It may be tiny, but Alderney really is one of the jewels in the crown of the Channel Islands.

Need a break away from it all, but not too far away? Alderney, the third largest of the Channel Islands, is just an hour’s flight from Shoreham (near Brighton), Southampton and Bournemouth, (15 minutes from Guernsey or Jersey) and comfortable accommodation is offered across a good selection of privately-owned hotels, guest houses and self-catering holiday homes.

The 2,400 residents of this little oasis in the middle of the English Channel enjoy an enviable lifestyle and good food, leisure time and - above all - total relaxations. Here, gourmets can enjoy the best of seafood, fresh from local waters and a wide choice of restaurants serving traditional English food as well as continental and oriental cuisine.

Hospitality is all-important and a gentle pub crawl in St. Anne, the island’s capital, exploring the many friendly watering holes, is a great way to meet the “Ridunians”, as the island’s residents are called. Leisure facilities are somewhat limited but they do include a scenic and challenging golf course, a panoramic tennis court, a squash court and a smart Snooker Club. The best way to explore this 1.5 mile wide and 3.5 mile long island is on foot: over 25 miles of walks and paths lead along the cliffs, across the many commons and the beautiful white beaches.

The Alderney Wildlife Trust offers guided walks and publishes free leaflets of recommended walks. But you can also hire bicycles or cars, and guided tours are offered by coach or by taxi. Or you can discover the island on horse back - now that’s a relaxed way to travel! Alderney has the Channel Island’s only working train which operates every weekend during the main season or by charter, and (unlike Britain's railways) is guaranteed to run on time! Alderney is a magnet for wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers.

The island‘s proximity to France means that species found on mainland Europe but not in Britain, are sometimes seen here. The island is famous for its seabirds, especially the gannets. Alderney has two gannet colonies, totalling about 6,000 pairs. These colonies are situated on rocky islets, one of which is so close inshore that it can easily be viewed from Alderney's cliffs.

A list of all the birds resident or passing through the island, season-by-season, is available from the Alderney Wildlife Trust and can also be downloaded from the official website www.alderney.net

Information of how to get there, where to stay, what to see and what to do can be found on the same website or by requesting a free brochure on 01481 822333. Aurigny Air Services runs direct flights to Alderney from Southampton, Guernsey and Jersey. Contact them on 01481 822886 or www.aurigny.com

Relevant links

• Alderney website (Opens a new window)