Farne Islands

This group of islands is located just a few miles offshore from Seahouses and is home to spectacular colonies of seabirds, including approximately 37,000 pairs of puffins, who come to the Farne Islands to nest.

Although puffins are undoubtedly the main attraction, visitors to the islands will also be rewarded with wonderful views of shags, kittiwakes, razorbills, eider ducks, guillemots and many other seabirds, as well as a large colony of grey seals. As many as 1,000 grey seal pups are born on the islands every autumn.

Regular boat trips to the Farne Islands depart from Seahouses harbour from April to October. The National Trust’s website provides a handy calendar detailing what wildlife you’re likely to see at different times of year on the islands: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/farne-islands/features/wildlife-calendar

Boat trips are available from many different companies, all of whom have booking offices on Seahouses harbour itself.

Although the islands no longer have any human inhabitants (other than National Trust rangers), there are many stories of hermits, monks, lighthouse keepers, soldiers and even shipwrecked sailors that make a trip to the visitor centre on Inner Farne very much worth a visit.

More information about the islands is available on The National Trust’s website:

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/farne-islands