Alderney holidays

How to reach Alderney

• Flight time: Flights to Alderney from Southampton take 40 minutes; from Guernsey, it takes half that.

• Transfer time: Travelling by taxi from Alderney Airport, you can be in St Anne, the island’s main settlement, in less than 5 minutes.

• Price: Taxiing between the airport and St Anne costs about £6.

Best time to visit Alderney

The best time for your holidays to Alderney depends on your wish list: beaches, wildlife or adventure sports. Closer to France than the British Isles, the island experiences mild weather year-round, but each season offers something different for travellers.

• April to June experiences average highs ranging from 12 to 17°C and up to 8 hours of daily sunshine. Rainfall can be unpredictable, but this is a lovely time to visit and see the island’s flora and fauna, everything from wildflowers to puffins, gannets and blonde hedgehogs.

• July to August gets the best weather, temps hovering around 19°C, plenty of sunshine and minimal rainfall. The island comes alive with events like Alderney Week in early August.

• September to October sees the island settling back into a slower pace, with most of the summer crowds dispersing around the end of September. With average highs ranging from 18 to 15°C, this is a great time to explore Alderney’s rugged landscapes.

• November to March is mild, damp and cloudy. Temperatures rarely dip below 6°C, even in January and February. These months aren't a bad option if you want a low-key holiday, bracing coastal walks and cosy pub evenings.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: Mixed in with English, you might hear some older locals speaking Guernésiais (Patois), a Norman-French dialect.

• Currency: The Guernsey pound is the official currency, but you can use UK notes and coins. Channel Islands sterling is not legal tender elsewhere in the UK, so exchange any leftover currency before leaving the island.

• Getting around: The best way to get around Alderney is on foot or by bicycle, as the island is only 5km long. Bikes can be hired for around £16 a day (£30 for an electric bike). There’s no public bus service, but there are a few taxis.

Best things to do in Alderney

Whether you’re interested in history and wildlife or simply soaking up the island’s tranquil atmosphere, you’ll find something to love on your Alderney holidays.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• The Odeon: This imposing World War II German fortification offers sweeping panoramas of the northern cliffs and Mannez Lighthouse. It's a fantastic spot for birdwatching, too, particularly in spring when the migratory birds make their stopover.

• Mannez Lighthouse: Located at the island’s northeastern tip, this classic white lighthouse offers breathtaking views over the Channel. On a clear day, you can see the coast of France and the other Channel Islands.

Best districts

• St Anne: Picture pretty with paved streets, pastel-coloured houses, a fine church, independent shops and bunting; St Anne feels a step out of time.

Parks and gardens

• Alderney Community Woodland: This peaceful 17-hectare woodland is a peaceful spot for a ramble.

• Longis Reserve: Over five times larger (covering almost the whole east end of the island) and supporting a range of flora and fauna, coastal Longis is especially popular with birders with hopping wheatears and dumpy stonechats.

Museums

• Alderney Society Museum: This fascinating museum in St Anne’s is the best place to get the lowdown on the island. Exhibits include artefacts from the Roman period and an impressive collection of local natural history.

Historical monuments

• The Nunnery: From 4th-century Roman fortlet to medieval barracks to German stronghold in World War II, this well-preserved site has a fascinating history.

• Alderney Railway: Laid out in the 1840s and running for around 3.2km (Braye Harbour to Mannez Quarry), this is the only working railway in the Channel Islands.

Day trips in the area

• Guernsey: With lively St Peter Port on the east coast, Megalithic Le Creux ès Faies (in folklore, the gateway to the fairy kingdom) on the west, superb beaches on the north and rugged cliffs to the south, Guernsey is well worth a boat hop.

• Flamanville (Diélette): A ferry crossing away, this northwestern French town’s main attraction, assuming you don’t have a burning interest in the French nuclear industry, is the very lovely Château de Flamanville and its equally lovely grounds (the dahlia gardens are to die for).

Activities for families in Alderney

The kind of place where kids can roam free, explore nature and have plenty of fun, Alderney is a fantastic destination for family holidays.

• Family-friendly beaches: Sheltered Longis Bay on the southeast coast is ideal for families, with soft sand, a gently sloping bay and plenty of rock pools.

• Playgrounds: The zip line at the well-maintained Butes playground in St Anne is a winner with kids.

• Miniature railways: More fun for younger kids than the heritage line, Alderney Railway operates seasonal services at its mini railway at Minnez Quarry.

• Nature walks: With Alderney Wildlife Trust-run bat and hedgehog walks, little ones can enjoy a walk on the wild side.

• Geocaching: More than 50 caches are hidden on the island, guaranteeing hours of family fun.

Free things to do in Alderney

The real pleasure of holidaying in Alderney is getting outdoors and exploring.

• Annual festivals and free events: Alderney Week in August is the biggie, with parades, fireworks and daft boat races to spectate.

• Free beaches: Longis, Saye and Corblets beaches are great for sunbathing, swimming and beachcombing.

• Free self-guided tours in Alderney: The Visitor Information Centre hands out free booklets on local walks.

• Heritage sites: Numerous free heritage sites, from forts to German bunkers, are scattered across the island.

• Stargazing: With clear, inky skies, Alderney is the perfect place to enjoy nights under the stars, especially Fort Tourgis.

• Sunset watching: West-facing Clonque beach is the top spot for sunsets. As the sun sinks below the horizon, with luck, you may even see the elusive green flash (a bucket-list meteorological phenomenon).

Nature and outdoor activities

• Hiking: Alderney has over 80km of footpaths, taking you through some of the island’s most beautiful landscapes. The coastal path alone offers 16km of sea views, historic fortifications and plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife.

• Bird-watching: Coastal cliffs, sandy coastline, scrub and woodland, the island’s diverse landscape supports a variety of species, but it’s particularly famous for its puffin and gannet colonies. Burhou Island, just northwest of Alderney, is a haven for puffins – the island is off-limits during the breeding season (March to August), but you can get pretty close on a boat tour – while thousands of gannets make their home on the islets of Les Etacs off the west coast between February and October.

• Kayaking: Alderney’s coastline is great for paddlers, with rocky headlands, caves and hidden beaches to explore (if you’re lucky, you’ll spot dolphins or seals along the way). The Alderney Wildlife Trust rents double and single kayaks, but you’re limited to a designated safe zone.

• Fishing: Alderney is a cracking spot for fishing, inshore or offshore, but you can also try carp fishing at Corblets Reservoir (catch and release only).

• Cycling: The quiet roads and scenic trails make cycling a great way to explore Alderney. You can pick up a round-island guide at the tourist office.

• Clay shooting: For something completely different, discover if you’re a crack shot with flying clay targets at Fort Albert.

Local dishes in Alderney

Island cuisine is a British-French blend, so whether you’re longing for a taste of home or fancy full-on Gallic flavour, you’ll find a dish that fits the bill on your Alderney holidays.

Some typical dishes

• Crab sandwiches: Perfect for a seaside lunch, freshly caught crab mixed to a paste and served on white or brown bread.

• Cracked crab salad: Fresh crab meat, crisp salad and dressing – chef’s kiss.

Meat dishes

• Alderney pork: You won’t go far wrong with locally reared pork (specifically free-ranging rare-breed Oxford Sandy and Black pigs), whether it’s a pork and apple burger or chipolatas.

• Alderney lamb: Ditto for lamb, whether you prefer a Sunday roast or a lamb chop.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Lobster Thermidor: Sautéed lobster meat mixed with creamy sauce and cheese baked in lobster tails is about as extravagantly French as it comes.

• Moules marinières: Freshly caught mussels steamed with white wine, garlic and parsley is a simple but equally delicious way of enjoying shellfish.

Street food

• Fish and chips: There’s something about the sea air that makes battered fish and salty, vinegary chips just taste better.

• Hedge veg: Wherever you go on the island, you’ll come across roadside stalls selling local produce – fresh fruit, homemade jams, chutneys and honey – and honesty boxes.

Sweets and desserts

• Cream tea: Tea and scones with clotted cream is invariably a solid choice.

• Gâche melée: This dense apple suet cake (a traditional recipe from Guernsey) needs nothing more than a dollop of cream or ice cream.

Local drinks

• Gin: For a Channel Islands tipple, Guernsey-based Wheadon’s Gin’s stable of flavoured gins is widely available on Alderney. The contemporary-style rock samphire (locally foraged) and pink grapefruit combo is the classic – perfect for a gin and tonic.

• Calvados: With Normandy only 13km across the water, you’ve got the perfect excuse to toast your holiday with the region’s famous fruit brandy.