Turquoise sea contrasting with white sands, stretching away as far as the eye could see, marred only by the odd dog walker and a couple riding ponies along the seven mile beach.

Our isolated quirky home for the week was perched on the edge of the dunes, one of very few framing the famous surfers paradise.

Where were we? Hawaii, Australia, California or St Ouen on the west coast of Jersey staying in Barge Aground, a converted scout hut? Now owned by Jersey Heritage, it rents out its eccentric and intriguing portfolio to holiday makers who are after something a bit different, something off the beaten track.

I’d spotted Barge Aground on a long walk during my last visit to this bewitching isle having escaped the busy capital of St Helier and sought out the sanctity of Jersey’s famous beaches which are gloriously undeveloped .

On returning home I’d tracked it down and discovered to my delight it could be ours for the week. Don’t expect luxury. While being done up to include the expected niceties such as a decent bathroom and shower, lashings of hot water, a galley kitchen and two bunk bed rooms, the rest is fairly perfunctory.

The pull out sofa bed means it caters for six, but we barely noticed, not with that view laughing at us every morning from its numerous windows, beckoning us down to the sweeping expanse of sand where we ran, dug, swam, rock pooled and watched the sunset all day every day, until it disappeared in a pool of blood red behind the horizon.

A couple of fantastic cafes line the beach for the intrepid diner or tired walker and apart from the odd BBQ and fry up we lived in the El Tico restaurant, enjoying their pancakes for breakfast, Mexican for lunch and famous ribs for supper, always framed by that bay.

As the surf was lying low, we went exploring instead, to the bunkers perched on every rocky crag, a stark reminder that Jersey was Nazi occupied during WW2.

Not that you can get away from the war, Hitler spending 12% of his Atlantic budget right here, adamant that Churchill would launch his offensive on Jersey rather than Normandy.

Luckily he was wrong, it would have been a foolhardy plan one realises when admiring the endless bunkers, machine gun placement and fortified coastal defences which left no beach unguarded.

Next to us was the The Channel Islands Military Museum full of WW2 memorabilia. The Jersey Tunnels are inland, built as a hospital for the expected invasion, but now used a a museum detailing the occupation and the fate of the islanders left to their own devices until 1945.

Even older is The Elizabeth Castle in in St Aubin’s Bay dating back to the 1590s, reachable by boat during high tide or foot by low tide, also owned by Jersey Heritage, and boasting another quirky holiday let.

Otherwise we did very little, venturing out only in search of great food and views.

At the end of our beach at L’Etacq you’ll find Faulkner Fisheries, again based in a bunker and run by local Sean Faulkner who not only provides the freshest shellfish, crabs and lobster known to man to local restaurants, but the few tables outside are reserved for hardy diners happy to eat lobster and chips out of a takeaway tray and the best moules known to man.

One for the little black book.

Portelet Bay Cafe was another amazing find, a discreet little cafe situated mid beach, reached only by steps, and producing some divine oven baked pizzas with a view that defied belief. Afterwards the children played tag on the beach as we drink chilled rose and wondered if we’d stumbled upon paradise.

Jersey’s north coast is more rugged, framed by yellow gorse and beloved by walkers, thus remaining relatively unexplored, certainly less so than the south coast.

Numerous planes fly overheard, reminding us how easy it is to get to Jersey, but for us Condor Ferries departure from Poole was more convenient and allowed us to take the car.

And as we watched this vibrant island receding from the deck of the ferry we mourned its departure immediately. That white sand and turquoise sea will be etched into our memories forever.

Condor Ferries operates a year-round service to the Channel Islands from Poole with its fast ferry Condor Liberation, alongside a conventional ferry service from Portsmouth. Prices start from £59pp each way with a car. condorferries.com or 0345 609 1024.

Jersey Heritage offers coastal towers or self catering properties at www.jerseyheritage.org/holiday

For info on Jersey go to jersey.com