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The Farne Islands are situated between 2 to 5 miles
off
The Northumberland Coast.
There are 28 islands in total, 15 of which can be seen at high tide, with the largest island being Inner Farne.
Historically the Farne Islands are associated with St Aidan
and St Cuthbert, both of whom used the islands as a place to mediate in utter solitude.
The Northumberland heroine, Grace Darling spent most of her short life on the lighthouses here,
first on Brownsman's Island and then on Longstone Island.
A 30 minute boat trip, departing from
Seahouses
brings in excess of 45,000 visitors to the islands throughout the year.
The most rewarding months being May, June and July when tens of thousands of birds are roosting.
The islands are the summer home of four of the five species of British tern, as well as twelve other species of seabird, including puffins (also known as the 'Sea Parrot'
and locally known as the 'Tommy Noddy'), guillemots and kittiwakes.
Another notable resident of the Farne Islands is the grey seal (also known as the Atlantic grey seal), and the colonies here are one of the most important in Europe.
This species of seal is the largest surviving carnivore in the British Isles.
The islands being in the care of the National Trust are a very popular destination for lovers of wildlife, for nowhere in the British Isles are such a variety of seabirds to be seen in such a small area.
Longstone Lighthouse, or Outer Farne as it was first called, is situated on Longstone Rock, one of the Outer Staple Islands. Visitors can sail out to this isolated Lighthouse, which is open to the public during the months of April to October.
Visitors can view Grace Darling's tiny bedroom from where she spotted nine survivors desperately clinging to the rocks. Despite a raging storm, the Darlings launched the lighthouse boat and rescued the survivors, caring for them in the lighthouse for two days until the storm subsided.
In the late autumn of 2007, two basking sharks measuring in the region of 20 feet in length were spotted offshore around The Farne Islands.
This is the first time these gentle giants have been seen in this area, and only the 17th time they have been seen off the north east coast. The two sharks fed on plankton for six days before swimming off, perhaps migrating to warmer waters.
A few days later, a ten feet long basking shark was washed up on Fisherrow Beach (Musselburgh) in East Lothian, despite considerable effort, the young shark was unable to be saved.
Puffin Census 2008...
For nine-months during 2008,
the five-year census of the puffin breeding colony takes place.
This survey is carried-out by The National Trust, whose
nine wardens live in the 16th century pele tower on Inner Farne for the duration of this count.
Up to 60,000 breeding pairs are counted by the wardens during this period,
with both male and female Puffins looking identical and bonding for life.
The breeding season starts in May and by August
the Puffins are ready to return to their pelagic life once again.
Accommodation on the Farne Islands...
For the general public no accommodation is available.
National Trust resident wardens are the only persons able to stay on the islands,
five or so of whom live on Inner Farne for about nine months a year.
The nearest accommodation can be found on the mainland, in and around
Seahouses.
Useful Links...
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