There is something about Jersey that makes it impossible to simply sit by the hotel pool or on the beach. Only nine miles wide and five miles long, the island recaptures the kind of peace, tranquillity and unspoiled beauty that, decades ago, was found throughout the British countryside.

Jersey has some of the finest natural environment anywhere in the British Isles, with magnificent beaches on the 48-mile coastline.

The most southerly of the Channel Islands, 100 miles south of mainland Britain, Jersey lies so squarely in the path of the Gulf Stream that temperatures average around 20 degrees in the summer and there are rarely frosts in winter. The landscape ranges from spectacular 200ft high cliffs and rocky inlets in the north to stretches of golden sand in the east and south.

Flights to the island from Britain rarely last longer than an hour - even from the most far flung of the UK airports which travel there. Or visitors can speed to the island in just over three hours on car ferries from three ports in the south of England.

With no visas, no passports, no VAT, sterling in common use, English spoken and cars driven at a gentle speed on the left hand side of the road, Jersey is a magnet for British tourists.

There is a fascinating history of the island too. From the long distant past when the hermit St Brelade settled on a rock in the bay to the German occupation when the Channel Island became the only part of the British Isles to be invaded.

The authorities are determined to preserve the special beauty of Jersey. It was the first destination in the world to be awarded prestigious Green Globe Award for its proven ability to protect its environment.

The sea bathing is reckoned to be among the highest quality to be found anywhere in Europe and the 45 miles of Green Lanes, where cyclists and walkers have absolute priority over cars and on which speeds must not exceed 15 miles an hour, are a revelation.

Golfers have a choice of six high quality courses on the island, including championship links at La Moye and The Royal Jersey if you meet the strictly enforced handicap limits.

And as for young children, there is so much to do - miles of cycleways, gently sloping beaches, special areas set aside for horse-riding, tennis, trampolining as well as fishing and swimming or just playing about.

Jersey has always been and will remain an absolute treat for everyone in the family. Enjoy!