What is "burhou"

Burhou (pronounced ber-ROO) is a small island about northwest of Alderney that is part of the Channel Islands. It has no permanent residents, and is a bird sanctuary, so landing there is banned from March 15 to July 27. The island's wildlife includes a colony of puffins (declining in numbers) and many rabbits.

It has no landing stage as such, but visitors use a small inlet. In rough weather it may be impossible to land.

The Guernsey botanist E. D. Marquand called it, "the most desolate and lonely of all the islands in our archipelago." He once had to spend the night there, as his return journey was delayed by fog.

The 1906 book, The Channel Pilot states –

"Between Ortac, Verte Tête and Burhou Island, are scattered many dangerous rocks, and ledges among which the streams run with great velocity."

The States of Alderney member, John Beaman has political responsibility for the island.