Rocky islands, habitat for seals and many species of seabird
The Farne Islands are home to thousands of grey seals, and each autumn hundreds of pups are born here. Here are ten facts about seals on the Farnes.
The Farne Islands are possibly the most exciting seabird colony in England with unrivalled views of 23 species, including around 43,000 pairs of puffin.
It's also home to a one of the top grey seal pupping sites in England, with more than 2,000 pups born every autumn.
Staple Island offers unrivalled close-up views of puffins and a sense of adventure and freedom. Unlike Staple, Inner Farne is (from May - July) home to dive-bombing terns, a medieval chapel, Victorian lighthouse, and information centre all served by an easy access boardwalk.
Historically, the islands have strong links with Celtic Christianity and St Cuthbert, who lived here in the 7th Century.
Many of the islands hide underwater at high tide. Visitors pass lots of these inaccessible islets on boat trips - a short journey to a different world! Inner Farne is open all season (April-October) and Staple Island opens for the main breeding season from May-July. Both islands are subject to variable opening times dependant on the time of year, weather and other factors. Please check our website for access information and opening times for further details ahead of your visit. It is also well worth looking at the weather forecast too as sailings are entirely weather-dependant.
Don't forget to bring your binoculars, then you can relax and enjoy the best view of Bamburgh Castle and the Cheviot Hills you will ever have.
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
