Why Visit the Farne Islands?
The Farne Islands are a small archipelago of rocky islands lying between 1.5 and 5 miles off the Northumberland coast. Owned and managed by the National Trust, they are home to one of the most spectacular seabird colonies in Europe, along with one of the largest grey seal populations on the English coast. A boat trip from Seahouses to the Farne Islands is, quite simply, one of the greatest wildlife experiences in Britain.
Getting to Seahouses
Seahouses is a small fishing village on the Northumberland coast, roughly 50 miles north of Newcastle.
- By car: Take the A1 north, then the B1340 east toward the coast. There are several pay-and-display car parks in Seahouses, including a large one on Seafield Road (NE68 7SJ). In peak summer, arrive early as spaces fill quickly.
- By bus: The X18 bus from Newcastle to Berwick stops in Alnwick, from where the X18 continues to Seahouses. Journey time from Alnwick is about 25 minutes.
Booking Your Boat Trip
Several operators run trips from Seahouses harbour, but the most established is Billy Shiel's Farne Island Boat Trips, operating since 1918.
Billy Shiel's Farne Island Boat Trips:
- Address: Seahouses Harbour, NE68 7RF
- Website: farne-islands.com
- Booking: Strongly recommended in advance, especially during puffin season (May-July). Book online or call ahead.
Types of trip available:
- Inner Farne landing — approximately 2.5-3 hours. You land on Inner Farne and walk among nesting seabirds at incredibly close range. This is the most popular option during breeding season.
- Staple Island landing — approximately 2.5-3 hours. Slightly wilder and less visited than Inner Farne, with dramatic cliff formations and huge colonies of guillemots and razorbills.
- All-day trip — land on both Inner Farne and Staple Island for a full day's wildlife experience.
- Seal cruise — a 1-1.5 hour non-landing cruise around the islands, perfect for seeing grey seals hauled out on the rocks.
Approximate prices (2024/25):
- Landing trips: Adults from £20-£25, Children from £10-£12
- Non-landing cruises: Adults from £15-£18, Children from £8-£10
- National Trust landing fee: Adults £13-£17 extra (depending on season) (free for NT members). This is payable on top of the boat fare.
When to Visit
Timing your visit correctly makes an enormous difference:
- Late April to mid-July — breeding season and the best time for seabirds. Puffins arrive from mid-April and are present until late July.
- May and June — peak puffin season. Birds are nesting, feeding chicks, and incredibly tolerant of visitors. You can sit on the path and have puffins landing within arm's reach.
- Late June to early July — Arctic tern chicks are hatching. The adult terns become fiercely protective and will dive-bomb visitors. Wear a hat.
- September to November — grey seal pupping season. Over 2,000 pups are born on the islands each autumn. Non-landing cruises are the best way to see them.
- Winter — the islands are closed to visitors, but seals can still be spotted from the mainland.
What to Expect on a Landing Trip
The boat journey from Seahouses harbour takes around 15-20 minutes for Inner Farne or 25-30 minutes for Staple Island. Expect the sea to be choppy — if you suffer from seasickness, take medication before departure.
Once landed, clearly marked paths lead you through the heart of the seabird colonies. On Inner Farne, you'll see:
- Puffins — nesting in burrows just inches from the footpath
- Arctic terns — aggressively defending their nests (a hat is essential)
- Guillemots and razorbills — packed onto cliff ledges in their thousands
- Shags — with their distinctive green sheen and untidy nests
- Eider ducks — sitting tight on nests, often right beside the path
- St Cuthbert's Chapel — a tiny 14th-century chapel on Inner Farne, built on the site where St Cuthbert lived as a hermit in the 7th century
What to Bring
- Hat — essential protection from dive-bombing Arctic terns during nesting season
- Waterproof jacket — sea spray and island weather can be unpredictable
- Binoculars — useful on the boat and for spotting birds on distant cliff faces
- Camera with zoom lens — you'll get close, but a zoom helps capture cliff-nesting birds
- Sunscreen — the islands are fully exposed with no shade
- Layers — it can be cold on the water even in summer
- Old shoes or wellies — paths can be muddy and covered in guano
Things to Do in Seahouses
After your boat trip, Seahouses itself has plenty to offer:
- Fish and chips — Seahouses is famous for them. Try Lewis's Fish Restaurant on Main Street or Neptune Fish Restaurant near the harbour.
- Seahouses harbour — watch the fishing boats come and go and browse the small shops along the front
- Walk to Bamburgh — the stunning beach walk south from Seahouses to Bamburgh Castle is around 3 miles and offers one of the finest coastal views in England
- St Aidan's Beach — a beautiful stretch of sand just south of the harbour, with views of Bamburgh Castle and the Farne Islands
Plan Ahead
The Farne Islands are a precious and fragile environment. Visitor numbers are carefully managed by the National Trust, and landing trips have limited capacity. Book as early as possible, especially for weekend visits during May and June. Weather can also cause cancellations at short notice, so it's worth having a flexible itinerary.
A boat trip to the Farne Islands is a genuinely unforgettable experience. The combination of dramatic island scenery, thousands of nesting seabirds at touching distance, and curious grey seals popping up beside the boat makes this one of Northumberland's absolute highlights.
Sources & Useful Links
- Farne Islands (National Trust) — Boat trip booking, landing fees and seasonal access
- Billy Shiel's Farne Island Boat Trips — Boat tour operator from Seahouses
- Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours — Alternative boat operator
- Swallow Fish, Seahouses — Fresh local seafood
- Seahouses Tourist Information — Visitor guide
- RSPB — Farne Islands — Seabird species information
