<< Start < Previous 1 2 Next > End >>

• May 2006

  I visited the islands once again this year. A little earlier in the year than previously, there were plenty of birds and seals although very few puffins had yet arrived.

  added: 10th May 2006

• June 2005

  I returned to the Farne Islands just over a month after my first visit with a group of friends, althogh many of the birds had finished nesting there were still many to be seen and baby seals were also a more common sight.

  added: 30th Jun 2005

• May 2005

  I first visited the islands in the spring when the birds are nesting on the cliffs, it is a fantastic sight, with all sorts of different species flying around. Including the rather comical puffin. I also saw many seals who all swam around our boats. The write up below is about this trip.

  added: 23rd May 2005

• The Farne Islands

  Positioned off the coast of Northumberland about an hour North of Newcastle, the Farne Islands are quite a tourist attraction in the area. A few motor vessels travel out to the islands however you do not get quite the same perspective as you get with a kayak. The first island is just over a mile offshore and the last about 4 miles. You can see a map of the islands on Multimap. The National Trust own the islands and run a centre on Inner Farne, the first island.

  added: 22nd May 2005

• Paddling Out

  

  The first island, Inner Farne, is about a mile offshore, however the tide can have a significant effect on how easy a paddle it is. We went out just before high tide so the tide was fairly minimal, however at the wrong time a significant sideways flow can make paddling out hard work. As we approached Inner Farne we were met by huge numbers of puffins, guillemots and sea gulls. The birds were all nesting, apart from the puffins, as far as we could tell, who just seemed to sit around on the sea. As we rounded Inner Farne I could not help but be impressed by the shear number of birds as well as the variety. Inner Farne is one of the biggest, as well as the only one you are allowed to land on. We stopped here for a break and to stretch our legs, we also saw a young seal sun bathing on the beach, however it was not too warm so we set off again fairly quickly.

  added: 22nd May 2005

• Staple Sound

  

  Having left Inner Farne, we explored the small surrounding islands, these link together at lower tides however they were quite small at the time we were there. This was where we spotted our first group of seals. The seals took quite an interest in us and came within a couple of meters but never too close, they were quite large and could be quite intimidating if they wanted. After the initial excitement we set off across Staple Sound, the strech of water between Inner Farne and Staple Island and Brownsman, the next two islands. The seals followed us popping up in our wake about half way across Staple Sound before giving in and disappearing.

  added: 22nd May 2005

<< Start < Previous 1 2 Next > End >>