The Farne Islands, off the coast of Northumberland in northeast England, are home to large colonies of seabirds. Visiting in early June is an exciting and unique experience for all the senses, as the Arctic Terns defend their nests with machine-gun-like squawks, dive-bombing chemical warfare, and painful pecks to the head. Puffins fly overhead constantly ferrying mouthfuls of sand-eels to their chicks waiting in their burrows, while seagulls patrol looking for a chance to snatch any unguarded chick.


While there are over a dozen islands in the group (the exact number depends on the state of the tide), only two are open to visitors, Staple Island and Inner Farne.