IN FOCUS


If perfect beaches, miles of footpaths, a warm climate and an all-round traditional relaxing holiday are on the agenda, Alderney is the place to recommend, says Alan Orbell


ALDERNEY E


veryone has heard of Jersey and Guernsey but what of Alderney, the third largest of the Channel


islands? It's an ideal suggestion for those clients seeking one of the British Isles’ unspoiled, peaceful, natural, friendly and relaxing island destinations. These attributes are the island's


greatest attraction, a quiet stable way of life amidst beautiful surroundings nicely summed up as the ‘Alderney Feeling’. The island is only three-and-a-half miles long and one-and-a-half wide and is actually closer to France’s Normandy coast (eight miles) than to its closest island neighbour Guernsey (23 miles). Like the other Channel Islands it enjoys


a mild climate and is easily accessible by air and sea. For visitors seeking a taste


of history, an abundance of fl ora and fauna, beautiful beaches, a good mix of places to stay and eat – especially seafood - it’s a great sell for agents. Many people combine Guernsey and Alderney as it’s from its bigger neighbour that both Aurigny Air Services and Blue Islands offer scheduled air services while Aurigny also offers up to fi ve daily direct fl ights from Southampton to Alderney as well as connections from a number of UK airports via Guernsey. By sea, the Victor Hugo offers


occasional sailings from Dielette, near Cherbourg in France, and from St Peter Port in Guernsey (April/September). The 12-passenger Lady Maris II sails from Cherbourg with connections to Herm


For visitors seeking a taste of history,


an abundance of flora and fauna, beautiful beaches, a good mix of places to stay and eat – it's a great sell for agents


and Sark. Cherbourg can be reached with Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth. Once there, what will your clients


fi nd? For a start there are seven fi ne sandy beaches with water that’s perfect for swimming and watersports, especially windsurfi ng and surfi ng. Alderney is a delightful traditional family destination with ideal sand for building sandcastles and rock pool fi shing. Sailing and snorkelling are other watery activities. Alderney’s waters also provide what is claimed to be some of the best saltwater angling in the UK and four British and Channel island records for sea and shore fi shing are currently held. Back on land, the best way to get


to know Alderney is on foot via its 50 miles of walks and paths across commons, beaches, along the cliffs and around the cobbled streets of St Anne. The south coast is mainly dramatic


cliff walks, dotted with Victorian and German fortifi cations and the northwest coastline (towards the bird sanctuary island of Burhou) is designated a RAMSAR (Convention on International Wetlands) site. Along the north and east coast can be found golden beaches interspersed with picturesque Victorian forts and the occasional reminder of the German occupation during WWII. St. Anne’s quaint cobbled streets are lined by small boutiques, friendly pubs, bars and restaurants. Visitors can join guided walks – ranging from town walks, history, heritage and bird watching tours to nocturnal bat walks. And wherever your clients wander there’s always a chance that they’ll spot one of Alderney's


Above: Braye Bay Bottom Left: fun in the sun during Alderney Week Right: a pair of Alderney puffi ns


unique blonde hedgehogs. For golfers there’s a professionally- maintained, challenging nine-hole course. There’s also cricket, football, tennis, clay pigeon shooting, bowls, table tennis and boules. As small as it is, Alderney offers


almost 30 different places to stay (and around half as many places to eat) with everything from hotels to apartments to guest houses, but the charms of Alderney are clearly not lost on tour operators with the island introduced for the fi rst time by Prestige Holidays. David Nash, deputy managing director, Prestige Holidays, comments: "After a slow start, bookings to Alderney are picking up and looking forward we have a high level of enquiries for the summer. This is our fi rst year selling the island and it looks like it is going to be a late- booking destination. The Braye Beach is defi nitely our most popular property.” Preston Holidays is so confi dent of the ambience and the rugged charm on offer to visitors to Alderney that it has signifi cantly expanded brochure coverage in 2011, says John Markham, commercial director. “In our experience there is potential


to grow the market in two-centre holidays. Many visitors, having visited one of the larger Channel Islands, often return on a break that includes one or more of the smaller islands.” For those clients seeking a totally


relaxing traditional holiday with a fl ight or sea-crossing to make it feel abroad, Alderney fi ts the bill to perfection.


08 May/June 2011 • www.shortbreaksholidays.com


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