Island Life

Alderney has all the winning ingredients: a rich history and wildlife, stunning scenery, cosy accommodation, genuine hospitality and beautiful beaches.

Lifestyle

The island’s greatest attraction is its peace and tranquillity. Alderney is a relaxed, safe and friendly island with a great deal to offer, including a quiet stable way of life amidst beautiful surroundings.

Just 3kms wide and 5 kms long and only 11kms off the Normandy coast, Alderney enjoys a mild climate, is unspoiled, peaceful, natural and totally relaxing. The town of St.Anne, with its quaint cobbled streets lined by small boutiques, offers a great choice of friendly pubs, bars and restaurants. Alderney is renowned for its seafood such as lobster and crab and its excellent cuisine.

Permanent Population

2,400 Last census in 1996. 40% of the population are Alderney-born. Alderney people are known as “Ridunians” (the Roman name for Alderney was Riduna)

Climate

Alderney is blessed with a mild microclimate and plenty of sunshine. Frost and snow are extremely rare. Maximum temperatures (April-October) 25C maximum daily sunshine hours (April-October) over 9 hours. Maximum monthly sunshine hours (April-October): over 280 hours. The island experiences tides of up to 40 feet.

Natural

Alderney boasts a rich and varied wildlife and the Alderney Wildlife Trust actively protects and promotes this valuable heritage. The Island has become a true magnet for birdwatchers, ramblers and wildlife enthusiasts who can explore some 70 kms of tracks and walks along Alderney’s cliffs, across golden sandy beaches, wide commons and along the cobbled streets of St. Anne.

Leisure & Events

Leisure interests are well catered for with a professionally maintained, challenging 9-hole golf course, a panoramic cricket field, a football pitch, scenic tennis courts and numerous sporting, social and cultural clubs. There’s always something happening and with many walks and stunning beaches, it’s the perfect place to relax.

Alderney offers some of the finest sea fishing in the Channel Islands. The annual angling festival in October attracts some 150 competitors every year and Alderney currently holds several British and Channel Islands records. Water sports include sailing, swimming, surfing, wind surfing and excellent scuba diving.

Tennis, bowls (both indoors and outdoors), boules and table tennis are also very popular.

With over thirty clubs and societies, Alderney offers its visitors a varied programme of day and evening entertainment throughout the year (see diary of events and club lists).

Eating out and popular watering holes

There are plenty of eating places and pubs to enjoy good food, hospitality and a happy atmosphere. Pub licensing hours are very flexible and children are welcome. On Milk-O-Punch Sunday, the first Sunday in May, a heady concoction with the traditional ingredients of milk, eggs and a healthy tot of rum, is offered free to all by every publican on the island. Alderney does itself proud on the food front with the annual Seafood Festival, also held in May, when the island’s top chefs, restaurants and hotels team up to produce this gastronomic highlight of the year.

Nightlife

Nightlife usually starts at the local pubs. There are no nightclubs, but discos and dances are organised by the different clubs, associations and establishments during the summer months.

For the discerning traveller, there is a good selection of privately-owned hotels, guesthouses, holiday homes as well as a pretty campsite.