Things to see and do Alderney

It's hard not to find answers to your questions here. Everything is here! Brochures, posters and other leaflets will inform you about hotels, restaurants, walks; but also about the heritage, the fauna, the flora, the events and many others... Coming here is an imperative step for any visit of Alderney. The reception is charming and smiling. The website is very complete. Please note that the tourist office proposes during the high season activities such as tours of the island by bus or boat.

During the warmer months Alderney Tours organises this lovely tour once a day in a minibus (with a maximum capacity of twelve people) to discover the essentials of the island. With commentary along the way, this organized tour will tell you all you need to know about the history of Alderney and the island's flora and fauna. Departure from the bottom of Victoria Street, in front of the Braye Hotel. Packages with lunch in a restaurant on the island can be arranged on request. An excellent agency.

On the Braye Harbour breakwater, Fort Doyle and Fort Grosnez were both built by General Doyle during the Napoleonic Wars in the 19th century and had many cannons at the time. But they were also used by the German occupiers during World War II as part of the defense system called the Atlantic Wall. Today they are part of the landscape of the island and can be the object of a nice walk.

On the edge and off the coast of the bay of the same name, this military building is set on a rocky spur and is connected to the coast by a causeway covered at high tide. Its architect, William Jervois, wanted to respect the environment and tried to blend its fortifications into the landscape from the 19th century. It has since been transformed into apartments, which you can rent if you wish. Also worth seeing is Fort Tourgis, another hillside barracks, much more showy and also built in the mid-nineteenth century.

It is difficult to miss Fort Essex, this huge Victorian fort with Tudor ramparts that majestically dominates Longis Bay. It was the first fortification in Alderney: the fort was built by King Henry VIII between 1549 and 1554 but was never actually completed. The fort can be seen from most points on the Alderney footpath and was used by the Germans as an important observation post during the Second World War.

Today, the fort is unfortunately no longer open to the public as it has been renovated and converted into private apartments. Closer to the edge of the cliff, you can see Hanging Rock, a 15-meter high rock overlooking the sea. Off Longis Bay, Fort Raz is only accessible at low tide. Notice to walkers!

The beach of Longis Bay is in fact one of the best sheltered on the island, thanks to the anti-tank wall built by the German army to counter any attempt of landing by the Allies. On the shores of Longis Bay, high walls (which do not admit their origin) form an enclosure named by legend, or by the English soldiers in the 18th century, the Nunnery (the "convent of women"). It looks like a big fortified farm, but it would be in fact an old fortification of the end of the Roman Empire. It is one of the oldest on the island of Alderney. It was rebuilt in 1793 to house an English garrison.

Built of Caen stone in 1850, St. Anne's Anglican Church was built by the last hereditary governor of the island, John Le Mesurier, in memory of his parents. It is without doubt one of the most beautiful Victorian buildings in the Channel Islands. During the Occupation of the Second World War, some of its bells were sent to France to be melted down and transformed into munitions. The inhabitants having almost all deserted the island, the church was then used as a warehouse. After the war, the islanders were surprised to discover that not all the bells had been melted down. Four of them were found near Cherbourg. Unfortunately, they were in such a state of deterioration that they had to be melted down in England. Inside the church, you will also notice some modern stained glass windows. While visiting St. Ann's Church, you should not miss the cemetery adjacent to the church. Delightfully shaded, it is very quiet and always full of flowers. It must be said that the islanders pay a very touching attention to their dead, to whom they lavish a thousand cares. At the location of some graves, a tree has grown; others are surrounded by flowers and small bluish pebbles. Small wooden benches are installed all along the paths. It is pleasant to sit on them, to meditate and to enjoy the quietness of this place, which is definitely out of time.

The rationale for the Alderney Railway (1847) was the need to bring stone from the Mannez quarry near Fort Grosnez to build and maintain the breakwater - the long dike that serves as a breakwater in Braye Harbor. The railroad track even extended along the breakwater. The first stone of the breakwater was laid on February 12, 1847, and then fourteen wagons, each carrying three and a half tons, made the trip as needed. The stone quarried at Mannez is hard sandstone, which has metamorphosed over geological time into quartz aggregates known as quartzite. The Alderney Railway Company was only established in February 1978, as much for tourism purposes as to maintain the tradition. Today, its traction equipment is regularly renewed by the purchase of decommissioned material. On special occasions (especially during the festive season), a small diesel locomotive pulls two large red cars recovered from the London Underground. While usually, you'll get on a nice little train more discreet ... On certain days, a miniature train - not one you can sit on, but one you can ride - is also in operation. The youngest should love it! In any case, it's a great activity to do with the family during a trip to Alderney. And above all, it's a great way to explore the island's beautiful scenery and coastline.

This ruin was the most important fort of the island in the last century (Albert was the husband of Queen Victoria). It dominates the Braye creek and the harbor. Then the castle at Etoc, between Saye Bay and Corblets Bay, where a tunnel allowed the "vraic tchérieux" (the seaweed collectors) to leave the beach with their ox carts. Going back south,Fort Hommeaux Florains, located on an islet, Fort Quesnard which occupies the point, and Fort Houmet Herbé, which overlooks the Raz Blanchard, protected the eastern coast. They are now all in ruins.

Located at the western end of the island, this 32-meter lighthouse, built in 1912, was intended to help ships dock in Alderney. Automated in 1997, it no longer houses a keeper since 1972, when it was electrified. Even today, the lighthouse is lined with a gigantic foghorn that guides sailors when visibility is poor. From the top, there is a superb view of the French coast in good weather. Note that it is easy to get there by train.

Since its creation, the association has been fighting for the protection of nature in Alderney. The volunteers have built many birdwatching posts around the island, built bunkers and fortifications and cleaned the island to enhance its nature. In addition to the 270 species of birds, Alderney is home to rare species such as the black rabbit and the blonde hedgehog, also known as the "Alderney spice-girl"! If you find yourself here, you will be able to take part in many guided tours.

Built by a family from Alderney to commemorate the deported workers from all over Europe, this very flowery monument commemorates in 6 different languages the tragic death of the prisoners subjected to forced labor during the Second World War. These thousands of prisoners had to build an impressive number of bunkers, bastions and anti-tank walls. Only 40% of what was planned was completed. Longis Bay, the only beach in the northeast that is easily accessible, is bordered by a 500-meter defensive wall that the Germans had built.

Awarded a prize in 1999, the museum displays records of Alderney's history, from prehistory to the period following the Second World War. It occupies the buildings of the Old School, founded in 1790, and transformed into a museum in 1972 by the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey, Sir Charles Hill. Managed by volunteers, it is really well done, complete and rather pleasant to visit.

In the main hall, some old-fashioned showcases display the remains of the island, from the Neolithic period to the Liberation. You will see a number of objects gathered by theme: archaeology, numismatics, geology, ethnology, military history, life on the island during the German occupation (furniture, clothing, everyday objects, documents, etc.). The infamous blue and white uniform of the Todt prisoners is on display, as well as medals offered to some islanders by the Germans for their good and loyal services. A beautiful tribute is also paid to the Alderney cow, now extinct. A small natural history room is dedicated to the flora and fauna of the island. On the second floor, a room recounts the horror of the storms which, in their fury, threw the boats against the sharp cliffs. For example, the Stella, the " Titanic of the Channel Islands", smashed into the rocks in 1899 in strong winds. The passengers all lost their lives despite their rescue equipment. The last body was found almost nine months after the disaster, washed up on Telegraph Bay.

If the weather permits, and you want to go on a trip to see the marine life of Alderney, this is a great option. The crew of the Sula of Braye will take you on a half day sailing tour of the exceptional natural heritage of the Alderney coastline. On board the boat, you will meet the famous puffins and more than 1% of the world's population of gannets along the beautiful coastal landscapes of the island. An outing by reservation only.

The Lady Maris II boat offers trips or rides at sea on request, for up to a dozen passengers. The skipper, a well-known local sailor who knows the waters of the islands like the back of his hand, also offers boat hire and numerous crossings to and from France (Cherbourg in particular), to and from England or to all the other Channel Islands. Please note that reservations are essential, and the organization of outings obviously depends on weather conditions.