Guernsey-raised TV presenter turned bestselling author, Dawn O’Porter, has frequently woven our Islands into her creative narratives, where local hotspots have played home to her beloved characters, Renée and Flo in the Paper Aeroplanes series.
In November 2024, Dawn returned to Guernsey to promote her new book, Honeybee, the third instalment of the series, and take her readers on a journey to the authentic island locations that inspired the story and remain a part of everyday life for locals.
Here are Dawn’s top Guernsey recommendations for anyone exploring her home Islands and seeing the real-life backdrop to her tales.
Cobo Bay Beach
Located on Guernsey’s west coast, Cobo Bay Beach was one of Dawn’s favourite places growing up.
For families, Cobo provides the ideal beach day. Framed by the idyllic scenery, take a dip in the sea, play in the sand, and refresh with some fish and chips from the Cobo Fish & Chip Bar. O’Porter insists that the Cobo chippy is the best chip shop on the planet, and you will find her during her visits sat on the wall outside, overlooking the beach with her vinegar-soaked chips.
Cold water swimming has always been a favourite pastime on Guernsey, and Cobo is one of the 52 swim spots available on our islands. Favouring the jump-right-in approach to entering cold water herself, Dawn loves seeing islanders and visitors enjoying the open water all year round, keeping that summer island feeling alive whatever the weather. Whilst Guernsey beaches get busier in the summer, Dawn notes that it is never so busy that you can’t find a spot to lay out your picnic blanket and relax.
While you’re at Cobo, if you’re looking for a sit-down meal to take in the view, why not enjoy a leisurely lunch at The Rockmount restaurant? With picturesque views over the bay and a great selection of gastro-pub food, this is a spot that Dawn has come to love and recommends to anyone venturing to this side of the island.
For readers of Dawn's book, Paper Aeroplanes, Cobo Bay is the location where characters Renée and Flo enjoy their chips and look out over the sea, sitting on a bench by one of the old German bunkers left behind from Guernsey’s Occupation during World War II.
Jerbourg Point
Perhaps the best thing about Guernsey, Dawn believes, is the cliff walks right outside your door. Despite having lived in London and Los Angeles, she still considers there to be no more beautiful place to walk than on the cliffs of Guernsey and thoroughly recommends walking the trail from St Martin (starting at Fermain Bay) up to Jerbourg Point.
Jerbourg Point holds a special place in Dawn’s heart. Located at the southeast tip of the island, she frequently walked her border collie here from her home, spending hours looking out over the neighbouring islands of Herm, Sark and Jersey and dreaming of being a writer in London. In fact, this is where she devised the original idea for her book, Paper Aeroplanes.
It comes as no surprise that, given how emotive a location Jerbourg Point is for her, it was important to Dawn to write it into her work. This spot features in Honeybee, when characters Renée and Ben have their final conversation at the end of the book. This is one of her favourite scenes in the book and, with this being one of the most special places in the world to her, there was no better setting for her to place such an emotionally charged moment.
Havelet Bay
One location from the series that Dawn was most requested to reveal was the wall that Renée and Flo jump off of into the sea in Paper Aeroplanes. This is the wall at Havelet Bay in St Peter Port and jumping from here into the water below (not advised) is a sight that locals are very familiar with. Whilst she has never done it herself, Dawn considers this to be the pinnacle of childhood Guernsey adventure and thoroughly enjoyed weaving it into her fiction, living vicariously through her characters.
Right on the doorstep of town, Havelet Bay is set against the backdrop of Guernsey’s sister islands and proves that, even in the most metropolitan part of the island, you are only minutes away from a sea swim. For strong swimmers, the bay offers several swimming opportunities; you can take a dip from the slipway or beach on the coast, or swim along to the slipway by Castle Cornet.
For those looking for a gentler sea swimming experience, La Vallette Bathing Pools are located just around the corner from the bay and offer a contained space to take a dip or for beginners to enjoy a taste of saltwater swimming.
St Peter Port
St Peter Port, affectionately known as ‘town’ to locals, is home to several of Dawn’s favourite island spots.
Out by the harbour is Castle Cornet, an 800-year-old castle that houses hundreds of years of island history. Whilst it functions as a museum, you can also explore four historic gardens and attend a variety of events, including the summertime open-air cinema and performances of Shakespeare plays.
On Mill Street, you will find the home of Dawn’s characters Renée and Flo who live at the fictional No.7. A charming and cobbled street, Mill Street, in the Old Quarter, is lined with a variety of independent, antique and food shops to explore. Mocha Coffee House at the top of the street is a popular spot for a cosy lunch or al fresco coffee; and is well worth the walk up from the Market Place.
Along from the Market, in the Arcade, is Dix Neuf cafe, a personal favourite of Dawn’s growing up, which she attributes to both its bistro feel and excellent chips. This cafe also features in the Paper Aeroplanes series as the location where Renée meets her upstairs neighbour. With modern decor that draws upon French brasserie ambience, alongside an alfresco terrace area, you will find traditional Guernsey cuisine as well as fusion dishes that draw inspiration from French classics.
Other dining experiences in St Peter Port that Dawn recommends include tapas at Tinto, a small Spanish restaurant; and locally caught fish at Hook, which operates a seasonal menu drawing on Guernsey produce. In true Paper Aeroplanes fashion, follow this with a pint of local beer, at The Ship & Crown, a place close to Dawn’s heart where she worked as a teenager, which she has mirrored in her character Renée who also works and enjoys evenings there.
A Guernsey holiday gives a bit of everything, Dawn believes. With great food, endless beaches, cosy pubs, and a few nightclubs, you can tailor your trip to have an itinerary perfect for a grown-up getaway or a family break.
On your next visit to Guernsey, make sure you stop by Writer’s Block, an independent bookstore in the Arcade, and browse the local literary scene. Perhaps even pick up a novel by Dawn O’Porter?
