Sausmarez Manor

The Manor Guided Tour covers 800 years of occupancy by the Seigneurs de Sausmarez, whose members of the family have been privateers, explorers, soldiers, sailors, churchmen, Colonial governors, Sportsmen, inventors, artists, traders, and in the law, some of whom have left their mark with the contents and architecture to this day.

The Wild Subtropical Garden is an ancient woodland surrounding a couple of small lakes and is inter planted with exotic and subtropical plants, trees, ferns and shrubs, which, because of Guernsey’s mild, equable climate can survive and flourish.

Visitors can enjoy seeing around 200 varieties of camellia, tree ferns from New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania, palm and banana trees, Bromeliads, Ginger Lilies, scores of Hellebore, a variety of Cyclamen and around 40 different bamboos. You can also see Brugmansias and a splendid sprinkling of spring bulbs including Narcissus, Pink and White Bluebells and a drift of Snowdrops. Unusual trees include the rare Werlie Golden Sycamour, a mature Davidii Handkerchief Tree, the summer flowering Liy of the Valey tree (Clethera), Cornus Variegata Contreversa Wedding cake Tree, the rare Nikau, New Zealand Feather palm and host of other native and unusual varieties.

The train that has been running every year since it was first installed in 1985 (by the engineer, the late Terry Leighand) has been expanded over the years. The par 3, 9 hole pitch-and-putt course is a testing course set in a shallow valley. Clubs and other equipment are supplied and are suitable for experienced and beginners alike as is the ‘vicarage’ Putting Green (except on Saturday mornings).

New For 2022, The William le Lacheur Coffee Museum (he introduced coffee to Costa Rica and traded with it all over the world).

The only working Coppersmith in the Channel Islands is a haven of beautifully crafted ‘Guernsey Milk cans’ and other copper ware.

There are two Holiday lets in the House. One at the top of the house with lovely views over the horses, fields, gardens and wood and the other on the ground floor traditionally known as the Dower Flat. For more information on any of the above ring 01481 235571.

With free access to a Royal Horticultural Society Partner Garden, the Wild Subtropical Woodland Garden alongside the varied sculpture, with hundreds of Camellias, Bamboos, Cyclamen, Ginger lilies in season, as well as Palm Trees and tree ferns in variety is a Poetry Path.

As no pesticides are used it is a haven for Wildlife including rareties like Gold Crests, Short Toed Tree Creepers, Wood Peckers, Honey Buzzards and the more familiar Mallard, Wood Pigeon and numerous Song Birds, Frogs, Bees and Butterflies, etc.

Take advantage of free Historic House Tour, covering 820 years of the Seigneurs, the House and the Island, Free use of Carpark and the Potager (Walled Garden) reserved for residents only, and the Golf.

Nearby to Renoirs favourite Beach on the Island, just up the road from Maison Victor Hugo in St Peter Port, some of the best cliff walks in Europe and on the edge St Martin’s Village with a Bank, Super Markets, Restaurants, a Pub and a lovely Norman Parish Church.