The Guernsey Coup

It may not have had the dynamism of the French Resistance but the WWII Guernsey Coup was built on a Potato Peel Society.

It’s the Channel Islands so don’t expect TV’s Secret Army or its parody ‘Allo ‘Allo here, but we wouldn’t want it any other way.

The Guernsey Coup you ask?

The Guernsey Coo

And this is not be confused with the Guernsey Coo (or cow), a larger version of neighbouring Jersey’s.

The Guernsey Coup was the secret Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, the cover story to break the occupying Nazi curfew.

You might have seen the 2008 film probably drawn in by the title.

Only bettered on that score by Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe.

And you can of course enjoy it all, all of you Irish that is (the Brits and French have it already), now a route has opened up from Dublin.

Guernsey airline Aurigny will fly you on their direct twice weekly direct service on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

The airline will begin flying on 29 March and with a journey time of just over 1 hour 35 minutes.

Guernsey is a walker’s delight and at only 65sqkm you can cover the lot.

Not even the parameters of an island will guarantee that this off-piste trekker wouldn’t get lost.

So I’m happy to report that VisitGuernsey have launched a walking app to help you.

With themed, self-guided walking routes and interactive maps.

Available for download on Android and IOS devices, it has ten routes initially with more to follow.

Guernsey, though being small, boasts a contrast of topography, from rugged south coast cliff paths to long sweeping bays in the west.

And you’ll be able to explore the neighbouring car-free islands of Herm and Sark and saunter on horse and cart.

So take a walk or horse and cart back into history and bring your peeler…

And well done again to Aurigny… the Irish will love it. It truly is A Guernsey Coup.