Lihou island, looking towards Guernsey

A painting of the rocks and shoreline of Lihou island, with the coast of Guernsey on the horizon. The island is connected to Guernsey at low tide, so it is closer than it appears here because we are looking at the south-western promontory.

Lihou is another of my favourite places. It is a wild place, with a dramatic history. Groups can stay in the farmhouse and perhaps one day I’ll put a group together. I would particularly like to sample the Lihou evening entertainment. One sits in one of a half-circle of easy chairs and watches the sunset over the western sea.

There are ruins of a 12th-14th century priory (and various stories connected to it). Witchcraft clung on in Guernsey for longer than in mainland Britain. There tends to be a direct connection between witchcraft and the construction of Christian buildings. It makes little sense in retrospect. The hard vital life of people on a small island is as connected to the land and the sea as it is possible to be anywhere.

Fertiliser was made in Lihou, from the copious amounts of vraic, the local name for wrack seaweed. Now the only industry is ecological tourism – the island is part of a RAMSAR site. Anyone can visit the island if the tides permit. It is a rare treat to walk the length of the ruined causeway, with all the sights and smells of the extraordinary marine garden uncovered by low tide.

If you like this painting, you might also enjoy this view of Longis Bay in Alderney, or perhaps this one of Belvoir Bay in Herm.