The Farne Islands
Grey Seals bask in the sunshine.
Longstone lighthouse - location of Grace Darling's famous rescue.
If you head towards the North-Northumberland coastal villages of Seahouses and Bamburgh, you can't help but notice the imposing cliffs of Inner Farne jutting from the sea in the distance. Inner Farne is the most prominant of about 20 islands depending on the state of the tide.
Perhaps the most famous island is Longstone, because of the distinctive red and white striped lighthouse - a favourite on local postcards. The lighthouse was also the home of Grace Darling, a young girl who heroically helped her father, the lighthouse keeper, row across perillously high seas to rescue stranded sailors.
In the early hours of September 7, 1838, Grace, looking from an upstairs window of her family's current lighthouse on the Farne Islands, spotted the ship, Forfarshire, which had run aground on the Harcar Rocks only a few hundreds of yards away. Knowing that the weather was too rough for the lifeboat to put out from the shore, Grace and her father took a rowing boat across to the other island and rescued nine frightened survivors, bringing them safely back to the lighthouse.
Even in her lifetime, Grace's achievement was celebrated, and she received a large financial reward in addition to the plaudits of the nation. She died of tuberculosis, unmarried, in 1842, and her memorial may be seen in the parish church at Bamburgh, close to a museum dedicated to her achievements and the seafaring life of the region. Her deed was committed to verse by Wordsworth and a lifeboat with her name was presented to Holy Island.
The Farnes today are well known for their wide variety of sea life and birds. Frequent pleasure boats take tourists around the islands to admire the Grey Seals, Puffins, Cormorants, Kittiwakes and Terns. The sheltered coves and numerous wrecks around the islands also make them a popular venue for divers.
They are definitely worth a trip. Start in Seahouses in the early morning and catch one of the many boat trips out there. A trip lasts about 2 hours. Try and get a landing on Inner Farne, Longstone or Staple Island and you can admire the spectacular scenery and varied plant, bird and aquatic life for yourself. Once you arrive back on dry land take the pleasant five minute drive to Bamburgh and visit the castle, Grace Darling museum and memorial.
Article adapted from the Wikipedia online encyclopedia.
Perhaps the most famous island is Longstone, because of the distinctive red and white striped lighthouse - a favourite on local postcards. The lighthouse was also the home of Grace Darling, a young girl who heroically helped her father, the lighthouse keeper, row across perillously high seas to rescue stranded sailors.
In the early hours of September 7, 1838, Grace, looking from an upstairs window of her family's current lighthouse on the Farne Islands, spotted the ship, Forfarshire, which had run aground on the Harcar Rocks only a few hundreds of yards away. Knowing that the weather was too rough for the lifeboat to put out from the shore, Grace and her father took a rowing boat across to the other island and rescued nine frightened survivors, bringing them safely back to the lighthouse.
Even in her lifetime, Grace's achievement was celebrated, and she received a large financial reward in addition to the plaudits of the nation. She died of tuberculosis, unmarried, in 1842, and her memorial may be seen in the parish church at Bamburgh, close to a museum dedicated to her achievements and the seafaring life of the region. Her deed was committed to verse by Wordsworth and a lifeboat with her name was presented to Holy Island.
The Farnes today are well known for their wide variety of sea life and birds. Frequent pleasure boats take tourists around the islands to admire the Grey Seals, Puffins, Cormorants, Kittiwakes and Terns. The sheltered coves and numerous wrecks around the islands also make them a popular venue for divers.
They are definitely worth a trip. Start in Seahouses in the early morning and catch one of the many boat trips out there. A trip lasts about 2 hours. Try and get a landing on Inner Farne, Longstone or Staple Island and you can admire the spectacular scenery and varied plant, bird and aquatic life for yourself. Once you arrive back on dry land take the pleasant five minute drive to Bamburgh and visit the castle, Grace Darling museum and memorial.
Article adapted from the Wikipedia online encyclopedia.
How to get to the Farne Islands:
By road from the south: take the main A1 trunk road from Newcastle upon Tyne. About 40 miles north of Newcastle you will pass the small hamelet of Brownieside on the left. Take the next right after Brownieside and follow signs for Beadnell and Seahouses.
By road from the north: Take the main A1 trunck road from Edinburgh and Berwick upon Tweed. About 15 miles south of Berwick you will come to Belford, with it's distinctive grain silos on the left. Turn left at the junction next to the silos and follow signs for Bamburgh and Seahouses.
By rail: The nearest station is Chathill, but the services there are very infrequent. Your best bet is to get a train to Alnmouth for Alnwick station and take the local 518 bus service to Alnwick, before catching the connecting 501 bus service to Seahouses.
By bus: Arriva Northumbria service 501 runs between Newcastle upon Tyne and Berwick upon Tweed and passes through Seahouses.
Map of area: CLICK HERE
By road from the south: take the main A1 trunk road from Newcastle upon Tyne. About 40 miles north of Newcastle you will pass the small hamelet of Brownieside on the left. Take the next right after Brownieside and follow signs for Beadnell and Seahouses.
By road from the north: Take the main A1 trunck road from Edinburgh and Berwick upon Tweed. About 15 miles south of Berwick you will come to Belford, with it's distinctive grain silos on the left. Turn left at the junction next to the silos and follow signs for Bamburgh and Seahouses.
By rail: The nearest station is Chathill, but the services there are very infrequent. Your best bet is to get a train to Alnmouth for Alnwick station and take the local 518 bus service to Alnwick, before catching the connecting 501 bus service to Seahouses.
By bus: Arriva Northumbria service 501 runs between Newcastle upon Tyne and Berwick upon Tweed and passes through Seahouses.
Map of area: CLICK HERE
