THINGS TO DO AND SEE ON ALDERNEY
The Alderney Railway
Alderney has the only working railway in the Channel Islands
and run by volunteers who keeping it running.
It
was originally opened by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1847 and celebrated its 150th Birthday in 1997. It
has a diesel engine and pulls 2 old London Underground carriages built in 1959. It travels along the scenic coastal route
from the harbour up to the north-east coast, then cutting across country towards Mannez Quarry and nearby Mannez Lighthouse.
At Mannez Quarry it is possible to join the Alderney lighthouse tour or take a ride on a miniature train. The Alderney railway operates on bank holidays, weekends throughout
the summer season, plus Santa & Easter Egg special trips.
Alderney Visitor &
Wildlife Information Centre - Victoria Street
This has a team of voluteers who can provide
visitors with up-to-date information, advice, free literature, walking guides and bird lists. Tel: +44 (0)1481 823737
Alderney Museum
A very interesting museum which keeps a display
of Alderney's history, exhibits of artifacts from the German occupation, mass evacuation in 1940 and return in 1945, information
on the harbour, breakwater and an Elizabethan wreck, iron age pottery and Gallo-Roman occupation. +44 (0)1481 823222
St Anne's Church
This is known as the Cathedral of the Channel
Islands, has beautiful stained glass windows and built in 1850.
Alderney Cinema - Victoria
Street
Cinema which has recent West End releases all year round.
The Alderney Pottery
A wide range selection of pottery produced on Alderney as well
as other crafts and unusual gifts. +44 (0)1481 823026
The New Alderney Library
A great selection of books to borrow. +44 (0)481 824178
Golfing
Alderney has its own beautiful 9 hole golf course with alternate tees to provide amore challenging
18 hole course, fairly near Braye which visitors are welcome to use during their stay. Green fees are not expensive
and equipment can be hired at the Club. Telephone +44 (0)1481 822835 for more information.
Alderney Flying Club
For more information on Alderney Flying Club, please go to www.flyalderney.com.
Alderney Sailing Club
Dinghy sailing is available for experience
sailors who join the Alderney Sailing Club as local or offshore members.
Membership is very reasonable and the
club will ask for proof of experience. However, the club does not hire boats to inexperienced sailors but the members
are discussing the possibility of holding adult sailing courses on one-day basis. For more information on the sailing
club, please contact sailing@alderney.com
or go to www.sailalderney.com.
Mannez Lighthouse
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| Manez Lighthouse |
Mannez Lighthouse was built in 1912 and is on Alderney’s
most prominent landmark at the eastern end of the island at Quesnard Point and is a 40 minute walk from St Anne or a 15 minute
train ride from Braye Station.
It was built to warn sea vessels of the treacherous waters around the island. The
tower is 32 metres high and is painted white with a central black band to make it very visible to ships during daylight hours.
Its beam of 4 white flashes every 15 seconds is visible from 23 miles out at sea.
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| Mannez Lighthouse with Fort Coblets in foreground |
Mannez Lighthouse was automated in 1997 and is now
monitored and controlled from the Trinity House Operation Control Centre at Harwich in Essex. The last lighthouse keeper left
on 1st October 1997. The former keeper’s dwellings adjoin the tower, as well as the service rooms. In 1998 the lighthouse was opened to the public and the warden
organises conducted tours of the lighthouse throughout the summer. There is a steep climb to the top of the 32 metre tower
and not suitable for anyone with a fear of heights and is quite tiring, but well worth the climb.
YEARLY EVENTS ON ALDERNEY Alderney has a number of calendar events throughout the year. On the 1st January, the New Year's Day swim
is held on Braye Beach. There is an Easter Train Special weekend on the Easter weekend.
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| Display of onions at the Alderney Vegetable, Flower and Craft show |
In May there is The Seafood Festival, May
Day Ramble around the island and Milk-o-Punch Day. The Alderney Vegetable, Flower and
Craft show is held in July. Alderney week and carnival is held in the first week of August and towards the end of August,
the Alderney Horse Show and the Wildlife Festival Weekend. Alderney Air
Race, Annual Half Marathon, Annual Motor Sprint & Hill Climb, Men's Senior Veterans Golf Open and Annual
Alderney Air Races are held in September. Alderney Angling Festival is celebrated in
October. In December there is the Homecoming Anniversary and the Boxing Day Walk.
Milk-O-Punch in May Part of the charm of Alderney is the way it celebrates the past
and holds on to tradition. If your visit includes the first Sunday in May, then join in with Milk-O-Punch. The punch is served
free from all the pubs and clubs and made to secret recipes of rum, eggs, nutmeg and milk from the Island’s own dairy.
Alderney is the only Channel Islands to celebrate Milk-O-Punch and the origins of the day are suitably blurred though perhaps
used to mark the time when the cows went out to summer pasture. Alderney Wildlife Week Also in May is Alderney Wildlife Week with talks and guided walks exploring the wide range of habitat and
species on the Island including the unusual blonde hedgehogs. There is also a wildlife weekend event later in August after
the Alderney Week crowds have left for another year. There is an excellent information office in St Anne offering guides and
free maps of popular walks and what to look out for, staffed by enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers.
Alderney Week
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| Miss Alderney 2009 float |
The carnival held during Alderney has the charm of
a giant village fete and festival atmosphere and involves the whole Island. In Alderney Week the population of 2,400 can double
and this is a very popular time for visitors and tourists alike.
There are more than 130 organised events so there
is something for everyone. The sea plays an important part in many of the events and the Man Powered Flight competition is
an old-favourite for many visitors. Competitors launch themselves off the side the Inner Harbour at Braye. Attached to them
are homemade ‘planes’ – the competition is to see how long it takes to fall into the water. There is also
the Daft Raft Race around the bay, a giant Sandcastle Competition and a Duck Race.
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| One of the floats on Victoria Street on Cavalcade Day |
On Cavalcade Day decorated floats go through the town.
There is a fancy dress class and tug-o-war. At the Grand Finale of Alderney week a parade of people with burning torches walk
down the cobbled streets of St Anne on the way to a bonfire. See link below.
Half
Marathon in September The runners
in the popular Half Marathon - probably go a bit fast to appreciate the wildlife but the views around the course are
spectacular. Athletes and supporters come from all over the UK and beyond for a sociable weekend and a truly memorable race.
Braye Harbour Fish & Chip Shop Braye Harbour is home to the fleet bringing the freshest fish to
restaurant tables. Sitting atop the harbour the Braye Fish and Chip shop offers a bring your own wine restaurant with great
views. For those who enjoy eating out and eating fine food (including seafood), Alderney has something for everyone.
See the link below. If you fancy catching your
own supper then there are charter boats to take you fishing over many of the shipwrecks and sandbanks around the island. Alderney
is also a mecca for shore fishing with a huge range of marks and species. The Island has a well-stocked tackle and bait shop
which can also organise lessons for the novice or young fisherman, or something more serious for the competent angler. Fishing is the focus for one week when some 150 people travel
to the island compete in the annual Angling Festival. Alderney holds many local and national records, and the potential to
beat one of your own personal best fish is high.
Alderney
Golf Club If you prefer a club
to a rod then make the most of the Alderney Golf Course. With alternate tees you can play an 18-hole game whilst enjoying
views across the English Channel and to France. There are competitions all year and a warm welcome for visitors who can hire
clubs and trolleys and enjoy often challenging links conditions. Horse-riding Horse-riding
can also be organised and there is a wide range of sporting and hobby clubs from snooker to keep-fit to join in during your
stay. Whether you want action-packed or lazy,
or a bit of both in your holiday then Alderney offers it all. For such a small place it is surprising how much goes on and
the only problem is how to sample it all in just one visit!
Fishing
Alderney
is renowned for fishing and has some of the best salt water fishing in the UK. The strong tides, warm water currents,
rocky outcrops and sandy bays provide ample habitats for seafish. The types of fish that can be caught are: pollack,
garfish, wrasse, conger elels, rays, black bream, thick lipped mullet, red gurnards and gilthead bream. There is an
angling festival in October which attracts around 120 competitors. For more information on this event, call +44 (0)1481
824884.
Alderney's Victorian
sea defences and Forts
In 1842 the British government were becoming increasingly
worried about the fortifications that the French were building in Cherbourg which is only 25 miles from Alderney and as a
consequence British decided to make Alderney “the Gibralta of the Channel.” The first foundation
stone in the Alderney harbour was reported in the Illustrated London News on 20th February 1847. Queen
Victoria and the Prince Consort arrived on the Royal Yacht “Victoria and Albert” to inspect Fort Albert and the
Breakwater on the 9th August 1854.
Along the breakwater the railway bought rock
from Mannez Quarry. The construction of the Breakwater and forts continued for 30 years and by 1872 the
Breakwater was 1600 yards long. The Breakwater is now maintained by the States of Guernsey but before that
it was the responsibility of the Admiralty.
The Victorian forts on Alderney were designed by Captain (later Lt-Gen Sir F W D) Jervois.
He allowed his artistic flair to take over with medieval embellishments such as arrow slits, battlements and moats
which were not necessarily required for the military of the time. Some of the forts look like fortifications
from Elizabeth 1 era, rather than Victorian times.
Some of the forts are owned privately a lthough others are owned by the States of Alderney. Essex
Castle and Chateau L’Etoc have been converted into residential apartments.
Fort Albert
This fort was one of Alderney’s most important
forts because of its commanding position above the naval harbour at Braye. It stands on a hill called Mont
Touraille and it used to be a signal station. It primary use was to be that of an artillery position but
after the disuse of the other forts on the island it became the military headquarters of the island housing
the infantry garrison. Its guns were used for training the Royal Alderney Militia Artillery.
It has a spacious parade ground inside, plus barrack accommodation within its walls.During the German occupation the fort deteriated badly through neglect and during WWII because
of an army demolition exercise. In WWI search lights were installed there to cover the approaches
in Braye Bay.
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| Fort Tourgis & sea navigation stone |
Fort Tourgis
Like a number of the other forts on the island,
it takes its name from a local family on the island. It stands on a rock known as Rocque Tourgis which
separates the bays of Clonque and Saline. Beside the fort is a conical white stone which serves as a seamark
which once assisted mariners who were navigating the hazardous waters of the Swinge.
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| The full extent of Fort Tourgis |
An enormous amount of stone was used in the construction
of this fort which was either brought by train or horse drawn carts. It house a considerable
number of troops and had 16 heavy guns.
Fort Clonque
This must be the most picturesque of Alderney’s
forts built in 1854. It stands on a rock islet at the most western mouth of the Swinge and has its own
causeway to the shore which is covered for a short period during high water.
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| Fort Clonque with its causeway |
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| Fort Clonque with tide going out |
In 1886 guns were placed at the fort to cover any potential landings in Clonque Bay. Today
Fort Clonque is owned by the Landmark trust and has been converted into holiday apartments. It was bought
in 1965 for £19,000.
Fort Platte Saline and Doyle
These were more minor defences and more like batteries
than forts and its guns were probably used to stop invaders landing on either Saline or Crabby Bays. Today
Fort Platte is not obvious as it is used in connection with the gravel industry. Fort
Doyle which was named after Lt-Gen Sir John Doyle who was the most distinguished Lieutenant-Governor of the Baliwick of Guernsey.
Fort Doyle was fortified by the Germans during the occupation.
Fort Grosnez
This fort is probably the oldest of all the forts
on the island and its prime purpose was to defend the “harbour of refuge” at Braye. It
isn’t very large but it was heavily armed and in 1886 had 14 guns in 8 batteries. Inside the fort
are stores, workshops, garages and offices and there is evidence of German occupation.
Chateau a L’Etoc
This translated from the French means Castle of the Stack and probably comes from the rock formation which looked
like a fortress. The fort stands on a low headland between Saye and Coblets Bays.
The fort has been turned into residential apartments.
Fort Coblets
In 1886 Fort Coblets had six guns, but now it is
a private residence. It was built from local reddish sandstone. It was used briefly
as a military building and in the early part of the 20th century was in pretty bad shape. It
was once used as a tea house but then became the summer residence of F L Impey. Mr Impey restored the fort
into a very comfortable residence.
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| Fort Houmet Herbe |
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| Fort Raz |
The Longis Defences
Across a causeway at Longis Bay lays the attractive Fort Raz, on Raz Island.
It had a number of guns on it to protect Fort Essex. The Germans used it quite extensively and fortified
it and improved the causeway. It has been used as a private residence.
Fort Essex
Fort
Essex (Essex Castle) does not appear to have been used by the Victorians as a gun emplacement. For years
it was a military hospital and the Germans fortified it as well. It is situated on a hill which dominates
the views over eastern Alderney and the Race so is a good look-out point.
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