Farne Islands

4 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

July, 2019

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Partner

Reasons for trip

As part of our trip to Northumberland, we decided to take a cruise to Inner Farne, one of the Farne Islands off the Northumberland Coast. I would like to absolutely recommend anyone visiting Northumberland take one these cruises. They were a huge highlight of our trip. You’ll need wheels to get there (we were staying on Holy Island, but a local friend drove us).

There are several cruise operators all departing from Seahouses harbour. We chose Serenity II, mainly because their timetable suited us. We met others on the island from other companies, doing much the same cruise.

The tour takes about 3 hours, and at the time we visited there were building works at the harbour, so access to the boat was through steep steps (not sure if that is the case when the builders aren’t in). You have to pay the National Trust a separate fee to ‘land’ on the Island, which is managed by them, but it is all very organised and simple to do.

The cruise began with a visit to the seal colony, which was the first time we’ve come so close to seals. The captain was very knowledgeable about the wildlife and birdlife and narrated the trip on the tannoy.

Arrival on the island jetty required a hop and a skip (with the assistance of the deck-hand) and we had about an hour to walk around the island, visit the small derelict chapel and mostly observe the hundreds of birds that seem completely unafraid of humans and allow you to get close and take photos (I’m not a twitcher, but the Mrs loves birdwatching).

We brought lunch with us and had a nice picnic in the picnic area. The whole trip was relaxing and exhilarating at the same time, and the fresh sea air did us a lot of good. Highly recommended!

SilverJames

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.