<h1>The Farne Islands<strong><em></em></strong></h1>
<h5>It can be easy to overlook areas of natural beauty and wildlife close to home. So when my son Jacob suggested that we take a trip to the Farne Islands I thought it was a good idea, especially given that they are only eighty minutes drive from where we live. By the end of the day, having been surrounded by 37,000 pairs of puffin, I wondered why it had been so long since I last visited these amazing islands.</h5>
<p>Scattered a couple of miles offshore from <strong>Seahouses in Northumbria</strong>, the Farne Islands are a seabird paradise. There are between 15 and 20 islands dependent on the state of tide and during the summer they are home to over <strong>150,000 pairs of seabirds of over 23 species.</strong> Clicking on any of this blog's images will reveal the species. </p>
<p>The islands are an amazing place to see seabirds at close quarters, attracting photographers from around the world. As well as the puffin the islands host large colonies of shag, kittiwake, guilliemots, black-headed gulls and three species of terns. The islands are also home to an important grey seal colony. In the autumn, over <strong>1000 grey seal pups</strong> are born on the islands, and over a recent times a pod of some <strong>200 dolphins</strong> have also made the sea around the Farne Islands their home. </p>
<p><strong>May to July</strong> is the best time to go for weather and birds (you will only see Puffin at this time), whereas<strong> October</strong> is peak time for the fluffy seal pups.</p>
<p>Several companies sail from Seahouses to the Farne Islands, some of which also offer diving excursions. The water around the Northumberland coast is not tempting for a swim (without a wet suit that it), but it receives less than half the annual rainfall of Cornwall, and with its beautiful wild beaches studded with sand dunes, several castles, and lovely inland villages, this area is <strong>one of the most beautiful coastlines in the UK</strong>. For more information see my blog on <strong><a href="http://www.aworldonthebrink.com/blog/northern-england-my-top-10">Northern England - my top 10</a>.</strong></p>
