Farne Islands – National Nature Reserve
The Farne Islands is now a National Nature Reserve which is part of the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty… an AONB. These small and isolated islands are found only 2 to 5 miles off the Northimberland Coast near Bamburgh and are clearly visible from the shore. There are 28 islands in total at low water, but only 15 at high water, the largest being Inner Farne, Staple Island, Brownsman and Longstone.
Saint Aidan, but more particularly Saint Cuthbert spent much time meditating on the Farne islands.Cuthbert had a reclusive life on Inner Farne for several years, returning to die there in 687. He had built himself a small cell, half for praying and half for living in. Much later in 1255 a small Benedictine monastery was built on Inner Farne, to be followed by a second. Only Saint Cuthberts Chapel from around 1300 survives today.
Such is the navigational danger of these low-lying and sometimes submerged rocky islands, that their story includes a long history iof lighthouses and beacons. Lighthouses were built on Inner Farne, Staple Island, Brownsman and Longstone Rock (Outer Farne).
And here at Longstone is the origin of that story of immense heroism by Grace Darling and her father who braved mountainous seas to reuse survivors from the wreck of the Forfarshire.
The National Trust bought the Farne Islands in 1925 and are charged with their protection… but with rising sea levels resulting from global warming and climate change, sadly they will gradually largely disappear ober the coming centuries. The impact to wildlife will be disastrous because these rocky islands are an extremely important site for seabirds that colonise them.
Boat trips operate from Seahouses so you can see the seal and bird colonies.
More information about the Farne Islands can be found in the three new guidebooks featured elsewhere on this website.
Serving the County Durham Dales of Teesdale and Weardale in North East England.
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Posted on April 28, 2010 - by Discovery Design
Northumberland Coast Photoguide
Our ‘Northumberland Coast’ publication in the Discovery Photo Guides Series is due for release in June 2010… so please make due that you place your advance order to ensure a first edition copy. Other titles can be found at our online bookstore… www.discoveryguides.co.uk.
Included in the guidebooks, which retail at £3-99, are the following features;
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Posted on April 28, 2010 - by Discovery Design
Lindisfarne Photoguide Series Guidebook
Our ‘Photo Tour of Lindisfarne – Holy Island’ publication in the Discovery Photo Guides Series is due for release in June 2010… so please make due that you place your advance order to ensure a first edition copy. Other titles can be found at our online bookstore… www.discoveryguides.co.uk.
Included in the guidebooks, which retail at £3-99, [...]