The Farne Islands can be found approximately 3 miles off Northumberland's coast, and being so abundant in rare species of wildlife, plantlife and birdlife, are largely protected by the National Trust. There are over 20 islands making up the Farnes, divided into the Inner Group and the Outer Group.
Connected during low tides the main Inner Farnes are made up of the East and West Wideopens, Knoxes Reef and the Megstone. The main Outer Farnes are Staple Island, Longstone, Big Harcar, North and South Wamses and the Brownsman.
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St Cuthbert was the second recorded visitor to the Farnes after St Aidan and whilst being associated with the bishopric of Lindisfarne, took to the solitude of the Inner Farne until his death in 687.
One of St Cuthberts benevolent acts to the islands, paving the way for future generations of conservation, was in protecting nesting seabirds on the islands, in particular the Eider ducks, by introducing specific laws in 676. Grace Darling is popularly connected with the Farne Islands as a heroine of importance in British folklore.
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The daughter of one of the island's lighthouse keepers, at the age of 22 she and her father rescued 9 people in a raging storm from the sinking Forfarshire, which had run aground, in 1838. Today the lighthouses are all automated on the farnes and the National Trust are the islands only residents.
For nature lovers there can be nowhere more exciting. 290 species of bird have been recorded on the Islands, including in the 18th century, the now extinct Great Auk. Today, the breeding season sees around 20 different species coming to the Farnes, leading to total numbers in the region of 100,000 birds. The diverse species include;
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- Sandwich, Common and Arctic Terns
- Guillemots and Razorbills (members of the Auk family)
- Eider Ducks
- Oystercatchers
- Shags
- Cormorants
- Kittiwakes
- Gannets
- Ringed Plovers
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