Alderney has the same banking, insurance and investment laws as Guernsey. Its economy relies mostly on limited tourism and the finance industry. E-commerce has started to play a big part in the island’s income and hosts the domain name registry for over a dozen gambling website operators.


St.Anne

Alderney Airport, opened in 1936, was the first airport in the Channel Islands, it is also the closest Channel Island airport to the English south coast. It lies 1.9 kilometres ( 1.2 miles ) southwest of the capital, St Anne. Despite being close to the French mainland, as well as Guernsey and Jersey, Alderney stays clear of mainstream tourism.

The island has a landscape of sheer cliffs broken up by sandy beaches. It is an almost treeless island many of the trees having been cut down in the 17th century to fuel the lighthouses but there are ‘cabbage trees’ and a few small woods dotted about the island.

History
Like the other islands Alderney chose independence from France pledging loyalty to England. During the 19th century massive fortifications were constructed. During World War II, Alderney was the location of three German labour camps and the notorious SS Concentration camp Lager Sylt. A large percentage of the native islanders were evacuated to the UK and hundreds of eastern Europeans used as slave labour, many of them dying on the island. It was liberated in May 1945 but the island’s infrastructure and housing had been almost destroyed, so Alderney had to ask Guernsey for financial help. As a result, in 1949, Alderney had to change its constitution and is now part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, thus ending centuries of independence.

Shopping

Alderney has its own duty-free shops where you can pick up spirits and tobacco at bargain prices. It is worth shopping around in St Anne, which has plenty of boutique shops selling a range of gifts and kitchenware. Souvenir hunters might like to hunt for the perfect Alderney knitwear and pottery. Don’t forget to stop and sample some of the delicious locally made ice cream.

Most of the main shops are open from 9:00 to 5:30 on Monday to Saturday, although they tend to close for lunch and also on Wednesday afternoons. Some of the popular shops also open on Sundays during the high season. The banks in the town are usually open from 9:30 to1:00 and 2:30 to 3:30.

Food and Drink

The food in Alderney has a definite French flavour to it, and is dominated by the island’s abundant seafood. The local speciality is shellfish. However, most restaurants also offer traditional British, international and oriental options. Most alcohol is cheaper than on the UK. Pub licensing hours are flexible and pubs tend to be child friendly. There’s a special day called Milk-O-Punch Sunday, held on the first Sunday in May, when a local delicacy of milk, eggs and rum is offered free to everyone by every publican on the island.
Alderney also holds an annual Seafood Festival in May. The event brings the island’s top chefs, restaurants and hotels together in an effort to produce special dishes and showcase the very best and freshest seafood.


Crab feast in Alderney

What to do

Alderney’s varied wildlife is protected by the Alderney Wildlife Trust. The island has become a bit of a birdwatcher magnet, as well as being popular with ramblers and wildlife lovers. There are 70 kilometres of tracks and walks that take keen walkers along the cliffs, beaches, commons and even the picturesque cobbled streets of St Anne.

If you fancy trying your hand at fishing, why not charter a boat to take you out to sea. At the same time you may also be able to spot some of the old shipwrecks that lie around the island. Alderney can offer some of the best opportunities for sea fishing in the whole of the Channel Islands. There’s even an annual angling festival every October, and Alderney holds several British and Channel Islands records.

Other sports are covered too - golfers will appreciate the nine-hole golf course. There are also plenty of opportunities for sailing, swimming, surfing, wind surfing and even scuba diving.

Alderney is home to the only working railway on the Channel Islands; it’s run by volunteers who keep it open on weekends and bank holidays during the summer. The railway celebrated its 150th birthday in 1997 and attracts visitors from all over the world. A diesel engine called Elizabeth pulls two old London Underground carriages along a scenic coastal route from the harbour up to the north-east coast, towards Mannez Quarry and the nearby Mannez Lighthouse. When you get to the Quarry, visitors can decide whether to take a lighthouse tour or have a ride on the miniature train, before taking the return train.


Mannez Lighthouse

Built in 1912, Alderney Lighthouse is situated at the eastern end of the island at Quesnard Point. The lighthouse opened its door to the public in 1998 and during the summer you can take part in an organised tour with the warden. If you’re scared of heights, or not very fit, give this one a miss as there’s a very steep climb to the top of the 32-metre high tower. Once you get there however, the view is well worth the effort. It’s open from May through to September for guided tours, although out of these times the warden may still be able to organise a tour for eight or more people.

Alderney Museum

The Alderney museum opened in 1966 and is a permanent record of Alderney’s history. You can view geological and archaeological collections, as well as natural and social history. The museum is open every day from April to October.

What’s on in Alderney

Alderney Week, held in July/August every year is the big event on the island – it’s like a great big fete which the whole island gets involved in. It’ll be busy though – the population tends to double that week and accommodation gets booked up well in advance. The week consists of around 130 organised events so there’s a lot to do and see

The sea provides a backdrop for much of Alderney Week, and the Man Powered Flight Competition is no exception. Competitors launch themselves from the mouth of the Inner Harbour at Braye using their own homemade ‘planes’. For more bizarre entertainment, look out for the Daft Raft Race around the bay, a giant Sandcastle Competition and a Duck Race.

One of the highlights of the week Cavalcade Day features decorated floats, fancy dress and tug-o-war competitions. A bonfire and firework show provides the Grand Finale of Alderney Week.

Animal lovers will enjoy Alderney Wildlife Week in May. There are plenty of lectures and the opportunity to explore the island on guided walks - you might even get to see one of the island’s most unusual residents, a blonde hedgehog. There’s another wildlife weekend in August after Alderney Week.


St. Anne's Harbour by Joan Parmentier

Basics

For current visa requirements please go to www.projectvisa.com

The no-VAT status means that some items can be bought more cheaply than in the UK; although the choice is more limited than on Guernsey or Jersey. Alderney uses Channel Islands currency but it’s possible to use UK notes and coins. However, it is not possible to use Alderney currency in the UK.
Most credit and debit cards are accepted, as well as traveller’s cheques. For current exchange rates visit www.xe.com.

As it’s not part of the EU, or covered by the NHS, you need to make sure that you have adequate travel insurance. There is a hospital, doctor’s practice and a dentist on the island.

Alderney and Sark were the last remaining places in the UK where it was legal to smoke in public places, but as from June 2010 smoking in public places on Alderney will be illegal

Alderney is lucky enough to have a mild climate with summers usually warmer than those of the UK. To find out more about the weather on Alderney visit www.weatherworld.org