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The alternator itself is not hard to get off but its a little akward to access and there is not much space to get it out once its all disconnected.
As I said before check all your earths first, also check the connections to the battery and alternator (one connection on the altenrator is bolted on and could have quite reasonably come loose).
Seems a waste to spend money on an alternator if its not the issue...
OK everyone, I've run some tests with the advisement of Mr Sniper and Goatboy.
The only earthing strap I was able to locate was the one running directly from the battery to the car body, this was bolted on tight and secure. The leads on the battery and alternator also seem firmly connected.
I then hooked up a multimeter to the battery and fed the cables through the window onto the dash, the power showed just over 14 volts and hovered around this mark steadily for 30 minutes driving in a way that would replicate my daily drive to work with light and radio and heater on. Until I got to a point where I simulated being in a traffic environment, in 1st gear at the biting point and then going forward 20 feet, stopping and repeating. The temperature gauge on the dash then showed as full (hot). It was at this stage when the voltage started to drop, and the car cut out, the meter dropped to around 10.5 to 11 volts. When I tried to start the car again it would not start as if the battery was flat again. I left the car to rest for a couple of minutes and the voltage increased to 12 volts fairly quickly but still would not start. From this point the meter would increase at about 0.01 volts every 20 seconds or so, I allowed it to get up to 12.3 and tried to start again with no success. I then jump started the car and was able to drive back home.
This does therefore seem to indicate a definitive fault with an intermittent alternator as you advised.
Please tell me your thoughts gurus, I will likely buy an alternator off ebay and try to fit myself if this is the case.
I'm thinking a cam-angle sensor is a bit dodgy. If you have a G13BB, they are at the rear of the head, against the firewall. These things are prone to intermittent failure and they are a cheap replacement that only takes 5 mins.
