Seahouses Marine Club Farne Island Page

SEAHOUSES MARINE CLUB
Farne Islands Page

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Affiliated Club Member

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Longstone Lighthouse on Longstone Island.
Now fully automatic, Seahouses Passenger Vessel "Golden Gate" takes maintenance crews to the lighthouse. Several local boats visit the island, which is fairly small, but is close to the rocks where Grace Darling carried out her heroic rescue. Details available on Seahouses Lifeboat Website - Click here.

The Farne Islands
There are 15 - 28 islands between 1.5 and 4.5 miles offshore, known as the Farnes, depending on the state of the tide. They vary in size from rocky outcrops sticking out of the water, to the Inner Farne, largest of the group which is 16 acres, with its blow hole on its north end. It was Inner Farne on which St Cuthbert died in 687A.D.. His body was later taken to Durham during the Viking Invasions A chapel was built in his memory, and is open to visitors. There is also a coffin cut out of stone, which it is said to be lucky if it fits you !!

The Islands are managed by the National Trust. Information can be obtained from the National Trust Shop on Seafield Road, Seahouses by the War Memorial. Wardens live on Inner Farne and Brownsman Islands during the summer. Their accommodation is basic, and they look after the many visitors, and monitor and record information about 20 different species of seabird, including gulls, terns, clown like puffins, and the Eider Duck, known as Cuddy's Duck, as St Cuthbert was claimed to be very fond of them.

The name Farne was derived from the Celtic "ferann" meaning "land". The islands are the most easterly projection of the Great Whin Sill. There is an automated lighthouse on Inner Farne, painted white, with a segmented flashing light. The Longstone Light (see opposite) on the Outer Farnes, has a sweeping white beam which can be seen for many miles. The Longstone has now also been automated, and the keepers no longer are required to serve their 56 day tours of duty manning the light !.

There is much of interest on and around the Farnes, and during the breeding season, the baby seals basking on the rocks, also prove a great tourist attraction.

A word of caution - take great care when navigating around the islands, there are many shallow areas, with submerged rocks. Seek advice before attempting to manoeuvre through the islands. It can be perfectly safe, if you know what you are doing, and also be aware of divers who frequent the many wreck sites around the islands. Give dive boats a wide berth, and keep a keen watch for divers in the water !!. Be aware of the strong tidal flow through the islands, as well as eddies which can catch the unwary.