Sark

'Travel a little further and enter a different world.' This is how they advertise Sark on the local radio station. I was intrigued to explore this island where cars are banned and the 560 locals get around by bike, horse, tractor or just walk.

Jess and I took the forty five minute ferry ride to the island on a day off in mid May. The weather turned out great for us as we hired a couple of bikes and rode around the island. We explored the island for a few hours admiring the wonderful natural landscape. The island is five kilometres long and 2 kilometres wide although for a small island though it lacked any good beach to relax on. We rode throughout the island to Little Sark across the narrow La Coupee before taking a walk through the shops on the avenue, the islands only shopping street. Jess and I headed for the pub to have a few drinks. A pint of Carlsberg we were happy to hear cost only £1.80, almost half what the hotel I work in charge. This is because there is no income tax, no property tax and no export duty. Smoking inside pubs has also not yet been banned.

Since returning from Sark I have been doing some reading about the island and discovered it is the last European territory to abolish feudalism, doing so in 2008.

There is also an island named Breqhou located next to Sark which belongs to the Barclay brothers, a couple of famous very rich English twins who made their wealth through media, retail and property. Their wealth is estimated at $1.8 billion.