Inland the island is criss-crossed by a network of ‘green lanes’ where walkers, horse-riders and cyclists have precedence over cars. Norman farmhouses, narrow winding lanes, French street names, gourmet cuisine and tidy fields reflect the island’s French connections, but in all other respects it remains resoundingly British. The capital, St Helier, is a pleasant town of squares and pedestrianised streets where shopping is made more attractive by the fact that the Channel Islands have low rates of duty and no V.A.T. As you stroll the streets listen for the noon day gun fired from picturesque Elizabeth Castle, overlooking St Aubin’s Bay, and call at the fascinating Maritime Museum. Other not-to-be-missed sightseeing spots on Jersey are the poignant German Underground Hospital at St Lawrence and the Jersey Zoo, founded by Gerald Durrell, which is more a haven for endangered species than a regular zoo.