Route: Farne Islands
Area: Northumberland
Date of walk: 11th June 2015
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 2.0 miles at a guess
Weather: Sunny
We were staying at Harbourside Cottage in Seahouses, a perfect base for our short walking holiday in Northumberland, and we can highly recommend it
It was a 2 minute stroll from the cottage to the harbour where we boarded the Serenity, which would take us on our day long tour of the Farne Islands
Our first port of call was rocky Staple Island, one of the outer Farnes and a bird sanctuary. We had some fantastic sightings here – I’ll let the pictures tell the story
We spent about 2 hours wandering around the rocks, after which the Serenity took us via the scenic route to Inner Farne. On disembarking we ran the gauntlet of the arctic terns – these birds breed close to the footpath, even on the path in places, and aggressively defend their nests. Take a hat if you go!
We had another couple of hours to walk around the island. The route is roped in so as to protect the wildlife, which is there to be seen in abundance, and in many cases just a few feet away
Eventually it was time to leave, but with reluctance as this had been one of the best wildlife experiences of my life – an amazing day out and I hope that the photos that follow will do some justice to it
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From the balcony of Harbourside Cottage we can see our boat - the Serenity - and the Farne Islands in the distance
We stroll over to the ticket booth to collect our pre-booked tickets
The Serenity
Looking back to the cottage as we leave the harbour
We disembark on Staple Island and have a couple of hours to wander around
Guillemots - thousands of them
Some guillemot photos…
Bridled Guillemot
Razorbill
Kittiwake and chicks
Shag - wonderful plumage when seen in the right light
Eider Duck
Longstone Lighthouse - known for the role of Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper’s daughter, in rescuing survivors of the Forfarshire
Rock stacks on Staple Island
Puffin!
Puffins at their burrow
Bringing a beakful of sand eels to the burrow
Backwards and forwards they went - it was non-stop
Applying the brakes
After a fantastic couple of hours on Staple Island, the boat took us past Big Harcar and Little Harcar in search of grey seals…
Our last port of call was Inner Farne, where Arctic Terns breed - by the path is some cases - and defend their patch. It’s adviseable to wear a hat!
The well worn hat of one of the National Trust rangers
Nesting near the path is a successful strategy, as human presence deters larger predatory gulls
Arctic Tern eggs…
…and chicks
More puffins!
As soon as they landed by the burrow, a mob of black headed gulls dived in and tried to steal the food…
Time to go fishing again
The Serenity arrives to collect us and we run the gauntlet of the Arctic Terns again
Leaving Inner Farne after a truly memorable day out
Back on dry land at Seahouses, inside the famous Olde Ship Inn
