Top Tips for a Successful Day Trip to Alderney

Alderney is a pocket-sized island where life is lived in the slow lane and is a wonderful place to visit for a day trip. Try following some of these top tips to make the most of your time here. We hope you leave wanting to come back for more in the future.

1. The natives are friendly!

With a summer population of 2000 we all know each other so visitors are recognised, not as strangers, but as guests who are welcomed with open arms. Everybody will go out of their way to help you make the most of your day so please do feel free to ask us for help or recommendations.

2. Book your transport well in advance! 

Alderney can be accessed daily by ferry from Guernsey, or via a short flight from Guernsey or Southampton with Aurigny. Book your tickets well in advance, especially during the summer months when demand is high. 

Taxis can be booked to pick you up at the airport or Harbour. 

Braye Hire Cars will deliver a car to you at the airport or the harbour if you want to hire a car for the day.

3. Shop ‘til you drop but only in the morning!

On arrival, head to Victoria Street in St Anne if you are seeking retail therapy. This is the main hub of our quaint town and here you will enjoy browsing charming boutiques where you can find stylish clothing, locally made crafts, artwork, and Alderney-themed gifts to take home. Look out for Made in Alderney stickers in many of the shops, you may even be lucky enough to meet one of the makers. You can have a go at pottery painting if you are feeling creative - a useful suggestion for a rainy day.

We are an island of morning shoppers, never missing an opportunity to catch up with local gossip, enjoying a coffee in the sunshine and buying locally as much as we can, so you will find a surprisingly wide range of independent retail outlets.

Be aware that we still have half day closing on Wednesday and Saturday and only the food shops are open on a Sunday. Another shopping anachronism is that alcohol is only available to buy at an Off Licence. 

4. Explore St. Anne and our Local Architecture

Pop into the Visitor Centre halfway up Victoria Street, (Weekdays 0900 -1200 and 1400-1600, Weekends and Bank Holidays 1000-1200) to pick up free maps, find out what is on today and get some hints and tips from our local volunteers.

Drop by the Alderney Wildlife Trust shop as you go up the hill. Lots of interesting things to find out about the island including the Puffin Cam on Burhou.

Wandering through the cobbled streets of St. Anne there is a distinct Normandy feel to the quaint cottages with ornate window frames. St Anne’s Church, known as the Cathedral of the Channel Islands is set in a beautiful churchyard and has breath-taking stained-glass windows. We also have a peal of 12 bells which are popular with visiting campanologists.

5.  5. Visit the Alderney Museum and Alderney Library. 

The Alderney Museum offers an interesting insight into our island’s unique heritage, from prehistoric history to the WWII evacuation. Also a great place to buy local history books.

The Alderney Library, just round the corner from the Island Hall houses the Alderney Bayeux Tapestry Finale, a year long community project completed in 2013 portraying a possible missing end to the Bayeux Tapestry. King Charles III and Queen Camilla both added some stitches on their last visit to Alderney.

6. Explore Historic Forts and Landmarks by bike.

Electric and conventional bikes are available to hire at Cycle and Surf in St Anne or The Little Garage by the harbour. There is a free cycling leaflet available at VisitAlderney which gives you an ideal self guided island cycle tour.

Alderney is home to an impressive number of historic forts and ruins which have free access to the public and interpretation boards explaining the history of the site. Fort Tourgis is the largest and has amazing views out over the Swinge channel and Burhou Island. Do take care where you are exploring as these are all old ruins. Enjoy a picnic on one of the many benches and tables found around the forts. Close by on the way back to the harbour is Fort Doyle (1000-1600 Daily Admission Free)

A ride to the eastern tip of the island takes you to Mannez Lighthouse and views of France on a clear day. You can also visit The Odeon WWII Naval Range Finding Position (1000-1600 Daily Admission Free) and The Nunnery Roman Fort (1000 – 1630 Daily. Admission Free). Pop into the German Hospital Bunker on your way up Longis Road which also houses the HMS Rodney Room. (1000-1600 Daily Admission Free.)

7.Low Food Miles is an Alderney Thing!

Restaurants and Hotels on the island are justifiably proud of serving freshly caught seafood, locally grown produce and Alderney Milk and Beef from Kiln Farm. The VisitAlderney website is a great place to browse all the possible food and drink outlets and their opening days and times or just ask somebody in the street! It is a good idea to book a table in advance during the busy months and do not leave lunch too late unless you are having a picnic on the beach, they stop serving lunch at 1430. 

8. Birdwatching at Longis Nature Reserve 

A paradise for birdwatchers and nature lovers, Longis Nature Reserve offers trails and hides for spotting migratory birds, local wildlife, and diverse plant life.

Alderney Wildlife Trust (www.AlderneyWildlife.org) and Alderney Tours (www.alderneytours.co.uk) both run a variety of wildlife related tours throughout the year. Visit their websites to see what they have on offer and try to book in advance as they are extremely popular. If you are coming in a group, ask if they can put on an extra tour for you.

9. Adventure Along Alderney’s Coastal Paths 

Alderney’s small size makes it ideal for hiking and walking. Coastal trails offer scenic cliffs, wildflower-strewn paths, and plenty of wildlife spotting opportunities for adventurous visitors.

The full coastal path is 10 miles, and you can take part in the Coast Path Challenge, 5 hours walk at a good pace, not for the faint hearted. There are several other interesting shorter walks available on VisitAlderney’s Paths and Trails page.

10. Take a Train Ride through time.

If you are here on a Summer Saturday, hop on the only working railway in the Channel Islands, which runs from Braye Road to Mannez Quarry. Originally built to transport rock from the quarry to the harbour, this short, scenic ride offers a unique way to see the island. (Saturday 1400 and 1530 from Braye Station. May to end of September £10 Adult £4 Children.) Check out their website for special events. (www.alderneyrailway.gg)

11. Relax on Alderney’s Beaches

Spend time on Braye Beach or Saye Beach, two of Alderney’s finest, where you can enjoy soft sands, clear waters, and hopefully plenty of sunshine. Bring your swimsuit and enjoy a refreshing dip or just relax on the sand and watch the world go by. Cold showers are available at Braye to wash off the salt afterwards. There are Borrow Boxes for children’s toys at Longis and Braye. Book a sauna with Adrift Sauna (+44(0)7781 144955) at Arch or Corblets and relax watching the beautiful landscape through your sauna window before cycling back for a cream tea.

12. Anyone for Tennis, or Golf?

The Alderney Tennis and Padel Club welcomes visitors to their courts down on Platte Saline. Padel playing is increasingly popular on Alderney and we now have two courts. It is also a popular Corporate Team Building day out. (+44 (0) 7781 166442) Bookings can be made down at the clubhouse or on Playtomic.com

The Alderney Golf Club also welcomes visitors to play on their 9-hole links course located in the centre of the island. (Www.Alderneygolf club.com)

13. Unlucky for some. Travel like a local.

Like most isolated island locations, Alderney can occasionally be frustrating when it comes to travel arrangements and there are times when transportation is delayed or cancelled due to high winds or foggy weather. Locals always pack a toothbrush, spare underwear and spare medication when we travel, even for a day trip, and have occasionally been extremely glad of our fore planning. Travel insurance is also highly recommended.

We hope that this information enables you to plan an interesting and successful day out on Alderney. You certainly won't have time to do it all in one day but choose the things that appeal to you most and savour a little life in the slow lane, perhaps next time you will linger a little longer.

Please feed back to us what has worked and what has not, this way we can always be improving.