Visit Alderney Saint Anne
DETTAGLI
Airport (Punto)
Built in 1935, Alderney Airport was the first airport in the Channel Islands. It is located on the Blaye a little over a mile from the town. Alderney is the closest Channel Island airport to both the south coast of England and the coast of France. Flights operate daily from the airport to Guernsey and Southampton.
Les etacs – gannet c... ... (Punto)
In 1940, a single pair of Northern Gannets nested on Les Etacs. The colony grew, partly through lack of disturbance from any fishing activity during the World War Two, and by 2015, there were 5,909 pairs of gannets on Les Etacs, and a further 2,777 pairs on Ortac. These colonies account for 2% of the world population. Those fascinating seabirds come back to Alderney early February after having spent the winter months at sea. Each pair will attempt to raise a single dark-coloured chick, feeding it with mackerel, sand eels and herring fish off the local Bay of Mont St Michel, the French coast towards Le Havre, and the south coast of England. The last juvenile would have fledge by the beginning of October. Les Etacs gannet Colony is easy to watch from land at the Giffoine but the best views are from one of our local boats offering seabird tours or round island boat tours. The best time to see them is between March and September.
Fort tourgis (Punto)
Constructed by the British government in 1855 in order to provide defence for the Alderney Breakwater, a major construction project at the time, Fort Tourgis is an extensive fortification in Alderney to the northwest of St Anne. It was adapted by German occupying forces during World War II. After the war it was used by the military up until the 1960″™s. Alongside the fort stands a conical white stone which once served as a seamark assisting mariners who were navigating the hazardous waters of the Swinge. Following extensive clearance and conservation work with volunteers supported by the States Works department, part of the northern defences of Fort Tourgis is now open to the public: Cambridge Battery (No.2) and Battery No.3. Cambridge Battery (No.2) and its later German bunkers are an excellent example of how the original Victorian fortifications were adapted by German forces in the Second World War, while battery No.3 is a wonderful spot to enjoy quality time, sunsets and barbecue with friends and family.
Victoria street (Punto)
Once known as Rue des Sablons (when it was just a sandy lane - in 1400), then as Rue de Grosnez, Victoria Street has been finally renamed after the visit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1854 when they came to inspect progress on the Breakwater and Fort being constructed at the time. Nowadays, Victoria Street is the main shopping street of Alderney. Its remarkable buildings host a fishmonger, a backery, a butcher, a farm shop, several clothes shops as well as the cinema, the Visitor Information Centre, the Wildlife Centre, a few hotels and restaurants and the main church, St. Anne’s Church. The street is buzzing with life, especially on Saturday morning when the local street market is out. However, most of the shops are closed on Wednesday afternoon and Sunday – time to go the beach or explore the island!
Farming field (Punto)
Located on the East coast of the island near the remnants of an old brick kiln, Kiln Farm is a family run modern farm providing the island with the freshest dairy and meat products. It has a Guernsey dairy herd, and a mixed Guernsey cross – Aberdeen Angus, Belgium Blue and Charolais beef animals. The farm now manages the island’s slaughterhouse as well as the dairy and milk processing centre. With their very own Farm Shop located on Victoria Street and supplying local eateries it is easy to try and taste this fabulous local produce.
Les rochers communit... ... (Punto)
This was once a largely overgrown area of semi-abandoned land but is now the site of the largest community woodland in the Channel Islands. An area of 17 hectares has been planted with a mixture of native trees, including a small community orchard. Visitors can explore the woodland trails and learn more about the wildlife of the area as well as its industrial and military history. Located in the heart of the island, the woodland bunker offers from its top one of the best view points. For more information, visit the Alderney Wildlife Trust.
The odeon (Punto)
The hillside is dotted with numerous WWII German fortification which made up one of four 88mm anti-aircraft batteries on the island. At the top edge, stand the ‘Odeon’ which was originally used by German Navy as a range finding tower. Access can be arranged through the Wildlife Centre on Victoria Street.
Mannez lighthouse (Punto)
Mannez lighthouse, built in 1912, is 32 metres high and provides a navigational light over the hazardous waters between Alderney and the French mainland. The light used to have a range of 24 nautical miles, and together with the two impressive fog horns, it protected shipping from the strong tides and numerous rocks surrounding the island. The lighthouse is now electrified and the fog horn redundant but the black and white tower remains a key landmark of Alderney. The steep climb to the top of the tower is quite demanding but the stunning views of Alderney’s coastline and beyond are well worth the effort. When the train is running, you can travel out to Mannez on Alderney’s railway! Tours are available every Sunday at 3pm from May to September.
Alderney breakwater (Punto)
During the 1840s the French had begun to strengthen Cherbourg (Normandy, France) and to complete the construction of its harbour. This caused considerable alarm in the Admiralty, which feared for the safety of the naval dockyards of Portsmouth and Plymouth that lay within easy reach of the new steam-driven warships. By 1842, plans for ‘Harbours of Refuge and Observation’ were proposed for the three main Channel Islands. However, only Alderney was considered by the Admiralty to be of prime importance as a lookout station for vessels of war. Consequently, the construction of the breakwater began in 1847 and continued until 1864. By 1856 the western arm had reached 823m from the shore but from then on the work became much more laborious as the depth of water increased. In 1864 the head of the breakwater had reached 1,463m from the shore in a depth of 38m at low tide. No further construction was undertaken on the western arm and the eastern arm was never started. This was because the harbour was still not big enough for warships of the tonnage by then contemplated. The era of Ironclad had arrived. Nowadays, the breakwater protects Alderney’s harbour and the boats moored in it. It’s a popular destination for sailors coming from the UK, France and Europe for the challenge of the Alderney Race and the warm welcome of the island.
Braye beach (Punto)
For a small island, Alderney can boast a wide variety of unspoilt beaches, from rugged rocky expanses to gently shelving sandy strands that are ideal for family, leisure and sporting activities. The easily accessed expanse of Braye Beach is one of the most popular of all the beaches for locals and visitors alike. It offers everything from safe bathing from gently sloping sandy parts to rocky section at the east end of the bay that forms a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise. The comings and goings into the harbour offer endless distractions while the Breakwater is popular with anglers. The sand is ideal for building sand castles. Many facilities available around: hotel, pubs, restaurants, ice cream van, shops and even a train station!