Seals and pups on the Farne Islands in the North Sea off the coast of Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA) National Trust ranger Harriet Reid said: “Due to the coronavirus crisis, we haven’t been able to live on the islands this year, which we normally do between March and December. The Farne Islands are located off the coast of Northumberland . It seems in the summer, the grey seals prefer sunbathing in the sun than playing with divers. Islands: Both Inner Farne and Staple are open. Bring a hat to protect you from the dive bombing Arctic terns who will be protecting their chicks. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); I’m Colleen. The shags look wonderful this month, with their beautiful breeding crests making them look most like a cross between a dragon and a punk. Scubaverse 6,139 views. Pufflings are still hatching, with some of the older ones heading towards the sea. As we wanted to see the puffins, we visited at the end of April. Inner Farne is a small island of 16 acres. Inner Farne and Staple are closed. Read about 10 facts about the Farne Islands’ seals here. Carry on browsing if you're happy with this, or find out how to manage cookies. We love them, but appreciate that not everyone wishes to be dive bombed by them; dont let this put you off a visit - there are plenty of options for a tern free visit. However, if you are a NT member, then you can land for free. It’s a time of firsts and lasts – will you spot the first puffins in the water, a spring migrant or the last couple of furry white seal pups? July The first seal pup born on the Farnes this year was on September 27, and heralded what is hoped to be yet another successful breeding season. Diving with Seals in the Farne Islands with Miss Scuba UK - Duration: 11:42. October Search available accommodation in and around Seahouses. Eider ducks start returning mid-month and other seabirds – kittiwakes, fulmars, guillemots, razorbills, sandwich terns, common terns – start to arrive. Then there is the human story with St Cuthbert and Grace Darling taking centre stage, whilst the view from the Farne Islands back towards Bamburgh Castle rival any … The captain took us on a tour of the route taken by lighthouse keeper William Darling and his daughter Grace during their heroic rescue in 1838. A cluster of rocky crags scattered between one and five miles from shore, the islands are known for being the home of Grace Darling , famed for her involvement in the rescue of survivors of the Forfarshire shipwreck in 1838. The church was built on the island in 1370 and is dedicated to St Cuthbert who spent over 10 years on the island living as a hermit from 684. The Farne Islands are a group of islands off the coast of Northumberland, England.The group has between 15 and 20 islands depending on the level of the tide. We booked the first departure of the day, so arrived at Seahouses early in the morning and parked at the main carpark just of the Main St roundabout. Famously home to 55,000+ pairs of puffins, the largest breeding colony of grey seals in England and an array of other seabirds including terns, razorbills, eider ducks, shags, kittiwakes and guillemots, the Farne Islands offer one of the best wildlife experiences in the UK. The Farne Islands are home to England’s largest population of Atlantic grey seals, with numbers increasing every year. Arctic terns leave and other seabirds – guillemots, razorbills, sandwich terns, common terns – start to depart too. We boarded the St Cuthbe ... We went out to the Farne Islands with Billy Shiels and saw the cormorants, guillemots and kittiwakes and the seals. Puffins can be seen on the islands, with grey seals still lolling and digesting their fish (they do spend most of their time doing this) and pufflings start to hatch (though you can’t see the baby puffins, as they are underground in the burrows). Islands: Both Staple and Inner Farne are open. Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, I paid for this trip myself. But when we moved to the UK, I found out about the wonderful Farne Islands in Northumberland, and was excited that I would finally get the chance to see them. They were smaller than I was expecting. Pufflings are still hatching, and some of the older ones will be heading towards the sea. The staff were very welcoming and made sure we all got safely on board. Arctic terns nest until mid-month so you will still need a hat. Following our landing, we jumped back on the boat and headed back to the mainland. If seeing the seabird spectacle is your goal, plan your visit between mid April and late July to see the largest number of birds. Other seabirds – kittiwakes, fulmars, guillemots, razorbills, sandwich terns, common terns, shags can be seen on the crowded island cliffs. It took us a few moments to realise it was there to protect an eider duck that had made its nest on the paths edge. Rob Corby reports on a trip he organised to the Farne Islands to swim with seals. Inner Farne is open and Staple is closed. The first seal we saw on this visit was asleep at the top of steps on Staple Island, at least until we approached. This post may contain affiliate links. Once home to saints, soldiers and legendary lighthouse keepers, the Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast are now a sanctuary for seabirds and seals. I go out once or twice each summer, mainly to see the birds but we usually get to see a few dozen grey seals as well. Other seabirds – kittiwakes, fulmars, guillemots, razorbills, sandwich terns, common terns, shags – can be seen on the islands, and many other species besides. Seals and pups on the Farne Islands in the North Sea off the coast of Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA) National Trust ranger Harriet Reid said: “Due to … All recommendations and opinions are my own. The 'Shiel' family (Billy Shiel's father) started taking boat trips to the Farne Islands in 1918 - just after the First World War. There's a reason people refer to Castle Combe as the prettiest village in England. When Bartholomew first arrived Aelwin was already living on the Inner Farne and finding the newcomer unbearable, tried to get him to leave. Not only do you get free entrance into the islands, but there are lots of amazing NT properties to visit in the area and car parks around the UK. The Farne Islands, lie just off shore midway between Seahouses and Bamburgh. We then headed out on a tour around the islands. Take a look at our boats, our trips & tours, then plan your visit and if you wish, reserve your place online now! Credit: PA Images An annual seal census in Northumberland has had to be carried out from the air because of the coronavirus pandemic. If in doubt, call ahead to check what you’ll be able to see. Our ranger team undertakes an annual census (previously every 5 years). These trial shingle beds are designed to give the terns an alternative habitat and help us control vegetation on the Islands, Visitors watching a puffin on the Farne Islands, Northumberland, Success on the Northumberland Coast for UK’s second rarest seabird. Staple and Inner Farne are open. “This has meant we’ve been unable to carry out our annual seal pup count on the ground. These commissions help keep this website up and running, and I thank you for your support. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; It is hard to miss the seals, m ainly because the grey seal colony at the Farnes numbers around about 5,000! Pufflings are still hatching, and some of the older ones will be heading towards the sea. Sir David Attenborough’s favourite place to ‘see nature at its best’ is surely somewhere worth checking out. If you’re not looking for unusual birds, this is when our islands offer the ultimate Easter activity – will you go to one of the UK’s most remote chapels or spot the first razorbill egg? They are scattered about 1 1 ⁄ 2 to 4 3 ⁄ 4 miles (2.4–7.6 km) from the mainland, divided into the Inner Group and the Outer Group. Seals: Grey seals can be seen from boats. Birds: Shags can also be seen on the islands. The visibility here is usually around 10 metres and you can experience some fantastic interaction with these inquisitive creatures. Credit: PA Images An annual seal census in Northumberland has had to be carried out from the air because of the coronavirus pandemic. Please note also that all boat trips, including in the summer but especially in the winter, are weather-dependent, so check sailings with the boat trip operators. Islands: Both Staple and Inner Farne are open. A good day out. We split into buddy pairs (Steve & Mike, Jamie & Dawn, Ellie & me), before entering the water at slightly different intervals. Shags, cormorants and grey seals can all be seen from the boats and who knows what spring migrants might be seen flying over – from spoon bills to white-tailed eagles, you just never know! It has a wooden boardwalk circuit, suitable for disabled visitors, that takes you in a circuit around the island. You may have heard a story about Grace Darling. During this time, two islands are open to the public for birdwatching: Apparently, it was part of a much larger monastic complex, but this is the only remaining building. Grey seals can be seen from boats and you can get an early insight into how our monitoring is going. The Farne Islands are located between Bamburgh and Seahouses on the Northumberland coast and are home to one of the largest seal colonies in the UK with around 1,000 seal pups born each year. Throughout April, August, September and October this tour is available morning and afternoon. Inner Farne is now open but Staple is still closed. Don’t forget to get a side of mushy peas for a true British fish and chip experience! Northumberland is a historic county in the northeast of England just south of the Scottish border. Land on Inner Farne, Staple Island, and Longstone when the islands open in spring until autumn time. It’s not all over, though – you might spot some overwintering birds arriving to re-fuel before they head to the mainland (keep an eye on the stick bundles near the Pele Tower). amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; Seals on the Farne Islands. He explains that the animals were so accustomed to human activity that they would not be bothered by the proximity of the boats. The fish was lovely and fresh, and there were also non-fish items on the menu for non-seafood eaters. They are home to a large colony of Atlantic Grey Seals. Kittiwakes and fulmars can be seen till mid-month and usually until the end of the month. Islands: Inner Farne is open and Staple is closed. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Grey seals can be seen from boats and jumplings (baby guillemots) are leaving the cliffs by jumping into the sea – normally in the evening but occasionally in the daytime. Inner Farne and Staple islands are closed but grey seals and shags can be seen from boats – the seals are generally lolling about digesting their fish supper, while shags are a year-round highlight and fulmars could also be starting to arrive. We even saw some puffins peeking out of their burrows. Seahouses is a quaint little harbourside village with a variety of shops, pubs and café’s. Once we have fitted you with equipment and you have changed into a wetsuit, a picturesque boat journey takes us to the Farne Islands. A visit to the Farne Islands starts in the pretty Northumberland fishing village of Seahouseswhere you can watch an array of activity in the bustling harbour before catching a boat for your journey over. Seals and pups on the Farne Islands in the North Sea off the coast of Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA) National Trust ranger Harriet Reid said: “Due to the coronavirus crisis… This is peak time for our fluffy seal pups, they can be seen gathering on the rocks in their thousands, peaking at the end of this month. Published 23 October 2019. As you would expect from a Northumberland fishing village, you’ll find plenty of fresh fish in Seahouses including a plethora of fish and chip shops and an excellent fishmongers called Swallowfishthat even has its own traditional smokehouse. Read my full disclosure. There was a real buzz onboard the boat when we finally got to see the first puffins. Farne Islands seal colony sees first pups of season. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; UK, Farne Islands, June 2019: Grey seals basking on cliffs at Farne, Bamburgh Castle in the distance View of Farne Islands from the beach and coastline of Northumberland. The adolescent seals are around and the water temperature is between 12-15°C (54-59°F). However, be aware that all timings are approximate, as the weather and other factors can affect migration, nesting and breeding times. Is this a romantic ... One of the must do trips to do in Northumberland is to visit Seahouses and travel across to the Farne islands on one of Billy Shiel's boats, the official National Trust boats. We booked online with Billy Shiel’s Boat Trips and chose the 2.5 hour Inner Farne bird sanctuary tour which included a boat tour around the islands and an hour of bird watching on Inner Farne. Grey seals on the Farne Islands This was my first autumn trip to the Farne Islands. Although I wouldn’t call myself a serious ‘birdwatcher’ I do enjoy watching them in the garden and when I’m out hiking either in woodlands or cliff sides. We have been members ever since we moved to the UK. p The only boat licensed to land on Longstone Island plus unique access to tour ... but must be kept on a lead at all times as you can get very close to the seals on occasions. Arrests as Indian workers ransack iPhone plant over wages 3. If seeing the seabird spectacle is your goal, plan your visit between mid April and late July to see the largest number of birds. If visiting Farne Islands puffins is the main thing you want to do on your trip, then you need to plan your visit right around the breeding season. Heres what else you can see throughout the year on the Farne Islands: January, February & March The spectacle of arriving at Staple right in front of the nesting cliffs is hard to beat! Inner Farne and Staple are open Your email address will not be published. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; This is the best month to see the eiders nesting on Staple, they sit tight on their nests, so keep your eyes down between the rocks! These commissions help keep this website up and running, and I thank you for your support. Islands: Inner Farne is open, but Staple is still closed. The Farne Islands are located between Bamburgh and Seahouses on the Northumberland coast and are home to one of the largest seal colonies in the UK with around 1,000 seal pups born each year. The name 'Shiel' has long associations with the Sea on this rugged Northumberland coastline. Visiting the Farne Islands. And Northumberland's Farne Islands are home to England's largest seal population. The best time to dive the Farne Islands with seals is late September to early October. After the landlady of The Hides had put doubt in our minds about the recent lack of seals in the Farnes we were pleased to see on site lots of seal heads looking out of the water at us. April The boat tours to the Farne Islands depart from Seahouses Harbour, sat nav NE68 7RN. Birds: Puffins can be seen on the islands, and pufflings start to hatch (though you can’t see the baby puffins, as they are underground in the burrows). Inner Farne will be open from March 30 (Staple is closed), between 10am … Farne Islands can be almost dived all year-long but if you want to increase your chances of an underwater encounter with grey seals, September is the right period to go. The Farne islands is considered one of the best places in the world to dive with seals, The area is one of the richest and most beautiful on the east coast of the United Kingdom. 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