Inner Farne Island repoens in Northumberland

Inner Farne, one of the Farne Islands cared for by the National Trust, reopened on the 25th of March for visitor boat landings, after due to Avian Influenza. Boat trip operators will be able to able to land visitors on the Farne Islands for the first time in two years.

The Farne Islands are a National Trust Nature Reserve and are an internationally important home to approximately 200,000 seabirds, including puffin, Arctic terns, and kittiwakes. The migrating seabirds return to the islands to breed. They only depart once their chicks are fully fledged at the end of the summer.<br/
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The colony was hit hard by bird flu. With rangers collecting over 6,000 birds in 2022 and 3647 in 2023.

Rangers will continue to closely monitor the birds for signs of the disease returning and have a ‘closure plan’ that will be implemented if the Avian Influenza returns.
With the islands reopening, visitors will once again be able to book a landing trip with one of the boat companies that operate out of the harbour at Seahouses to get unparalleled close-up views of the incredible wildlife that inhabits the islands.

Sail around tours will also continue to be available for those visitors that want to experience the magic of the islands from the water.

As well as the fascinating wildlife, visitors will also be able to get closer to the cultural history on the island, which has links with early Christianity and St Cuthbert, with access inside the beautiful St Cuthbert’s Chapel and exterior views of the Inner Farne lighthouse and the Pele Tower.

Inner Farne is the only island to open to visitor landings this year whilst National Trust trials limited opening.

Dogs are not allowed on the Farne Island Nature Reserve.