Alderney

Key Facts

• Location: Bailiwick of Guernsey
• Size: 800 hectares
• Terrain: Mainly coastal path with some rougher sections
• Access: Ferry and plane
• Height gain: 404 metres
• Map: Bailiwick of Guernsey: States of Guernsey Official Map.
• Starting point: Alderney Quay Lat 49.274313 Long -2.2015786
• Accommodation/food:

  Plenty in St Anne; Old Barn café/restaurant Longis Bay; café at Saye Beach Campsite

• Island Summary:

  Alderney is a rugged, wild and authentic island with the friendliest of locals and just a few miles from France where the swirling seas of the English Channel and the Atlantic meet. Described as a slice of Britain with a French dressing and the most fortified island of the Channel Islands the landscape is an ever present window to the strategic role it played in military history. Alderney is where the sea is blue even on the grey days of winter.

  Alderney’s Coast Path is a hugely varied coastal route passing most of the island’s fortifications and wildlife wonders. It follows a well-marked route with opportunities for diversions to see attractions, particularly the steeper and rougher paths on the eastern tip of the island to get goods view of the gannet colonies

• Look out for:
  • Blonde hedgehogs
  • Puffins on Burhou island
  • Gannet colonies on Les Etacs and Ortac
  • WWII bunkers and forts
  • Swimming at Longis, Saye, Tunnel and Corblets Bays
• Route description:

  The Alderney Coast Path is a dramatic 18 kilometre walk that passes most of the military fortifications, sublime beaches, incredible views and astounding wildlife with an optional extra tidal island. Starting at Braye Harbour, the northern section of the route passes the secret rooms and tunnels of the Cambridge Battery at Fort Tourgis and Clonque Bay. The route climbs to the cliffs of the island’s west tip for the best views of Sark, Brecqhou, Guernsey and Herm. Close by, a plaque and concrete gates mark the entrance of the former Lager Sylt, the only German concentration camp built on British soil. The wilder, inaccessible south coast is framed by dramatic cliffs and bordered by woodland and fields of dairy cows. At the island’s south-east tip the wide, sandy crescent of Longis Bay is bounded to the east by the tidal Raz Island and Fort Raz – an optional island to bag for the enthusiastic. Once back on the north coast the scenic Arch Bay, linked to neighbouring Corblets Bay at low tide, is connected to the island’s campsite via a tunnel. At the west end of crescent-shaped Saye Bay the tunnels, bunkers and the armoured cupola of Bibette Head are great to explore by torchlight. Further along the coast the impressive 19^th century Fort Albert sits above Braye Bay, which curves its way around to the restaurants and harbour of Braye itself.

• Getting there:

  There are scheduled sea and air links from the UK mainland, Guernsey, Jersey and France. The latest details can be found here