Island 341 - Ile de Raz, Alderney, Channel Islands

Ile de Raz is a small tidal island in Longis Bay off the north east coast of Alderney.  It is a few hundred metres south of Fort Houme Herbé .  It is very easy to access, as it has a 400 metre long man-made causeway to it, which I think is uncovered for longer than it is covered by the sea.  However the lowest part of the causeway was a bit slippery with seaweed.  The only building on the island is Fort Raz, which was built in the 1850s and had a number of guns on it to protect Essex Castle on Alderney.

The Germans added their own fortifications to Fort Raz during their occupation of the Channel Islands in the Second World War.

The fort looks as though it might be undergoing some renovation work, as there are some newish windows on the landward side. However the only person on the island when we visited on a sunny afternoon in July 2016 was a fisherman, who left in his van a few minutes after we arrived.

Approaching Fort Raz

 

Looking west towards Essex Castle from Ile de Raz

 

Essex Castle from Ile de Raz

 

Old buoy

 

Van on causeway

 

Seaward side of the island

 

German defences on Ile de Raz

 

Entrance Gates and "Private Property: Keep Out" Notice

 

Ile de Raz from Longis

 

Ile de Raz at High Tide - the view from Essex Castle