bmi Voyager » Regulars

Whizz List

admin — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:35:14 +0000

Our resident gadget expert Camilla Chafer gets her hands
on five hot products and rates their must-have credentials

1 My Health Coach

The nation seems to have gone fitness-computergame crazy and My Health Coach, developed for the
Nintendo DS Lite, is the latest to hit the market. It’s incredibly simple to use. Just carry the included pedometer around with
you and it’ll measure your steps, and offer advice for achieving your fitness objectives. Fitness challenges for you to follow
such as ‘don’t use any elevators or escalators for an entire day’ are included in the game play, where you can track your progress.
(Information is uploaded when the pedometer is slotted in to the DS.) The challenges take only around 10 minutes a day.
Game around £24, DS Lite, around £99, most electrical retailers.

2 Bluetooth headset

Bulky Bluetooth headsets just aren’t cool but there is now a tiny model that can barely be seen. Slightly larger than a
20p coin, the Celleden Ultra Compact Bluetooth Headset weighs just 6g and is 35mm long. It has four hours of talktime, which
should more than match most phones, and it can be charged via your PC’s USB port or a car cigarette lighter. £29.99, www.twistedcarbon.com

3 Fatman iPod amplifier

Fatman iTube Red-I’s old-fashioned valve amplification plays MP3s with rich, high-quality
sound evocative of vinyl. I’d take this over the tinny sound through a laptop any day (although it’s almost
the same price as one). A media cable hooks up to your PC, CD player or phone, and a video cable
makes connection to a TV simple. But this amplifier isn’t compatible with all iPod models, so check the
website for details. From about £399, www.fat-man.co.uk

4 Chakra edition Colorsplash film camera

When the world has gone digital, it’s refreshing to
see a camera harking back to 35mm film. The Chakra Limited Edition Colorsplash
camera may not be as sleek as a digital camera, but there may be family rows
over who goes first with the fun effects. Tinted flash filters give snaps a funky, abstract edge.
Camera around £56, www.lomography.com/ colorsplash

5 Waterproof MP3

The waterproof Walkman
idea has been brought up to
date with this waterproof
MP3 player. You can enjoy
favourite tracks while
taking a dip. It doesn’t
have the video screen of its
dry-land competitors, but
for the price and unique
usability, MusicTube holds
its own. Made with an antirust
aluminium body and
waterproof in-ear buds and
there’s even an adjustable
armband, so it’s handsfree
when you’re on the
move. But for convenience
I’d have preferred wireless
headphones. The 4GB
memory gives plenty
of space for music and
a USB cable is included
for downloading from
your PC, £39.99 www.maplin.co.uk

Rising Star Amy Macdonald, Singer-Songwriter

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:21:57 +0000

Interview: Sophy Grimshaw

As she tunes up for the summer music festivals, the Glasgow Lass talks to Voyager about her number one album, this is the life, and her plans for the future

You turn 21 this month and already you have had
a number one album. How does that feel?

I’ve always loved music and feel privileged to be making it.
It’s an honour for me that people have gone out and bought
my album [This Is The Life] and it’s very exciting. There’s a lot
of hype surrounding some young artists and that can be a
weight on their shoulders. My album was never massively
hyped. It slowly went to number one via word of mouth.
People bought it after they heard friends play it.

What’s been the best perk of success so far?

Meeting my musical heroes. People say, ‘Don’t meet your
idols because you’ll only be disappointed’, but I haven’t
been. I met Elton John when I supported him at a gig in
Glasgow. He asked whether he could please say ‘hi’ to me; I
said, ‘of course’! I’ve also met Paul Weller and Fran Healy
from Travis, a band I love.

You’re playing at the Hydro Connect music festival
in Argyll this month. Are you a festival fan?

I’ve always gone to live music festivals as a punter and
now I get to play at them. There’s such an eclectic mix of
bands at festivals and you can hear so many artists during
a period of just a few days. Going to live music festivals
was always the highlight of my year, even before I was
playing them, and I think it’s a highlight of the year for
everyone who goes.

Do you plan to stay in Scotland?

I decided when I got my advance from my record label
that instead of frittering it away on rubbish I should look
at a good investment so I’ve bought a house in Glasgow
and live here. My record company has never tried to
persuade me to move to London. When other musicians
tell me they’ve moved there to make it easier for the work
I don’t know where it comes from. You don’t need to do
that. But I travel a lot and I’m away so often that
sometimes I forget where I am in the world.

Is there a strong music community in Glasgow?

Definitely. There are so many great bands gigging in
Glasgow and in Scotland right now, many of which are
unsigned. It’s a great place for all things musical. I don’t get
out to see music as much I used to but there’s a band
called The Fire And I who are a bit like The White Stripes.
I’m a fan of theirs.

You wrote the song Barrowland Ballroom about the
Glasgow music venue of that name. What’s special
about it?

You can’t really put it into words, but if you go there you
get it. There’s a special atmosphere. I’ve seen so many
great shows there and now I get to perform on that stage
myself, and I have played that song there.

Do you think the music industry treats female
performers differently than males?

I haven’t had many problems as a woman in the music
industry, but one thing that can be hard is that people are
always trying to get you into glamorous dresses and to get
you to work with a stylist, but what if you’re just not that
sort of person? I’ve had to put my foot down and say that
I’ll wear what I want, and that might be scruffy clothes. No
one expects a male performer to go on stage in a tuxedo.

What are your ambitions for the future?

My music is starting to get heard in America now and it
would be amazing to become known there. But I take
it one day a time and I don’t tend to think in terms of
grand plans. I’m not the sort of person who over-thinks
these things.

Amy Macdonald plays the Hydro Connect music festival,
Inveraray Castle, near Loch Fyne, Argyll, Scotland, on
29-31 August; www.connectmusicfestival.com

THE LIFE OF AMY

Glaswegian Amy Macdonald
is one album into her career
as a singer-songwriter. Her
debut record This Is The Life
went to number one in the
album charts in January this
year. As a teenager she
wrote one of her first songs
about the actor Ewan
McGregor, because her sister
had a crush on him.
Macdonald first performed
live in branches of Starbucks
as a 15-year-old, as part of
the coffee shop’s campaign
to be seen to support live
music, before being signed
to Vertigo. For more
information see her website
www.amymacdonald.co.uk

Email from Dublin

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:19:48 +0000

Writer Antonia Hart, who grew up in Dublin’s city centre, explains why there’s
more to the ‘new Dublin’ than meets the eye – or stomach

YOU COULD BE FORGIVEN for thinking that Dublin’s
character has been diluted lately, by the same high street
shops and restaurant chains that threaten to make the
UK’s cities blandly uniform. Local government attempts
at creating cool districts by design, like SoHo (South of
Heuston Station), the Village Quarter and the Digital
Hub have fallen flat. For pessimists, all of this is cause for
nostalgia about the Dublin that used to be.

But, in fact, much of what’s new to Dublin has brought
modernity and a more international feel, and many of us
have embraced the changes. Take Parnell Street, north of
the Liffey, for example: true, you can look west to where a
17-screen cinema and shopping centre sit on the ruins of
Georgian architecture, but why not look east instead, to the
blossoming ‘Chinatown’ where you can eat almost any kind
of Asian food, in restaurants run by people, not corporations.

Try Kim-Chi at the Hop-House (160 Parnell Street),
where in modest surroundings charming staff serve
authentic, tasty Korean and Japanese food, and afterwards
you can slip through to the bar for a karaoke session or
a big-screen football match, depending on the night. A
couple of minutes’ walk away, Zagloba [98 Parnell Street,
+353 (0)1 814 8648] is one of a fresh crop of Polish bars;
it serves 40 different kinds of vodka to the unexpected
soundtrack of darts matches, passionately played.

Of course Dublin is Guinness country, but there’s more
choice on the drinks lists these days, which feature not
just the ubiquitous cocktails, but lots of microbrewed and
organic beers, like the Carlow stout O’Hara’s. The latest
pub gimmick is tap tables, which you can reserve at the
Baggot Inn [143 Lower Baggot Street, +353 (0)1 661
8758; www.thebaggotinn.ie]. It has finally reopened after
an eight-year closure and you can now pull your own pints
in the new incarnation of the legendary venue where U2,
David Bowie and Bob Geldof have all played.

Despite whispers of an economic downturn, restaurateurs
continue to develop the foodie scene for hungry Dubs. Marco
Pierre White will open a Frankie’s Italian Bar and Grill here
next month. Reasonably-priced and family-friendly, the
location has yet to be announced, though locals are fairly
sure it won’t be on St Stephen’s Green, because that’s where
Irish star chef Richard Corrigan is setting up shop with a
new Dublin branch of Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill [22 St
Stephen’s Green, +353 (0)1 638 3939; www.bentleys.org].

To Dubliners, it’s not only reinventing the city that excites
us however. Our roots lie in savouring the packet of Tayto
(Ireland’s tastiest potato crisps) and the pint of plain, and that’s
why traditional spots like The Lord Edward [23 Christchurch
Place, +353 (0)1 454 2420], Mulligan’s [Poolbeg Street,
+353 (0)1 677 5582; www.mulligans.ie], and The Stag’s Head
[1 Dame Court, +353 (0)1 671 3701: www.thestagshead.ie]
will survive, boom or bust. They’re the fuggy old places which
still maintain the distinction between bar and lounge, even
if it’s signified only by the change from lino to carpet. As any
Dub will tell you, we like to know where we stand.

Antonia Hart is a columnist and contributing editor at
Irish magazine The Gloss

5 Of The Best

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:17:59 +0000

Words: Sophy Grimshaw

August is here and it’s time to get out and catch some sun. Top up your vitamin D at
some of these hot outdoor locations

Jolly Beach, Antigua

Maybe it’s the scent of tropical flowers
on the breeze, the candy pink wooden
beach huts shaded by palms, or the pale
white sand that evokes those TV ads for
Bounty bars; yes, there’s something
almost ludicrously paradise-like about
Jolly Beach. The private resort in St Johns
is one of the Caribbean’s best-known
beaches and a stand-out favourite with
lovestruck honeymooners. It’s also
the best place to top up your tan;
www.jollybeachresort.com

Jaffa Port, Tel Aviv

The ancient port city of Jaffa is ideal for
sun-worshippers who want to do something
more energetic than just laze in the park
or at the beach. With its panoramic views
of the glittering coastline, the130 feet high
Jaffa Hill is the place to head for catching
some sun. The fisherman’s port below,
where you’ll find the day’s fresh catch for
sale along the wharf, borders the winding
stone streets of Old Jaffa, which are named
after the signs of the zodiac and are dotted
with outdoor cafés. The Clock Square
(around the 1906 Clock Tower) is the usual
rendevous point for walking tours;
www.tel-aviv.gov

Al Azhar Park, Cairo

At the heart of Cairo’s historic old
town is the 30-hectare green lung
of Al Azhar Park. Before the park
opened in 2005, this area had been
a rubbish dump for the previous 500
years. Now you’ll find gardens, sports
fields, a playground and even an
amphitheatre. During the clearance
of the site, stones with hieroglyphics
and a 12th-century city wall from the
reign of Salah el-Din were uncovered
here. New York’s Project for Public
Spaces named it among ‘60 of the
World’s Great Spaces’ for the way it
has transformed Cairo summers;
www.alazharpark.com

The Trafalgar Roof Garden, London

If you’re in need of a little greenery
in the British capital, you’ve got more
options than just Green Park (though
it’s not a bad place to start). The rooftop
garden of The Trafalgar Hotel (2 Spring
Gardens, Trafalgar Square) is packed with
tropical foliage and bright white outdoor
furniture. On a sunny day it’s perfect
for taking in a 360 degree view of the
capital: Nelson’s column, the London Eye
and St Paul’s Cathedral all punctuate the
skyline from here. As the day cools down,
chat over a cocktail at a candlelit table;
www.thetrafalgar.com

Vondelpark, Amsterdam

Amsterdam’s largest city park attracts
10 million visitors through the gates
to its grassy expanses every year
– from joggers and rollerbladers to
families, dog-walkers, sunbathers and
of course cyclists. Its proximity to the
Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum
make the 120-acre Vondelpark,
located south of the Leidseplein,
prime take-a-break territory. This
month, look out for open-air theatre
(www.openluchttheater.nl) and music
near the Eeghenstraat entrance;
www.vondelpark.nl

Manchester… Can You Dig It?

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:15:58 +0000

Words: Susie Stubbs

Gardening is officially cool. The city that sets the fashion and music trends which
the rest of the country keeps a close eye on is hosting a special type of hoedown

MANCHESTER IS RENOWNED for many things, but it’s fair to say
that until now, greenery wasn’t on its shortlist of attractions. That’s set
to change, however, with the opening of a new gardening exhibition
at Manchester’s Urbis gallery, which demonstrates the horticultural
credentials of this most urban of locations.

Gardening is big business: Britons spend an annual £50 billion on this
pursuit. But if you don’t know your hoe from your hardy perennials, Urbis,
a museum dedicated to urban life, has staged a gardening show designed
to get you planting. Less about formal gardens and more about city
greenery, the show taps into a growing trend that has seen city dwellers
turn over every spare inch of their home’s outdoor space to plants.

Urbis itself has been transformed by plant-stuffed tubs and troughs for
a show that provides both the practical tips and the inspiration anyone
needs to grow their own gorgeous gardens. The show starts with small
projects (balconies, windowsills, wall-mounted pots), moving through
to medium-sized (for example, city gardens complete with wormeries)
and then to large-scale (including commercial buildings whose roofs
have been turned into wildlife havens). There are pointers galore
for fledgling horticulturists, and daily workshops throughout
August (midday-3pm, £3) for Alan Titchmarsh wannabes.

And finally, if it’s too hot in the city, it’s worth remembering that
Manchester has more Green Flag-awarded parks and gardens than
anywhere else in the UK. We recommend Fletcher Moss Gardens in
Didsbury (a few miles south of the city centre) or Tatton Park in Cheshire
(15 miles south-west of the city centre). And if that’s not enough,
neighbouring Cheshire is holding its own Year of Gardens festival
throughout 2008 (www.visitcheshire.com), with some of the
finest parks and public gardens in Britain taking part.

Urban Gardening is a free event, running
until 7 September at Urbis, Cathedral
Gardens, Manchester,
+ 44 (0)161 605 8200;
www.urbis.org.uk

New & Old

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:12:03 +0000

Words: Sophy Grimshaw

NEW OPENING IN LONDON

French Café

French Café is the new shopping theme at London concept store Few and Far [242 Brompton Road,
London, +44 (0)20 7225 7070; www.fewandfar.net
].The shop, which opened earlier this year, is the project of Priscilla Carluccio (wife of restaurateur Antonio Carluccio and sister of Terence Conran). Few and Far sells a mixture of furniture and miscellaneous accessories from jewellery to toys, and to keep customers on their toes, the stock and the look of the interior changes radically every few
months. French Café, which runs until September, means the chance to buy contemporary French
furniture by Tolix and Drucker but also handmade clothes and ceramics from India, Italy and Morocco.

OLD FAVOURITE IN CHICAGO

The Chicago Theatre

It opened in 1921 as a cinema named Wonder Theatre of the World, introducing the idea of the picturehouse as a grand and gilded venue. Today, The Chicago Theatre (+1 312 462 6300, 175 North State Street;www.thechicagotheatre.com
) hosts not just movie screenings but live theatre, music and comedy, too. This month it’s
the venue for Glamorama 2008 (22 August), a benefit concert for the Art Institute of Chicago featuring Cyndi Lauper. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday you can take a $10 tour to learn about its influence on the city’s entertainment scene and see the backstage areas where
Dustin Hoffman, Frank Sinatra and Neil Young, among others, have written messages on the walls.

Passport to Hanover

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:11:21 +0000

Words: Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey

Hanover, on the banks of the River Leine, is a great city break destination or base from which to explore the medieval
charms of the Lower Saxony region

alt="Hanover’s major sights are connected by a 4.2km red line which you can follow on foot.">

TOUCHDOWN

In Hanover, nothing is on a small scale. The exhibition
centre in Mittelfeld district is the largest in the world,
attracting 2.5 million visitors to trade and cultural events
every year. The second largest Oktoberfest beer festival
(after Munich’s) draws another one million visitors annually
to the city famed for its outdoor eating and drinking culture.

SLEEP

In a prime location opposite the exhibition centre you’ll find
the comfortable, if standard, Best Western Premier Parkhotel
Kronsberg [1 Gut Kronsberg, +49 (0)511 87 400; www.kronsberg.bestwestern.de].
There’s a more contemporary edge
to the 3-star Luhmanns Hotel am Rathaus [21 Friedrichswall,
+49 (0)511 326 268] in the city centre, which is stylish
without straying into over-designed territory. For a stunning
view, the Marriott Courtyard [3 Arthur Menge Ufer, +49
(0)511 366 000; www.marriott.de] overlooks the beautiful Lake
Maschsee, and you can enjoy a cocktail on the outdoor terrace.

EAT

If you like German cars, Benz Restaurant & Bar is for you
[3 Mercedesstr, Langenhagen, +49 (0)511 978 1666; www.restaurant-benz.de].
On the first floor above the Mercedes
showroom, the restaurant serves a mix of Mediterranean
fusion and seasonal local delicacies: try the Labskaus (corned
beef, potatoes, herring, onion and beetroot) for a taste of
northern Germany. At the legendary pancake house
Pfannkuchen Haus [27 Calenberger Strasse, +49 (0)511 17
113] you can try over 40 types of pancakes in a rustic setting.

THE MUSEUMS

The Sprengel Museum debuts 25 new exhibitions during
the year and has an exciting permanent collection in which
German expressionism and French modern art are well
represented. It’s open daily except Mondays from 10am-
6pm, [Kurt Schwitters Platz, +49 (0)511 1684 3875; www.sprengel-museum.de].
If the weather’s fine, saunter down the
Sculpture Mile from Königsworther Platz to Friederikenplatz

SHOP

The Kroepke is Hanover’s pedestrianised shopping district,
while the Niki de Saint Phalle Promenade, a shopping
arcade that’s been regenerated in recent years, houses
enough clothing and accessories stores to rival a mall but in
a more appealing setting. For more unique gifts and antiques,
visit the flea market on the banks of the River Leine just
next to the old town, held every Saturday morning.

alt="The Marriott Courtyard Hotel beside Lake Maschsee">

NIGHTLIFE

This is Germany, so a visit to a beer garden is a must. The huge
Waterloo Biergarten serves beer and sausages until midnight
every day [1 Waterloo Strasse, +49 (0)511 15 643]. The most
popular club is the Osho Diskothek, housed in a circular glass
building and locally known as ‘Baggi’ [7L Raschplatz, +49
(0)511 342 217; open Wednesday to Saturday, 10pm-3am].

COMING UP

Hanover’s Royal Gardens (Herrenhäuser Garten) play host to
the International Fireworks Competition and it’s the turn of
the Philippines on 30 August (further displays are planned for
13 and 27 September). These events also encompass classical
music and food and drink. Tickets are available at the venue or
the tourist office from €18 (www.hannover.de/feuerwerk).

Top Tables

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:54:02 +0000

Hot dining at Iglu

With a band of loyal patrons and warm reviews in publications
like Edinburgh’s essential cultural guide The List, “ethical eaterie”
Iglu is obviously doing something right.

“Over the last two and a half years we’ve evolved from a student
pub into a trendy bar and then into an excellent restaurant that has
a good bar attached,” says owner Charlie Cornelius.

His take on the restaurant’s success is that it’s all in the way the
produce is sourced. “We like to know where our ingredients are
coming from, to know that the animals are treated well. We source
our sausages from Peelham Farm near Berwick,” he adds.

The hungrier among you may want to try meaty meals like the
Aberdeen Angus steak sandwich or salmon parcel (pictured); there’s
also always a vegetarian dish of the day.

Iglu, 2b Jamaica Street, Edinburgh, +44 (0)131 476 5333; www.theiglu.com

Moscow’s juice tsar

Brazilian nutritionist Patricia Teixerira, who works with professional
footballers, has developed a menu of “healthy living” juices for the
Hyatt in Moscow. Her recipes include “anti jet-lag juice” (pictured)
– it contains kale, carrots, apple and pumpkin seeds. Well, they’re
sure to be easier on your liver than Russian vodka.

Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow, 4 Neglinnaya Street, Moscow,
+7 495 783 1234; www.moscow.park.hyatt.com

Chocolate bar

Wine and chocolate are probably two of the best things in life and now
a new concept restaurant in Chicago has combined them for its menu.
Chocolate Grape is no sweet-shop, however. Set in the city’s Wicker
Park, the stylish café has a private party room called The Truffle Box.
Different handmade chocolates are paired with semi-fine wines that
complement their flavour (or the other way around, depending on how
you prefer to think about it). Unusual truffles include sea salt and
balsamic vinegar, as well as orange caramel and coconut. You can also
head here for a brunch of crêpes and mango mimosas.

Chocolate Grape, 2113 West Division Street, Chicago,
+1 773 772 3990;www.chocolate-grape.com

Hot Hotels

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:51:53 +0000

Words: Sophy Grimshaw

Dead relaxing

If you’re tight on time in Jordan you could still fit in all of the major sights on
a three-day local tour, organised by the Kempinksi Hotel Ishtar in Amman. Not
your usual sight-seeing trip, it includes one hotel-based day for helping you gently
acclimatise to the Dead Sea in fresh water swimming pools and you also get to
enjoy spa treatments ahead of a trip to the hotel’s private beach. Also on the itinerary
is a tour of the ancient city of Petra with a local guide and one night camping in the
desert complete with a Bedouin-style dinner. From September you have the option
of trying scuba-diving or windsurfing. From £709 per person. Kempinski Hotel Ishtar,
Dead Sea Road, Amman, +962 5356 8888; www.kempinski-deadsea.com

Mind your manor

It pays to be polite; or at least it has done for Hartwell
House, the hotel in the Aylesbury countryside (about an
hour from London’s Marylebone Station), named Pride
of Britain’s Hotel of the Year for Outstanding Hospitality
2008. It’s also well-placed for a shopping spree at Bicester
Village’s group of outlet stores that stock designer labels
like Burberry and Hugo Boss (www.bicestervillage.com
).Hartwell House, Oxford Road, Near Aylesbury, Oxfordshire,
+44 (0)1296 747 444; www.hartwell-house.com

An oasis in the desert

If there’s one thing we’ve noticed about Las Vegas, it’s that folks there enjoy
replicating famous features from other countries. The latest is a new Middle Easternstyle
hammam at Palms Place, the new resort destination within The Palms Las Vegas.
It’s a glittering, 50,000 square foot spa that’s mixed gender, so there’s no nudity
allowed. But you’ll still find authentic heated stone slabs and a domed ceiling with
skylights. The Hammam at Drift Spa, Palms Place Hotel and Spa at The Palms Las Vegas,
4381 West Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, +1 866 942 7773;www.palmsplace.com

Swim for it

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:49:52 +0000

Writer and keen swimmer Nicola Joyce loves Jersey’s beaches so much that this time
last year she swam the island’s entire 44-mile coastline in one go – a 12-hour endeavour.
Here’s her guide to outdoor swimming around the island, where the sea temperature
can climb to a delightful 20°C in late summer. There’s a bathing adventure to suit all
types of swimmer, from doggy-paddling children to seal-like near-professionals…

For a morning swim

Grève de Lecq on Jersey’s north coast is one of the island’s
most popular and accessible sandy beaches. It backs onto
high cliffs which shelter the beach from wind, but also
cuts out some of the afternoon sun, meaning the beach
is at its sunny best in the morning and early afternoon.
The calm waters here are safe for all levels of swimmer
unless there’s a heavy swell. If in any doubt, ask the
patrolling lifeguards whether it’s safe to swim.

For a swim to remember

At Havre des Pas, the closest beach to St Helier on the island’s south
coast, you’ll also find the sea-water lido. Built in 1895, it’s one of the oldest
active outdoor pools in the British Isles and the lido was recently restored with
a central diving platform (pictured) as well as a separate shallow children’s
pool. It is open daily and entry is free.

For a longer dip

Stretching out for five miles, the glorious sand of St Ouen’s
Bay offers swimmers a long, straight stretch of coast to explore
and, like St Brelade’s Bay (see below), it’s a great place for a
longer swim along the shoreline. Its exposed position leaves
it open to Atlantic swells, so consult the lifeguards if you are
unsure about sea conditions, and always obey signs and flags.

For a secret swim

Plemont, on the north coast of Jersey, is a sandy cove dotted with sea
caves and rock pools which will keep non-swimmers entertained
if not everyone in your party wants to hit the water. It’s also perfect for
the inquisitive tourist who wants to explore by water. Plemont is considered safe
for swimming when the sea is calm, but even the strongest of swimmers
should take care when an Atlantic swell causes breakers.

For a shore thing

St Brelade’s Bay has excellent
shelter and offers visitors the
luxury of soft, pale sand. As a
result, it’s far from undiscovered
and is often crowded during
summer months. But people
flock here for a reason, so why
not join them? St Brelade’s also
makes a great spot from which
to start a long swim, making sure
you stay parallel to the shore.

SAFETY SENSE: Only swim at beaches at times when
they are patrolled by lifeguards. Follow the lifeguards’
advice to make sure that your planned swim is safe, and
pay attention to flags and signs on the beach that advise you on
the weather and sea conditions for swimming.
For more information about organised swimming events, visitwww.jerseyswimmingclub.com
and www.jerseyseaswims.org