Following our failed attempt back in June when a good part of North-East England ended up under water just 24 hours before we were due to travel up, mid July saw us heading up the A1 in far better weather. We got as far as Washington, Tyne & Wear in record time on the Friday night, leaving just an hour of driving still to do to Seahouses on Saturday morning. The weather forecast had been checked the day before and all looked good, so just imagine our disappointment when we arrived at the harbour to be told that the wind had turned to the west in the night and landing on Staple Island would not be possible! Full Marks to Billy Shiel Boats though - they hastily arranged with the NT wardens on Inner Farne that we could land there earlier than planned, and assured us that a longer than usual time on there would also be arranged. The trip was also done for half the usual price which was excellent of them - for anyone else wanting to arrange a trip to the Farnes we really could not recommend this company highly enough.
Finding ourselves with a bit of time to spare it was off to find a cafe for a cup of tea - very welcome after our early start from the hotel - before taking the opportunity to head off and find our planned campsite for the night - another recommendation, the lovely Budle Bay campsite. They were hit terribly by the flooding back in June, having to evacuate the site at 3am as a result, and got such glowing reviews from those affected that we felt it was well worth a visit. Very impressed, lovely warm welcome from Jane & Alan, we were pitched in no time and heading back to Seahouses.
Once on the boat all disappointment from the curtailed trip was speedily forgotten - a truly glorious day to be out on the water and just the slightest of swells to remind us that was indeed where we were! Before long we were at the Seal colony - where the residents seems very interested to see us!
Lovely, aren't they?! It wasn't just seals as we cruised around the Islands either - look at these chaps arrayed on top of the cliff in the sun....
...there were also Kittiwakes, Shags, Gannets, and Terns flying about us - a fantastic array of wildlife. And more seals of course...
Every now and again a head popped up alongside the boat to investigate what we were up to..
Once everyone had their fill of shots of seals the skipper turned towards Inner Farne for our landing there - we were delighted when on arrival he told us he would come back for us at 4pm - nearly four hours there! Far longer than we would have had on the standard trip - but nobody was complaining!
More on Inner Farne in another post...
Robyn
2 comments:
Lovely pics, I can't wait to take Bella camping and hopefully brave a seal trip!
They do trips to see the seals from Blakeney Point, don't they? There you go - two birds, one stone...! ;-)
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