About Alderney

Alderney is the northernmost inhabited Channel Island, part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the English Channel, just eight miles from the coast of France. ‘The Forgotten Jewel in the Channel’ is just that: an isolated, peaceful escape with gentle landscapes, a mild climate and some of the most immaculate beaches of the archipelago. A haven for wildlife, the island is popular with birdwatchers and botanists, with over a thousand species of wildflower flourishing in the fields. Becoming an island when the waters rose during the Neolithic period, Alderney is also steeped in history, having been inhabited for five thousand years. It’s strategically located between Britain and France, culminating in numerous monuments and forts still visible today, spanning from Ancient Rome to World War II, when the Nazis invaded. Given Alderney’s close proximity to France, getting the ferry from the Normandy coast is quick and reliable, with weekly crossings lasting just under an hour.

About Guernsey

Guernsey is an island in the English Channel, just off the coast of Normandy and along with Jersey, and a number of smaller islands including Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou and Lihou, Guernsey forms part of the Channel Islands. With a total land area of seventy eight square kilometres, and a coastline of fifty kilometres, the landscape of Guernsey is dominated by its coastal features. Of its population of just sixty seven thousand, around a quarter live in St Peter Port, which is Guernsey’s capital, as well as its main port, providing a gateway to the island from France, neighbouring Jersey and England. The unique blend of French and English culture and the fact that both languages are spoken widely on the island make Guernsey a popular destination for visitors from the UK, France, and other parts of mainland Europe. Getting to Guernsey by ferry is a relatively painless experience with a choice of departure ports from both sides of the channel as well as inter-channel-island services from Jersey. Condor Ferries operate year round crossings from Portsmouth, Jersey and St Malo with both conventional and fast ferries, as well as a seasonal service from Poole. Manche Iles Express operates passenger only services to Guernsey from the French ports of Diélette, Carteret and Granville at various times throughout the year with some services travelling via Jersey. The island has an extensive bus route, which makes travelling around by public transport relatively straightforward. St Peter Port is well connected to the bus routes, meaning you can travel quickly and easily from your ferry to your final destination by bus. There are also a number of car hire options available at the ferry port and airport, for visitors who want the most flexible and self-contained transport option. The island does have some unusual traffic rules and a maximum speed limit of 35 mph across the entire island, which can take some visiting driver by surprise.