Alderney is surrounded by craggy rocky shores and sweeping sandy beaches, which are bursting with marine life and waiting to be explored anytime of the year. Take a day out and try a bit of rockpooling finding starfish and sea urchins or take a stroll beachcombing the island’s strandlines hunting out shells and shark eggs.
Rockpooling
Braye Bay and Longis Bay are ideal bays for rockpooling, just use take a net to find gobies or prawns lurking in rockpools or simply turn over some rocks to spot sea anemones and crabs - you may also find one of our locally important green ormers.
Beachcombing
Arch Bay, Corblets Bay and Longis Bay are great for stretching the legs whilst beachcombing. Keep your eyes peeled for interesting shells, jellyfish, cuttlefish bones and shark eggs amongst the strandlines.
Before you set off on your Alderney shore adventures, please remember to:
1. Check tides and weather conditions. Try to head out at least an hour before low tide for rockpooling.
2. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear, particularly if your planning to explore rockpools.
3. Turn back any rocks you have turned over. Many marine species live under the rocks hiding away from predators and incoming tides or bad weather.
4. Try not to touch soft bodied animals, such as sea anemones, as this can damage them.
5. Please do not take any marine animals home with you.
6. Please take your litter home with you or find the nearest bin or recycling bin.
If you find something interesting, please take a photo and email it to the Alderney Wildlife Trust's Living Seas Officer: marine@alderneywildlife.org