SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND: ALDERNEY
QUICK TRIPS TO THE MOST FASHIONABLE CORNERS OF BRITAIN… WHERE TO STAY, EAT, SHOP AND EXPLORE
Get back to nature with a picturesque break on the northernmost Channel Island
WHAT TO KNOW
The northernmost of the inhabited Channel Islands, Alderney is a closely guarded secret among those in the know. At three miles long and one-and-a-half miles wide, visitors are never far from its remarkably uncrowded white-sand beaches. Enjoy walks along the cliff paths, rock pooling, birdwatching or exploring its history via the Victorian fortifications and WWII bunkers.
WHERE TO STAY
The Blonde Hedgehog, St Anne Originally built as the Rose & Crown pub in 175O, this boutique bolthole comprises 1O handsome rooms and suites set across two buildings, as well as a three-bedroom cottage, perfect for families or groups of friends. The cottage’s fabulous outdoor space comes with a fire pit and seating in the garden, plus a large roof terrace connected to the master bedroom, offering incredible views of the island.
Interiors are inspired by Alderney’s natural beauty, with a fanciful mix of antiques and modern pieces from British brands including OKA and Parker Howley & Co. At breakfast, choose from a menu of sweetly named sections – Peckish, Hungry, Hungrier, Ravenous and Parched – and, throughout the day, enjoy farm-to-fork dishes made from fresh, seasonal ingredients, including black radish, pumpkin and purple sprouting broccoli from the kitchen garden.
The hotel takes its delightful name from the island’s thriving population of pale hedgehogs – in the 196Os, a handful were brought over from mainland England as pets, then escaped. If you’re curious to know more, join Roland Gauvain, head of the Alderney Wildlife Trust, on a midnight safari to search for these elusive creatures. The hotel can also arrange evening sunset cocktails and fire-pit dinners at Fort Tourgis, one of 18 forts built during the reign of Queen Victoria. For those brave enough for an early morning swim, a driver will meet you on the beach afterwards with a Thermos of hot tea or coffee, warming bacon butties and kedgeree.
From £230 per night, including breakfast