Braye Harbour Alderney

We had been thinking of moving to the other side of Sark or perhaps Fermain Bay on Guernsey because the wind had, as forecast, veered around to the west but then we thought that it would be much better to go for a longer sail.  So, at 0915hrs we left Grand Greve Bay and turned north up the Big Russel towards Alderney.

We hoisted the sail and actually started sailing!  Sadly, not for long.  Forty-five minutes later the 8½ knots of wind dropped off to 3 knots and so we switched the engine back on for the rest of the passage.

Motoring northeast through the Swinge on the northwest side of Alderney

The other relevant factor was the tide; we only just had enough time to get to Alderney before it turned strongly against us so we couldn’t drift along under 3 knots of wind.  As it was the tide had turned against us as we finished the passage motoring east through the Swinge on the northwest side of Alderney.  Perhaps we would have been better to have taken the longer route through The Race on the south of Alderney and then come in to Braye Harbour from the northeast?

On the last available mooring buoy in Braye Harbour

Once in Braye Harbour we were lucky to be able to pick up the last available mooring buoy by the breakwater. By 1240hrs the engine off so there was still plenty of time to go ashore and explore.

Left: View over the northeast end of Alderney with Mannez Light and ‘The Odeon’ lookout tower (German WWII observation and ranging post) on the island’s horizon.  Right: Nicky outside the Community Woodland Trail
 Information Centre (refurbished German WWII bunker)

We walked up through the Community Woodland Trail to the east of Newtown.  These woods hide the entrances to the 2 largest WWII German tunnel systems which run hundreds of metres into the hillside.  Most are unsafe and inaccessible, but the lookout bunker just above the old quarry has been restored.

Views of Braye Harbour, including a pretty blue boat close to the Napoleonic Wars era breakwater

Top:  Fort Albert with Mount Hale Battery below.  Bottom:  northeast Alderney

From this high vantage point we enjoyed great views…

Braye Harbour…….again!

… particularly to the north over Braye Harbour.  Continuing down along the Community Woodland Trail we came across large areas with newly planted trees.  Local volunteers have actually planted over 10,000 new trees here making it the largest community woodland in the Channel Islands.

Braye Beach

With the tide out we returned to the dinghy dock along the fabulous Braye Bay beach.

View down over Braye Harbour from the Butes

On Wednesday 20 July we need to move on but the morning’s weather was fabulous so we took another trip ashore walking up to St Anne, the main town on the island.  Our route took us up to the Butes, another point of high ground with great views down over Braye Harbour.  Whilst in St Anne we stopped for lunch sitting out in the garden of The Bump, a lovely bistro tucked away down a small lane off the high street.  It was a nice end to our short stay in Alderney.

Braye Harbour, Alderney