The Perfect Storm From A Perfect Location

Winter looms, dark and miserable, you want to enjoy a short break away but if you

only have a couple of days, you dont want to waste precious hours getting there and back. A little bit of luxury is on the cards but you also want to experience something a little different. Check out Alderney and in particular the Braye Beach Hotel.

For anyone not in the know, this little luxurious four star gem on Alderney, the smallest of the Channel Islands, is one best kept secret and you only have to look at the reviews on a site like Trip Advisor to see why it is a great choice for a winter short break.

It sits on a beautiful bay by Alderneys harbour which is famous for its quarter of a mile breakwater. Heres where the something different comes into play. The best way to describe it is to call it water Theatre. When the inclement weather blows in and it is too wet or chilly to venture outdoors, at The Braye Beach you can sit in cosy comfort and watch the symphony of water upon breakwater. It is a spectacle to behold, thrilling in every beat. What you hear is the distant thunk, a bit like a magnificent exploding firework, when waves collide with the breakwater and then a giant wall of water fountains up, often rising metres into the sky. With the aquamarine blue of the water in the foreground, the white spray set against grey clouds you cant help but ooh and aah with every breath. It isnt uniform and every wave is different and you almost have to fight the urge to do a French Lieutenants Woman stunt and venture out to get a closer view. Almost is the key word because sitting in the comfort of The Braye Beach, enjoying a delicious hot chocolate, homemade cake, lunch produced by the award winning kitchen has an overriding allure.

The staff members at Braye are extremely friendly and welcoming and the locals pop in to the coffee shop regularly so it has a pleasant buzz and is a great environment for making new friends and finding out about life on this tiny island. Wherever you are in the hotel, the views out over the beach and breakwater are enchanting. The hotel has its own cinema so if you tire of the storm scene you can always retire to the cinema with its armchair seating and watch the DvD of your choice as the hotel has an extensive library.

Not that the thought will enter your mind but should you want to catch up on our emails or make friends envious with a description of where you are, technology is to hand as the hotel has free wi fi and computers for guest use.

It isnt all about storms though that spectacle is an added bonus and one you are more likely to experience in the winter months. Alderney is a charming island and for walkers, bird watchers and nature lovers it is a paradise. The natural offerings vary at different times of the year and there are unique species of plant and bird to discover on Alderney. A bracing walk during which you can discover the Alderney Stones, natural sculptures created by renowned sculpture Andy Goldsworthy, is pure joy.

Alderney is but a hop, skip or jump from the mainland, accessed from Southampton or from the neighbouring island of Guernsey virtually in a matter of minutes as opposed to hours. In fact, if you have four days in mind for a short break, twin breaks offering two nights in Guernsey and 2 nights in Alderney will give you a good flavour of the delights these islands have to offer. It is certainly one option well worth considering when you want to get away without having to go a long way.

by: David Mock

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