"Alderney" Alderney by Geoff_Wright

Our sailing boat, 'Appledore Belle' was built in 1975 for a native of Alderney, a Mr Mike Hughes. In 1985 the boat returned to England. In 1998 I purchased her and since then have wanted to return her to her home port of Braye Harbour. On Wednesday 30th July 2008 she finally returned home (but not without incident).

Mr C. Gull

ALDERNEY lies in the English Channel, not far from the coast of France, and is the most northerly of the British Channel Islands. It has a population of around 2000, and nowadays relies on tourism for its main source of income. Some grain crops and potatoes are grown, but the land appears not to be very productive. Alderney is separated from the other Channel Islands and France by a fierce current - The Race of Alderney - which can achieve a speed of 9 or 10 knots at high spring tides.

On our visit in July 2012 we left Braye Harbour and set out towards Sark, where we had hoped to anchor for the night. However, the wind was strong and from the south, so we had to motor all the way, and decided it would not be prudent to enter Dixcart Bay to anchor. We therefore continued our journey around the southern tip of Sark, and headed directly to St Peter Port, Guernsey.

My son Antony in his German Bunker

At the beginning of the Second World War, Alderney's inhabitants totalled about 1,400, and most elected to be evacuated to Weymouth, England, on Sunday 23rd June 1940. German forces occupied the Island, where they built massive concrete bunkers, using slave labour. Many of these bunkers are still in situ, and some have been utilised as viewing points for bird watching and other wildlife viewing. The population finally began returning to the Island on 2nd December, 1945, although it was some time before all could return home as the Island could not support their needs.

We've been back to Alderney again since writing the original tips, and I have added some more detail and photos.

Useful link showing restaurants and accommodation links: Alderney Information

• Pros:Very attractive Island, easily walked in a day or so
• Cons:Rather remote, and appears not much for younger families
• In a nutshell:Worth a visit, especially by sea!