A pretty island has been named one of the UK’s best – despite it hardly getting any tourists. Located right in the south of the British Isles, it lies next to some bigger neighbours in Guernsey and Jersey – and while it doesn’t have the same numbers, it has all the same attractive features.
Britons are urged to travel to Alderney in the Channel Islands to get a real sense of what the British Crown Dependency has to offer. It is the perfect place to sample some beautiful cliffs for hiking, while nature-lovers will also have a ball.
Situated not too far from France, Alderney has a separate microclimate to the rest of the UK, meaning summer days on the beach are one of the best things in the world. There are plenty of beaches to choose from, most boasting delicious golden sand.
Pretty much all of the coastal sections feature bustling wildlife havens, with long grasslands and plenty of bushes. Visitors are urged to go rockpooling too, to find an array of different creatures. You can set your sights on starfish and sea urchins. The more adventurous might even head to the island’s strandlines and have a look at the shells and shark eggs.
Locals love to enjoy a spot of carp fishing at the iconic Corblets Reservoir before nipping into town to have a browse of the sensational Roman Fort. The fort is the first evidence of military construction on the island and is the best-preserved small Roman fort in Western Europe.
The Odeon, meanwhile, is another fascinating slice of history on the island – but it’s not a cinema. It is in fact a five-story naval range finding tower which doubled up as a bunker that was built by the Nazi forces during World War Two.
Alderney Railway is a top feature for tourists who want to get a taste of the island without doing any physical exercise. The gorgeous little train trundles around the natural scenery with grace.
If you’re thinking of starting a new life on the island then be warned – properties are well above the national average, at about £315,000. The average UK property price is a bit below, at £290,000.
