly likely that you’ll depart Herm with a deep understanding of the place, given the close-knit nature of the community. The Wood family managed the Island from 1949 and established many of its traditions, succeeded by the Starboard Settlement, which assumed their stewardship from 2008.
Despite its small size and the difficulty of reaching it, Herm has had inhabitants for a long time. It has been settled since Neolithic times, with a burial chamber on the north side of the island harking back to that period. Christian missionaries arrived in the sixth century, followed by Norman monks 300 years later. They remained there for several decades, working the land and dispensing with pearls of wisdom for those who dropped by.
“Between 1570 and 1737 Herm Island was used as a ‘playground’ for the Governors of Guernsey. Wealthy gentlemen sailed over from Guernsey to hunt, shoot and fish. The island was stocked with pheasants, partridges, swans and rabbits,” writes Slow Europe. “The island was then leased as farmland, and an inn was established in 1810.”
The island’s largest population shift came later that century, when 400 quarrymen moved there. During this period of economic uplift, houses, roads, the harbour, shops, a blacksmith’s forge, a pub, and even a prison were built.
Today, all but the faint remains of that period of industry have gone. Herm’s permanent population is 65 people, although visitors do come in the summer to enjoy its natural charms. A sanctuary for dolphins, puffins, and the occasional seal, Herm is also a wildlife paradise.
A sanctuary for dolphins, puffins and the occasional seal, Herm is also a wildlife haven. It hosts Europe’s most southerly puffin colony and woodlands that turn violet in spring when the bluebells bloom.
If the weather permits, hiring a paddleboard and kayak is a fantastic way to explore the island and its puffin colony. On dry land, you can engage in archery or participate in active quizzes that send you on a clue hunt around the island.
Those who have made it to Herm have praised its beaches, atmosphere and weather, with many crowning it ‘underrated’ and a ‘gem’. “It was absolutely beautiful. The weather was so good that we could sunbathe outside by the pool,” one customer of the White House enthused.
“Everyone working on the island was super friendly and the hotel cottages are super cute. The food was really great. They even prepared a picnic for us on and brought it to Shell Beach with giant sun umbrellas.”
To get there, you’ll need to hop on a 20-minute boat ride from St Peter Port on Guernsey. Condor Ferries runs two ferry routes between the UK and Guernsey, sailing from Poole to Guernsey and Portsmouth to Guernsey.
The quickest route is from Poole, taking three hours, while the journey from Portsmouth takes seven hours aboard the Commodore Clipper.
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