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Politics
Sark is part of the Bailwick of Guernsey, and as such is not a part of the UK, although it relies on it for defence. It participates in the Common Travel Area but not of the EU. As such, some things will differ from the UK (notes, stamps, immigration requirements). Sark has its own laws and parliament.
Sark is often said to be Europe's last remaining feudal fiefdom. In some ways this is true, the Seigneur is lord of the manor, but reforms are afoot and the island's parliament (called Chief Pleas) is gradually being democratised.
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Language and Culture
Sark has its own dialect of the Norman language, Sarkese, Sercquiais or Sark-French (Lé Sèrtchais in the original), which is closely related to the language of [wiki=3cda26e0c8aedbf662adb42f923ef3ec]Jersey[/wiki], Jèrriais. In practice though, the visitor will only encounter it in place names. French is also relatively widely spoken.
For historical reasons, French was until very recently the law used for legal matters, and still is sometimes used in official matters, as the Bailwick still follows some aspects of Norman law.
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There is no airport on Sark, but there is one on Guernsey [http://www.guernsey-airport.gov.gg/]. Visitors to Sark have to either use a ferry or have access to a sailing boat.
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By Ferry
Sark can be reached by a 55 minute ferry ride from [wiki=a59dfa18ef276911cad7978964184b77]Saint Peter Port[/wiki] in [wiki=a531abc58761191a634e3d485d0a199b]Guernsey[/wiki]. There are usually two or more sailings in each direction per day, while in the height of summer this rises to as much as five sailings each way. Expect to pay around £27.80 return per adult. The services are run by Isle of Sark Shipping [http://www.sarkshippingcompany.com/].
Summer ferries from [wiki=5a5e5c577957d775678f2708ff267904]St. Helier[/wiki] on [wiki=3cda26e0c8aedbf662adb42f923ef3ec]Jersey[/wiki] (£40.50 day return per adult) and [wiki=e4ab41f36f9416c9a529b5e4cbe61c40]Granville[/wiki] and [wiki=ca9fb7c10affe3562ec7fe5527ff470c]Carteret[/wiki] in [wiki=0309a6c666a7a803fdb9db95de71cf01]France[/wiki] (€58.50 return per adult, boats stop in St. Helier but you don't have to get off) also operate by Manche Iles Express [http://www.manche-iles-express.com/].
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Sailing
There are public yellow buoy moorings at Havre Gosselin on the west coast and at La Grève de la Ville bay on the east coast, and also anchorages in various bays around the Island. Creux Harbour has toilet facilities and has space for a few boats which are able to dry out, but Maseline Harbour has no visitors' moorings and neither does Les Laches, outside the Creux Harbour. Maseline Harbour jetty is in constant use by ferries, and so it is not possible to remain alongside it.
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Sark is car-free, but as it's only around two square miles in size walking around isn't much of a problem. Tractors are allowed on the island, so they are employed with trailers attached sometimes to haul some visitors up the hill from the quay. Harbour hill is quite steep, so it may be worth paying the £1 fare to take the "bus" up. If your baggage is labelled (including hotel name), the hotels and ferry companies organise for dedicated tractors to deliver (and collect) your bags.
The other means of transport available are horse-drawn vans. They usually depart from the top of Harbour Hill. They cost about £20 for an hour's drive around Sark, or £15 for a single trip to Little Sark. Prices are per person. The driver will also act as tour guide, and some will speak French.
There are also a couple cycle-hire shops in Serk. Note that you may want to book before you arrive on the island, particularly in the summer. Also, cycling is illegal on La Coupée and on Harbour Hill. Finally, horses always have right of way on Sark, be careful as they can be surprisingly quiet, even when drawing a cart, so you may not hear it arrive. Also, the driver's control of a horse is not absolute.
*A to B Cycles [url=http://atobcycles.sarkpost.com/],]bookings@atobcycles.com,+441481832844. Situated on the road to the lighthouse. Wide range of cycles, reasonable prices and friendly service. Discounts available for advance bookings.
*Avenue Cycle Hire [http://www.avenuecyclessark.co.uk[/url], avenue.cycle.hire@cwgsy.net, +44 1481832102. Situated on the Avenue. Cycles from £7 a day. Tandems from £18 a day. Cheaper for longer periods.
*Sark Cycles, +44 7781 454375. Top of Harbour Hill.
Finally, some hotels and guest houses have cycles to hire or lend to their guests.
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Cross the narrow isthmus to Little Sark across a high concrete causeway only nine feet wide with steep cliffs on each side!
* Home of the Seigneurs, the heads of the government, since 1730. The house is not open to the public, but boasts some of the best formal gardens in the Channel Islands
*
* A man-made hole in the rock from which to admire the beautiful scenery
* Check the [wiki=17d274da97bcfb3a35ed05b0594039e8#Do]Do[/wiki] section for various natural attractions
* In 2011, Sark became the first Dark Sky Island as recognised by the International Dark-sky Association (IDA). The absence of street-lighting and cars means that there is very little light pollution, making this on of the best places to see stars, and the Milky Way stretches from horizon to horizon
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Enjoy the rugged scenery and soak up the unique atmosphere of this car-free island.
* A charming alternative to walking; see the Get around section for more details.
* See the Get around section for more details.
* Sark is famous for its caves accessible at low tide. The Boutique Caves are at the north end of the island, the the Gouliot Caves on the west coast. Caution should be exercised by checking the high-tide times, and preferably travelling with an experienced guide (particularly for the Gouliot Caves).
* Sark's beautiful rugged coastline encompasses beautiful moors at the north end of the island (L'Eperquerie), natural pools (at L'Eperquerie, or the Venus Pool on Little Sark), beaches (such as La Grande Grêve, although do consider wind direction), bays (Derrible and Dixcart), and natural curiosities (La Coupée, a high narrow causeway linking Little and Big Sark; the Window in the Rock on Sark's north-west coast).
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The currency of Sark is the Guernsey Pound, although UK and Jersey pounds are also accepted. Note there are no ATM on the islands, and only two banks, with rather short opening times (they usually are open 10-12 and 2-3 Monday to Friday), only one of which (HSBC, at the end of the Avenue) can give money to non-customers (note that Natwest can only help Natwest International customers, not Natwest customers from the UK). Most hotels, and restaurants card terminals, and a couple of the grocery stores on the Avenue can do cashback up to £50.
When leaving the Bailwick of Guernsey (i.e. if you are travelling to Jersey or France), you may purchase duty free, usually sold on board ship.
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They are a few cafes and two pubs on the islands. The pubs are not allowed to open on Sundays and alcohol can only be served in cafes on Sundays with purchase of a meal.
Sark now has a smoking ban in pubs, bars and restaurants; it is still legal to smoke in shops, offices, workshops, and places of worship, although many of these places voluntarily enforce smoking bans as well.
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The Sark Tourist Office [http://www.sark.info] provides full listings of all accommodation options on Sark, and its Guide lists all services provided by all the places (available from the Tourist Office in person or through their website). Contact them on +44 (0) 1481 832 345, email: office@sark.co.uk or postal address: Sark Visitor Centre, The Avenue, Sark, GY10 1SA
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Hotels
At the top of Harbour Hill, Aval du Creux has 26 rooms, gardens and has a swimming pool.
* Sark's oldest hotel on the south of Big Sark, Dixcart was once a favourite haunt of Victor Hugo. It has 18 rooms, and boasts extensive gardens and orchards reaching all the way to Dixcart bay.
* Hotel Petit Champ has 10 rooms with sea views, gardens, swimming pool, and lies in a secluded spot on Sark's west coast.
* Hotel La Moinerie has 5 rooms, gardens, and was recently refurbished.
* This famous 22-room hotel on Little Sark boasts gardens and croquet lawn, and its own horses and carriages.
* Originally a 16th century farm, this 43 room hotel presents itself on its rustic-chic charm and informal luxury. Set in a wooded valley in the south of Big Sark, it boasts heated pool, children's pool, spa pool, bar and restaurant.
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Camping
With panoramic views of the Grève de la Ville bay towards Alderney and France, this large open site offers a modern purpose-built toilet and shower block offering heated pay showers, cubicle washrooms with shaver points and a dishwashing sink. You can also hire pre-erected tents. Open 1st April to 31st October.
* This large family-run campsite has free toilets and showers, and rents fully equiped tents. Open all year round.
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As may be expected, the crime rate on Sark is very low (the island only has one policeman). There are no particular health issues either, but it must be noted that private travel insurance should be purchased. Guernsey has no reciprocal agreements with the British NHS or any other Health Service. Any medical treatment must therefore be paid in full. There is a doctor in the west side of the island.
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If you are reliant on public transport, you may only go back to [wiki=a531abc58761191a634e3d485d0a199b]Guernsey[/wiki] (and [wiki=3cda26e0c8aedbf662adb42f923ef3ec]Jersey[/wiki] in the summer). If you have your own boat, you could also go to [wiki=cee7b07847267363dedf0d4a680568a7]Alderney[/wiki], [wiki=4c47944c5c1803308fd7bdd3e832a7b7]Herm[/wiki] and [wiki=3b5ab006c1ff9b03d8b01a0eb3395056]Lower Normandy[/wiki] in France. You can also reach these destinations from Guernsey; however, in terms of public transport, Sark is pretty much the end of the line.
Note that the nearby island of Brecqhou is off-limits as it is the private property of the Barclay twins, British billionaires who own The Spectator and The Telegraph.
[[WikiPedia:Sark]]
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