For family fun under the sign of water and nature, cross the Channel to Jersey... where the national costume is a diving suit

Jo Kessel takes her son on a trip to Jersey and discovers that the island is a "mecca for outdoor activities". They set off on a two-hour kayaking trip from St Brelade's Bay and visit the 13th-century Mont Orgueil Castle, yet the biggest thrill is a sea safari speedboat that passes by German forts and uninhabited islands. updated: 22:00 BST, 30 July 2022

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Few countries consider a wetsuit as their national costume and jetty jumping as their national sport , but that's how it is in Jersey.

Or so says activity instructor Derek as he hands us over to my son and me wetsuits and kayaks.

Minutes later, his point is proven as we paddle towards the headland of the bay and a towering rock stack. Youngsters in overalls climb on it and once they reach the top they jump off.

It's a popular misconception that this largest of the Channel Islands is some sort of quiet place - a wealthy tax haven that attracts those of a certain vintage. reality is that it is a mecca for outdoor activities, ideal for families and teenagers, and that is exactly what Gabriel and I experienced.

While Jersey is part of the British Isles, it is more pro che of France - 14 miles from Saint-Malo in Brittany, to be precise. And because it was under Norman rule until the 13th century, it has French heritage. Street names are in English and French, and the capital, St Helier, has a boules pitch that matches those in Paris or Saint-Tropez.

What's particularly striking about the landscape here is the intensity of the colors, from its white-sand beaches to its striking blue waters to its labyrinthine seascape of jagg...