Events

Alderney comes to life when the sun shines and the stunning sandy beaches are a haven for water babes and sun-worshippers alike. With such a range of bays there is always one sheltered from the prevailing winds and sometimes with decent surf too.

Stretch your legs exploring the lanes at the back of St Anne, or try walking up the aptly named Zig Zag path. You can pause for breath on the benches thoughtfully placed all the way up or stop off for a cuppa at the airport cafe afterwards.

But for more organised activity then Alderney has that in spades too. Visitors often come back year after year to join in with their favourite annual event and none is more popular than Alderney Week.

The carnival combines the charm of a giant village fete with a festival atmosphere which involves the whole Island. The usual population of 2,400 nearly doubles and many visitors book their accommodation year on year… come for Alderney Week and you get hooked! There are more than 130 organised events so there really is something for everyone and children will never wail that they are bored – just exhausted.

The sea is linked to many of the events and the Man Powered Flight competition is an old-favourite for many visitors. Competitors launch themselves off one side of the mouth of the Inner Harbour at Braye with amazing homemade ‘planes’. Or there is the Daft Raft Race around the bay, a giant Sandcastle Competition and a Duck Race.

One of the highlights is the Cavalcade Day with decorated floats, fancy dress classes and tug-o-war. Meanwhile one of the best sights in a frenetic week is to watch the warm glow of the burning torches being carried down the cobbled streets of St Anne on the way to a bonfire and firework spectacular that is the Grand Finale of Alderney Week.

In 2010 Alderney Week is the 31st-8th August. Keep up to date with the website www.alderneyweek.com and check out the 2010 theme so you can plan your fancy dress before you arrive!

Part of the charm of Alderney is the way it celebrates the past and holds on to tradition. If your visit includes the first Sunday in May, then join in with Milk-O-Punch. The punch is served free from all the pubs and clubs and made to secret recipes of rum, eggs, nutmeg and milk from the Island’s own dairy. Alderney is the only Channel Islands to celebrate Milk-O-Punch and the origins of the day are suitably blurred though perhaps used to mark the time when the cows went out to summer pasture.

Also in May is Alderney Wildlife Week with talks and guided walks exploring the wide range of habitat and species on the Island including the unusual blonde hedgehogs. There is also a wildlife weekend event later in August after the Alderney Week crowds have left for another year. There is an excellent information office in St Anne offering guides and free maps of popular walks and what to look out for, staffed by enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers.

The runners in the popular Half Marathon (4 September) probably go a bit fast to appreciate the wildlife but the views around the course are spectacular. Athletes and supporters come from all over the UK and beyond for a sociable weekend and a truly memorable race. www.alderney-half-marathon.org

Braye Harbour is home to the fleet bringing the freshest fish to restaurant tables. Sitting atop the harbour the Braye Fish and Chip shop offers a BYO restaurant and great views. Foodies will not go hungry in Alderney with a number of first-rate restaurants, cafes and top pub grub, with a special week long Seafood Festival in May.

If you fancy catching your own supper then there are charter boats to take you fishing over many of the shipwrecks and sandbanks around the island. Alderney is also a mecca for shore fishing with a huge range of marks and species. The Island has a well-stocked tackle and bait shop which can also organise lessons for the novice or young fisherman, or something more serious for the competent angler. See www.alderneyangling.com for more information. Fishing is the focus for one week (2nd to 9th October 2010) when some 150 people travel to the island compete in the annual Angling Festival. Alderney holds many local and national records, and the potential to beat one of your own personal best fish is high.

If you prefer a club to a rod then make the most of the Alderney Golf Course. With alternate tees you can play an 18-hole game whilst enjoying views across the English Channel and to France. There are competitions all year and a warm welcome for visitors who can hire clubs and trolleys and enjoy often challenging links conditions.

Horse-riding can also be organised and there is a wide range of sporting and hobby clubs from snooker to keep-fit to join in during your stay.

Other quirky unique attractions include the only working railway in the Channel Islands with a steam train pulling former London Underground carriages. Santa and Easter Egg specials are great for the kids with a varied service for the rest of the year.

Whether you want action-packed or lazy, or a bit of both in your holiday then Alderney offers it all. For such a small place it is surprising how much goes on and the only problem is how to sample it all in just one visit!