Discover Alderney’s best spots for autumn photographs
Autumn brings softer light, changing colours and plenty of opportunities to capture some great photographs around Alderney.
The lower sun highlights the granite buildings of St Anne, catches the cliffs and long grasses along the coast and creates some spectacular evening light around Fort Clonque and Les Étacs. It is also an important time for bird migration, giving wildlife enthusiasts another reason to keep their camera or phone close by.
You do not need professional equipment to make the most of it. Whether you are carrying a DSLR or simply using your smartphone, Alderney has plenty of locations to create stunning photographs.
Evening light on Victoria Street
Chase the golden hour in St Anne
Early morning and late afternoon are particularly rewarding times to explore St Anne with a camera.
As the sun sits lower in the sky, the warm light catches the granite houses and traditional buildings that line our town’s lanes. Colourful doors, old stone walls and narrow streets all make interesting subjects, especially when long shadows start to stretch across the road.
It is worth taking your time as you walk. Small architectural features and details in the buildings can make just as interesting a photograph as the wider street scenes.
If you have a chance to visit St Anne’s Church, head inside in the morning or towards the end of the day, when the lower sun shines through the stained glass windows and fills parts of the church with colour.
The church is open every day from 8am until dusk.
Viewpoint overlooking Les Etacs
Watch the evening light at Les Étacs and Fort Clonque
Head towards the south west of the island later in the day for two very different coastal photographs.
From the headland overlooking Les Étacs, you can look across towards the famous gannet colony. The rocks, sea and thousands of birds make an impressive wide shot, particularly as the evening light starts to soften.
Even if you are only carrying your phone, the viewpoint gives you plenty to work with.
Fort Clonque is another excellent sunset location. The fort sits at the end of its causeway, surrounded by sea and rocky coastline.
Photograph it from the nearby headland to include more of the surrounding coast, or head closer to the water and use the fort as the main subject against the evening sky. As the sun drops, look out for silhouettes and reflections on the water.
View from the southern coastal path
Capture Alderney’s coastline
Alderney’s south coast is particularly photogenic in the lower light of autumn.
Walk in the morning or evening and the sun catches the cliff faces, rugged shoreline and long grasses beside the coastal paths. This side of the island gives you plenty of opportunities for wider landscape photographs, with uninterrupted views across the sea.
The weather can add just as much to a photograph as the sunshine. Passing clouds, sea mist or a bright break in the sky can quickly change the light along the coast.
The island’s beaches offer another option. Braye, Saye and Longis all provide wide stretches of sand where you can photograph reflections, changing skies and the patterns left by the tide.
Photograph autumn wildlife
Autumn is an important season for bird migration, making it an interesting time to explore Alderney with a camera and pair of binoculars.
Birds travelling south from the UK and northern Europe use the island as a place to stop, rest and feed before continuing their journey.
Longis Nature Reserve should be high on the list if wildlife photography is your priority.
The reserve combines wetlands, grassland and coastal habitats, attracting a wide variety of species. A bird hide near the pond gives you somewhere to sit quietly and photograph birds on the water and along the banks without getting too close.
Bird hide at Longis Nature Reserve
Give yourself some time here. Remaining in one spot and waiting for birds to come into view will often give you better opportunities than continually moving around the reserve.
Before heading out, check the Alderney Wildlife Trust’s daily sightings board. It records wildlife recently spotted around the island and can help you decide where to look and which species might currently be passing through.
Photograph centuries of Alderney history
Alderney’s historic sites provide plenty of opportunities for architectural and detail photography.
Across the island you will find buildings and ruins from different periods of its history, from Roman remains and Napoleonic structures to Second World War defences.
Fort Tourgis in the evening light
Several important sites have been restored in recent years. The Roman Fort at Longis is a good place to start, while the Odeon is one of the island’s most striking Second World War structures.
Other sites worth seeking out include the Watermill, the restored Napoleonic Telegraph Tower and the German Hospital Bunker.
Don’t forget the smaller details
Not every photograph needs a dramatic coastal view.
Around Braye Harbour you can capture fishing boats, moorings and reflections on the water.
Along the walking routes, look out for autumn leaves, grasses, berries and seasonal colour beside the paths.
These smaller photographs can add variety to your collection alongside the island’s bigger landscapes and landmarks.
Sunset over Corblets beach
Capture Alderney this autumn
Autumn is a wonderful season for exploring Alderney with a camera.
The changing light, migrating wildlife, historic landmarks and quieter landscapes offer plenty to photograph, whether you are an experienced photographer or simply enjoy capturing your travels on your phone.
And because Alderney is compact, it is easy to experience several very different locations during the same visit.
Plan your photography break
Ready to discover Alderney through your own lens?
Explore our walking guides, nature pages and travel information to help you plan an autumn break and find even more places to photograph around the island.