Farne Islands NNR
Although most NNRs are managed by Natural England, 88 are wholly or partly managed by other bodies approved by Council, under Section 35 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
County: Northumberland
Main habitats: Maritime
Area: 96 Ha
Site map: Nature on the Map
The Farne Islands reserve is owned and managed by the National Trust.
How to get there
The reserve is a small archipelago of islands (between 15 and 28, depending on the tide) lying approximately five km off coast of Northumberland and 10 km south-east of Lindisfarne (also an NNR).
The nearest villages are Seahouses and Bamburgh (the ancient capital of Northumbria). Both are close to the A1, Seahouses on the B1340 and Bamburgh on the B1341 or B1342.
The nearest railway station is Chathill.
Both Seahouses and Bamburgh are close to Route one of the Sustrans National Cycle Network.
Only Inner Farne and Staple Island (part of the 'Outer Farnes') are open to the public. Private boats carry visitors to the islands from Seahouses for a fee.
Access to the islands is restricted to certain times of the year and there are charges for admission (contact the National Trust for details). These charges do not include boat fees.
Accommodation
There is a wide range of accommodation in Seahouses ranging from hotels, bed & breakfast and self-catering accommodation to caravan & camping sites.
What to see
Farne Islands are formed from the most easterly outcrop of the Great Whin Sill. They display a 'wedge' shape, with cliffs of varying heights to the south and west, and sloping rocky/sandy beaches to the north and east.
Glaciation led to the deposition of boulder clay on certain islands, resulting in a complex of deep soils which supports a range of maritime plants.
The local marine life has a high proportion of species with a 'northern' distribution characteristic of cold waters. The reserve is also home to a large grey seal colony.
The NNR is a renowned seabird site, with 18 to 21 species breeding there regularly. Shags, sandwich terns, roseate terns and arctic terns are present in internationally important numbers and the islands are also an important stop-over site for migrant birds.
There's a 0.5 km nature trail on Inner Farne, and leaflets are available on-site. Although the site can be enjoyed all year, the best time to visit for seabirds is between mid-April and early August.
Human history on the islands dates from at least the 7th century, when St Cuthbert arrived on the islands and established a hermitage. Since that time there has been an almost continual human presence, for at least part of the year, on various of the Islands. A chapel built in memory of St Cuthbert can be visited on Inner Farne.
