Seahouses and the Farnes
Just down the coast from Bamburgh is Seahouses. If the tide’s out it’s walking distance, but the town itself is busier and better served with shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants. It also has an attractive harbour that’s worth exploring. It’s also the start point for boat trips to the Farne Islands. There are a few firms offering trips; we’ve used both Billy Shiels and Serenity and would heartily recommend both.
If you’ve done the Isle of May boat trip (which we have) then you may find the landing trip a little underwhelming. There’s still plenty to see and plenty of history, but nowhere near the same amount of territory to explore. The boat trip, however, is fantastic with plenty of variety and opportunities to get very close to the seals and birds. If you’re luck you may even spot dolphins!
The final bonus is that the boat trip takes in what I think is the prettiest lighthouse in the north east of England, namely the Longstone Lighthouse. There’s plenty of history attached to the light and you can find out more at the Grace Darling museum just up the road in Bamburgh.
Longstone Lighthouse, May 2024.
Wildlife
The main attraction, of course, is the wildlife. I’m no wildlife photography, but with a bit of practice it’s possible to get some nice, detailed shots. The stars of the show are, of course, the puffins (April -> August) and the seals. Both are worth a trip…
