Farne Islands

The Farne Islands are a group of rocky islands off the Northumberland coast, home to one of Europe's most spectacular seabird colonies. Between May and July, Inner Farne is alive with puffins, Arctic terns, guillemots, razorbills and shags nesting at extraordinarily close range. The islands have a long history as a place of Christian pilgrimage — St Cuthbert lived here as a hermit in the 7th century. Grey seals breed on the islands in autumn, with over 2,000 pups born each year.