Farne Islands boat trips with kids, Northumberland

Between castles, countryside and coast, there’s plenty to tempt you to Northumberland with kids, but you shouldn’t miss taking one of the Farne Islands boat trips while you’re exploring the county.

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With the chance to spot puffins and seals, as well as a whole host of other bird life, there are options suitable for different ages, whether your kids just want a glimpse or for older kids who are fascinated by wildlife.

You can even choose boat trips to Farne Islands with kids that visit Holy Island, if you want to explore some of Lindisfarne and with the tours departing from Seahouses, it’s also an easy option to combine with a visit to Bamburgh Castle, only around a 10-minute drive up the coast.

Farne Islands boat trips with kids: need to know

There are between 15 and 20 islands making up the Farne Islands (depending on the tide!) which lie a couple of miles off the Northumberland coast, between Seahouses and Bamburgh.

Depending when you visit, you can see as many as 23 different species of seabirds, including around 43,000 pairs of puffins. April until late July is the best time of year to visit, although there’s still plenty to see in late summer.

While the islands aren’t the only place to see these rare birds, they are one of the easiest options for families – instead of lengthy boat rides to secluded nesting sites, it’s a relatively short cruise from Seahouses for a chance to see widlife up close.

The islands are also home to a colony of grey seals (also known as Atlantic seals), with more than 2,000 pups born here every autumn and winter. Whale and dolphin spotting cruises sometimes run in late summer as well.

Boat trips leave from Seahouses Harbour, with shorter trips cruising around the islands and some of the longer boat tours docking at two of the islands. Staple island and Inner Farne island are both open to the public, and managed by the National Trust: there are entrance fees to pay in addition to the boat tour, although it’s free to members.

Restrictions mean the islands may not always be accessible: they sometimes close to prevent the spread of avian flu, for example. Otherwise rocky rugged Staple Island is usually open May-July, while Inner Farne is open from April to October – the terrain here is easier with younger kids as there’s also a boardwalk, though watch out for the dive-bombing terns!

Many of the boat tours are dog-friendly too but you won’t be allowed to take them on the islands themselves other than Lindisfarne.

Factor in extra time to collect your tickets from the kiosks at Seahouses Harbour, usually at least 30 minutes in advance, and make sure you get the correct boat. There are a lot of boat tours departing, including multiple boats from individual companies, so it can be easy to get confused.

If you’re driving to Seahouses, you can find several places to park your car – the car park on the seafront is one of the best options, but it’s wise to get there early, especially in peak season as it fills up fast. You can use the Pay By Phone app.

Billy Shiels boat trips

I’ve always loved puffins – those colourful beaks, that cheeky cuteness – so a seabirds cruise to the Farne Islands was high on my own Northumberland wishlist.

With various options from Billy Shiels boat trips, including 90-minute grey seal tours, I booked onto the two-hour puffin-spotting cruise, knowing there was a good chance of spotting the occasional seal as we went.

The restrictions in place at the time meant we couldn’t land on one of the islands, but with the sun shining, it was a great way to spend a couple of hours.

Despite being the end of the season before the puffins head off in August, we also managed to see quite a few bobbing around on the water, as well as one swooping past with a glint of silver fish in its beak.

The best time to spot them are May, June and July: the breeding season typically starts in May, with young pufflings born from June (and isn’t puffling the cutest name?). By late July, they start heading out to sea, with the majority flying off by August.

Along the way, we saw huge gulls, cormorants, guillemots, shags, Arctic terns in colonies shrieking and flapping on the rocks, as well as grey seals and Bamburgh Castle on the headland.

The rocks, incidentally, look white from a distance but as you get closer you realise they’ve been coated in guano (aka bird poo) from thousands of birds – the smell hits you from quite a way away! Whether your kids find that gruesomely enjoyable or stomach-churning depends on the child!

As well as the wildlife, and quirky facts such as that Arctic terns fly 50,000-60,000 miles per year, there’s also more background about the area, including a chance to see some of the Farne Islands from the water, and to hear the story of Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper’s daughter famous for helping save survivors from the wreck of a paddlesteamer in 1838.

With lots of families on board, they made a real effort to ensure that passengers on both sides of the boat could see, while always keeping a sensible distance from the wildlife.

The boats are relatively big, with a small covered section, but they’re otherwise open to the weather – when it’s sunny, there’ll be a breeze but make sure you have SPF/wear a hat, or bring layers/waterproofs for less good weather, although if the conditions are too bad, all Farne Islands boat trips get cancelled.

They’re also dog-friendly. Prebooking is advised, and you need to collect your tickets from Billy Shiel’s Booking office at Seahouses Harbour no later than 30 minutes before sailing. 

Other tours include a 4 1/2 hour trip to Lindisfarne, including two hours ashore, as well as trips landing at Inner Farne and Staple Island.

Serenity Farne Island Tours 

Another great company to consider is Serenity Farne Islands Tours, which also has a variety of tours including a 90-minute ‘grey seal and seabird’ tour that’s very family-friendly if you’re booking a Farne Island tour with kids!

Similar to the tour I booked, you’ll see a wide range of wildlife including puffins, seabirds and seals, while a knowledgeable guide gives you a full run-down of the islands’ history.

The shorter length cruise is also ideal if you’re visiting with younger kids, although it’s suitable for children of all ages.

Prebooking is required, and you’ll need to collect your boarding pass 30 minutes before departure at Seahouses Harbour.

Boat tour of Inner Farne

If you’d prefer a more in-depth tour of the Farne Islands with your kids, consider booking a tour of Inner Farne to get up close and personal with thousands of seabirds.

A must-see for wildlife enthusiasts and budding photographers, it’s great for older kids but seeing so many birds out in the wild is exciting for younger ones too! 

The three-hour tour takes you on a sailing trip around the Farne Islands before stopping on Inner Frane for an hour of exploring, perfect if you fancy a more adventurous day out. 

Staple Island boat tour 

The cruise to Staple Island is another popular choice; as well as great views, this Farne Island boat tour is famous for its bird sightings and it’s unmissable for fans of puffins.

There are tens of thousands of puffins nesting on Staple Island, so if you visit at the right time of year, it’s the ideal location to spot this popular bird.

One point to keep in mind though is that this tour is not suitable for young children because of the uneven ground (or babies, unless you plan to use a carrier). And do bring suitable footwear.

Golden Gate Farne Islands boat trips 

The third main company if you’re booking a boat trip to the Farne Islands with kids is Golden Gate. They run several different tour options which are family-friendly and welcome dogs too. 

The tours do include a full-day excursion lasting up to six hours, but this isn’t the most suitable option for families, especially with younger kids.

Collect boat trip tickets from the kiosk at Seahouses harbour 45-60 minutes before departure, where you also need to validate National Trust membership or pay for landing fees for trips stopping at the islands.

Longstone Island tour

Golden Gate is the only company which is allowed to land on Longstone island, or to tour Longstone Lighthouse, as part of their two-hour Longstone Island tour.

During this trip, you’ll see what was once the home of Grace Darling, so if your kids are fascinated by her heroic story, it’s the perfect option. This tour will also take you to the grey seal colony and to see seabirds. 

Inner Farne boat tour with kids 

Golden Gate also runs a longer tour around the bird sanctuary at Inner Farne, with a stop at the grey seal colony on your way to the island landing point.

Along the way you’ll sail through the Farne Islands spotting nesting seabirds, including anything from puffins, fulmars and kittiwakes. The trip takes around 2.5-3 hours.

Seabird and seal boat trip 

For a shorter introduction to the Farne Islands with kids, the 90-minute sail around tour visits the seal colony and seabird nesting posts, as well as following the route of Grace Darling’s famous rescue, as she set out with her father to the shipwrecked survivors. 

Tips for taking Farne Island boat trips with kids

If you’re looking to take a boat trip with kids to the Farne Islands, it’s worth considering which is going to suit your family best.

Pick the right tour

With a variety of tours on offer, you won’t be short of family-friendly options, so it’s well worth choosing these companies if you’ve got younger kids.

Secondly, consider the length of the tour and whether or not your kids are likely to become a little restless – if you think they might get bored after an hour or two, opt for one of the shorter options on offer.

For tours which land on one of the islands, do make sure your kids know what to expect: scared children – and scared birds – are not a recipe for a good day out.

Add some extra fun

A great way to make the Farne Island boat trip more exciting for your kids is to carry some binoculars – this pair are powerful but lightweight.

While they’re not essential, it’s a good way to keep them more engaged as they can check out the wildlife in more detail.

You could also pack a bird spotting checklist: I Spy birds is a good start and has plenty of options away from the water, or create your own with some of the wildlife you’re likely to see.

And if your kids are likely to lose interest after a short while on board, keep something else to entertain them on hand so you can soak up all the seabird views.

Plan ahead

Do be prepared to take some essentials with you. For starters, the weather can change suddenly in north-east England, so it’s important to pack layers, waterproofs and suncream depending on what time of year you’re planning your Farne Islands boat trips. 

If you’re visiting the Farne Islands in June, you should also carry hats. This is because some birds on the islands can get a little bothered if you get too close to their nests, prompting them to warn you off with pecks. 

Snacks and drinks are also a good idea, and there are toilet facilities at Seahouses harbour. Inner Farne also has toilets, but not Staple Island, and not all boats have toilets on board.

Have a Plan B

It’s important to remember that weather conditions may call the tours off at any time – as anyone who’s holidayed in the UK knows, summer doesn’t guarantee sun!

While the tours go ahead whether possible, if conditions are too bad, you wouldn’t want to be out at sea with kids anyway. But it’s worth having an alternative activity lined up if your boat trip to the Farne Islands does get called off. 

Check out my tips on the best things to do in Northumberland with kids for more inspiration

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Puffin image courtesy of Depositphotos, all other copyright MummyTravels

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