Name: Golden Gate Farne Islands Boat Trips
Rating: 5.0

Golden Gate Farne Islands Boat Trips

Golden Gate Farne Islands Boat Trips, Harbour, Seahouses, UK

1-90 Years

Paid

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Golden Gate Farne Islands Boat Trips offers unforgettable wildlife and lighthouse experiences along the Northumberland coast. Departing from Seahouses Harbour, it is the only boat tour that lands on Longstone Island with an exclusive guided visit inside Grace Darling’s famous lighthouse. The trips combine stunning scenery, rich history, and incredible wildlife encounters.

Visitors can enjoy the Inner Farne National Trust Bird Sanctuary trip with a one-hour landing, expert commentary, and close-up views of puffins, guillemots, razorbills, and one of Europe’s largest Grey Seal colonies. The Longstone Lighthouse Tour includes access to Grace Darling’s bedroom, panoramic views, and guided tours inside the lighthouse, exclusively for MV Golden Gate passengers. The Seabird & Seal Cruise offers a scenic wildlife journey around the Farne Islands with detailed insights into local history, geology, and marine life.

Prices start from £21.20 for Adults and £16.00 for Children on the Seabird & Seal Cruise. The Longstone Lighthouse Tour costs £26.50 Adult / £21.20 Child, while the Inner Farne landing trip is £31.80 Adult / £24.38 Child, with concessions available for students and seniors.

Overall, Golden Gate Farne Islands Boat Trips delivers a unique mix of adventure, wildlife watching, and maritime heritage. With expert guidance and exclusive lighthouse access, it offers one of the most special ways to explore the Farne Islands. It is a must-do experience for nature lovers, photographers, and history enthusiasts.

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Host birthday parties: No

Features

Inner Farne National Trust Bird Sanctuary: This trip includes a one-hour landing on Inner Farne, a National Trust Bird Sanctuary, along with a scenic cruise around the Farne Islands. Guided by Trinity House Lighthouse Attendant George, you’ll enjoy expert commentary while spotting resident and migratory seabirds like puffins, guillemots, and razorbills (April–July). You’ll also visit one of Europe’s largest Grey Seal colonies, home to seals year-round. In addition to incredible wildlife encounters, the trip follows the historic rescue route of local heroine Grace Darling, with George, the current Longstone Lighthouse attendant, as your guide.
Longstone Lighthouse Tour: Longstone Island, located along the Northumberland coast, is a vital shipping landmark, with its 23-meter-tall lighthouse serving as an important navigational aid, flashing every 20 seconds. The island is famously known as the home of Grace Darling, who, in 1838, helped rescue survivors of the Forfarshire shipwreck alongside her father. Today, it also hosts an Atlantic Grey Seal colony. Visitors can explore Grace’s bedroom, enjoy panoramic views from the lighthouse, and take guided tours, which are available exclusively to passengers on the MV Golden Gate. The island features a visitor center and facilities for a memorable experience.
Seabird & Seal Cruise: Sail aboard the locally purpose-built Golden Gate with George, the current Trinity House Lighthouse Attendant, for an unforgettable wildlife adventure. Explore the Farne Islands, home to thousands of seabirds and one of Europe’s largest Grey Seal colonies. Witness puffins, guillemots, razorbills, and seals up close while learning about the islands’ history, geology, and Grace Darling’s heroic rescue. Enjoy expert commentary from George and the knowledgeable crew as you experience the magic of this unique destination.

What to see

Farne Islands: A Guide to Wildlife, History & Visiting Tips

Farne Islands: The Inner Farne, the largest island in the Farne archipelago, serves as a crucial breeding ground for various seabirds during the season, including puffins, shags, guillemots, cormorants, and razorbills. Nesting along the rugged rock faces and near the pathways, these birds offer exceptional viewing opportunities for ornithologists and photographers alike. The island also features a historic chapel, where St. Cuthbert once carved out a cell during his time as a hermit. Today, it continues to hold services for visiting pilgrims. During the breeding season, the island welcomes visitors from 13:30, with boat trips departing the harbor at 12:30, circling the inner islands before arriving at Inner Farne itself.
Longstone Island: Longstone Island plays a vital role in maritime navigation along the Northumberland coast. Its lighthouse, standing 23 meters tall at high water, serves as a crucial guide for vessels, flashing every 20 seconds. The island also holds historical significance as the former home of Grace Darling, who moved there in 1826. She became a national heroine 12 years later when she and her father, William Darling, bravely rescued survivors from the wreck of the Forfarshire on September 7, 1838. In addition to its rich history, Longstone Island hosts a colony of Atlantic Grey Seals. Visitors can land on the island free of charge, while guided tours inside the lighthouse are exclusively available to passengers aboard the MV Golden Gate.
Brownsman Island: Brownsman Island is not accessible for public landings, but visitors can still enjoy impressive views from the surrounding waters. It serves as a vital habitat for seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, terns, razorbills, cormorants, and many other species during the breeding season. While Brownsman was once a key breeding site for seal pups, National Trust wardens now prevent seals from settling there due to erosion concerns, with the colony now residing on Longstone Island. A small cottage on Brownsman, once home to Grace Darling and her family before their move to the lighthouse on Longstone, is now occupied by National Trust bird wardens who monitor and care for the island during the summer months.