The Inner Farne
The Inner Farne, the largest island in the Farne archipelago, serves as a crucial breeding ground for various seabirds during the season, including puffins, shags, guillemots, cormorants, and razorbills. Nesting along the rugged rock faces and near the pathways, these birds offer exceptional viewing opportunities for ornithologists and photographers alike. The island also features a historic chapel, where St. Cuthbert once carved out a cell during his time as a hermit. Today, it continues to hold services for visiting pilgrims. During the breeding season, the island welcomes visitors from 13:30, with boat trips departing the harbor at 12:30, circling the inner islands before arriving at Inner Farne itself.
Longstone Island
Longstone Island plays a vital role in maritime navigation along the Northumberland coast. Its lighthouse, standing 23 meters tall at high water, serves as a crucial guide for vessels, flashing every 20 seconds. The island also holds historical significance as the former home of Grace Darling, who moved there in 1826. She became a national heroine 12 years later when she and her father, William Darling, bravely rescued survivors from the wreck of the Forfarshire on September 7, 1838. In addition to its rich history, Longstone Island hosts a colony of Atlantic Grey Seals. Visitors can land on the island free of charge, while guided tours inside the lighthouse are exclusively available to passengers aboard the MV Golden Gate.
Brownsman Island
Brownsman Island is not accessible for public landings, but visitors can still enjoy impressive views from the surrounding waters. It serves as a vital habitat for seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, terns, razorbills, cormorants, and many other species during the breeding season. While Brownsman was once a key breeding site for seal pups, National Trust wardens now prevent seals from settling there due to erosion concerns, with the colony now residing on Longstone Island. A small cottage on Brownsman, once home to Grace Darling and her family before their move to the lighthouse on Longstone, is now occupied by National Trust bird wardens who monitor and care for the island during the summer months.
