Date
Cost
Availability
Deposit
Single Supp
| 13 Jul - 20 Jul 2024
£2595.00
10 Spaces
£450.00
£420.00
Book Now
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| Leader | Julian Sykes and Ailie Brown |
| Day 1 | We meet at Newcastle train station or The Victoria Hotel, Bamburgh for a 7 night stay. |
| Days 2-7 | Exploration of the coast, forest and
moorland, including three boat trips for
The Farne Islands, the Farnes Deeps
and Coquet Island |
| Day 8 | We say our farewells and depart after breakfast. |
| Weather | Variable, with a good chance of sunshine, (10°-20°C) but on the boat trips waterproofs, warm clothing and walking boots are needed. |
| Walking | Walks of up to two miles, mainly on level tracks around Reserves. |
| Meals | All included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8. |
| Insects | Could be a problem, especially on the inland day. |
| Accom | Double, twin and single rooms all ensuite. |
| Boats | Our trip to the Farne Islands lasts
6 hrs, including 2 hrs onshore on
both Staple and Inner Farne. The trip to Coquet Island
lasts 2 hrs & North Sea RHIB tour
lasts 4 hrs. This trip can be over
choppy seas |
| Group | 10 |
Fabulous summer birdwatching, as we explore the coastlines,
forests and moorlands of this corner of historic Northumberland,
around the famous Farne Islands.48uep6bbph|00000E4E|Spey_BESQL3|HolidayTypes|Subheading 48uep6bbphidval|FARNE ISLANDS
| * Full day on Staple and Inner Farne, experiencing a seabird spectacle - not to be missed!
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| * The famous Kielder Forest for Red Squirrel, Osprey and Common Crossbill
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| * A day on Holy Island for birds, butterflies and botany
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| * Beautiful coastline with long sandy beaches, jagged rocks and migrant waders
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| * Superb RHIB tour into the North Sea for seabirds and cetaceans
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| * A trip out to Coquet Island to see breeding Roseate Terns and Grey Seals
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| * Staying in a wonderful hotel in the shadow of the iconic Bamburgh Castle
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| Day 1 | We are based in the beautiful, coastal town
of Bamburgh, in the shadow of its famous
historic castle, perfectly placed to explore the
wonderful scenery and fantastic wildlife of this
fabulous north east county. This quaint hotel is
noted for its excellent local and wholesome cuisine,
with portions to satisfy the keenest of appetites. If
time allows we might get a chance to venture out
locally for a short time at Monks House Pool or
Stag Rocks, to kickstart our daily checklist.
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| Days 2-7 | This is a full and diverse week, where a
certain amount of flexibility is required,
due to the uncertainty of the weather and wildlife
on offer, with a possibility of scarce and rare migrants.
Our lovely hotel is within easy reach of the North
Sea and an easy walk along the many coastal paths
can produce Northern Wheatear, Linnet, singing
Reed Bunting and possibly Yellow Wagtail. Offshore
we shall find Eider, or the local ‘Cuddy Ducks’ (after St Cuthbert’s) loafing around the bays, along with Red-breasted Merganser, Cormorant, Guillemot
and possibly Common Scoter. South of Bamburgh
is Newton by the Sea, where a stop overlooking
the North Sea can produce a Little Tern fishing in
the beautiful bay, along with more potential seaduck.
There are a couple of excellent pools here that are
always worthy of investigation, as migrant waders
tend to make a stop here on their journey south.
Our longest drive is further south to an area close
to Newcastle Airport, where we search for two key
species – Red Kite and Willow Tit. We shall spend
the day around here visiting some productive local
Reserves, which will also produce some of the
commoner species found in the county.
Thousands of seabirds breed in Northumberland
and we’ll enjoy special boat trips to see them
astonishingly close up. A visit to the Farne Islands needs no introduction and will be one of the
highlights of the week. Our day here includes
landings on both Inner Farne and Staple and we
shall see birds at incredibly close range - expect
Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins, Shags and
Eider at your feet - a photographer’s dream!
Arctic, Sandwich and Common Terns all nest here,
along with inquisitive Grey Seals, which lift their
heads out of the water as we pass. A second boat
trip takes us around RSPB Coquet Island where
90% of the UK’s Roseate Terns breed. It’s a great
opportunity to see this scarce breeding species
fishing and loafing around on the rocks adjacent to
their nesting boxes.
The target of our third boat trip is to glimpse one
of the small groups of White-beaked Dolphins in
these waters. This little known cetacean spends
its summer along the Northumberland coastline,
feeding in the fish-rich waters and trying to avoid
their larger cousins who they see as a threat. This
10m RHIB tour takes us out into deeper water and
as a consequence we have a chance to see Gannets
fishing, Great Skua and possibly Manx Shearwater.
One day (or at least part of it!) we shall be crossing
the causeway over to Holy Island, which is tide
dependant. This is primarily for one of the rarest
plants in the UK - Lindisfarne Hellaborine, which
is endemic to this beautiful island. The unique
sandy soil is also home to other species such as
Marsh Hellaborine, Northern Marsh and Common
Spotted Orchids with a chance of Coralroot too.The rest of our time will be spent wandering
around the island looking for scarce butterflies and
birds in this special place.
Our coastal hopscotch day is punctuated with
visits to the pools and wetlands just inland from
Druridge Bay. Reed and Sedge Warblers sing
from the extensive phragmites bed, along with
the more difficult Grasshopper Warbler. We hope
to encounter the UK’s most northerly breeding
Avocets at one of the Reserves, along with
Common Snipe, Redshank, Dunlin and Green
Sandpiper. There are usually a few surprises, with
Little Gull, Mediterranean Gull or Spoonbill being
distinct possibilities.
One day we drive inland to the mighty Kielder
Water – a huge reservoir that’s surrounded by
coniferous forest. Due to the construction of
platforms, it offers the chance of finding the nest
of an Osprey and if our luck is in, one fishing in the
lake itself. A stop enroute could also produce Grey
Wagtail on the river and we shall also be keeping
an eye out for game birds on the drive across the
moorland. Typical pine forest species all breed in
Kielder and we shall look for Common Crossbill
and Red Squirrel in this vast forest - there’s always a
chance of finding a Goshawk here too.
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| Day 8 | After our last ‘full English’ breakfast we say our
fond farewells and conclude this ‘canny’ visit to
the north east.
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Just some of what we hope to see..
| Common Scoter | Great Skua | Willow Tit |
| Manx Shearwater | Little Gull | Tree Sparrow |
| Little Egret | Kittiwake | Common Crossbill |
| Spoonbill | Arctic Tern | Bottlenose Dolphin |
| Osprey | Roseate Tern | Harbour Porpoise |
| Red Kite | Little Tern | Grey Seal |
| Goshawk | Sandwich Tern | Dark Green Fritillary |
| Avocet | auks | Lindisfarne Helliborine |
| Spotted Redshank | Rock Pipit | Pyramidal Orchid |
| Black-tailed Godwit | Dipper | Grey Squirrel |
"Seeing a Barn Owl and two owlets, watching bird acrobatics, the beauty and richness of the
meadows"
Heather Graham
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"Boat trips to Farnes, Lindisfarne and Coquet Island with their many nesting birds and, on one trip accompanying dolphins leapt around the boat. Bamburgh a big plus with its castle, beach, sand dunes and Barn Owls. Plenty of time in summer to walk around after supper and shake down the generous meals at the comfortable Victoria Hotel"
Barbara Yorke
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"The boat trip to Coquet Island will stay forever in my memory with Terns, Gulls and Auks set out like a grandstand before us. Also, the rib boat viewing White-beaked Dolphins and Common Dolphins, the latter breaking the surface beside the boat"
Roger Rooke
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"Puffins on Inner Farne. Sunshine for our boat trip to Coquet Island. Orchids at The Snook. Seeing a different landscape on our final day inland. My walk to the headland at Newton. Playing truant from the hide at Druridge and climbing up onto the dunes. Flycatchers at Winter's Gibbet. Osprey at Kielder. Goosander family from the bridge at Kielder"
Mary Anketell
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"Lots of highlights but my particular one was seeing a flower I had wanted to see for many years. It was especially exciting as I discovered one for myself, we had been searching the dunes seeing lots of other lovely plants when I suddenly saw something different and identified it as the plant we were seeking, a Lindisfarne Helleborine. Then, lo and behold, just round the corner there was an area roped off for them"
Susan Ripley
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"My holiday highlight was the boat trip to the Farnes. It was truly amazing seeing so many seabirds on the cliffs, the majority still with chicks. Once ashore and walking on the boardwalks was something on my "bucket list". To have the tern chicks so close with the caring parent dive bombing you (I didn't get "hit"!) was something else. The Puffins were just brilliant and so close. That day on Inner Farne was comparable with a 9-day safari in Kenya for the thrill and enjoyment I got from it.!!! : Thank you also for my lovely chocolate birthday cake."
Lesley Gadsden
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"We had a wonderful trip six miles out into the North Sea on a rib and saw a pod of White-beaked Dolphins very close to us. One even swam under the rib. Amazing!"
Sue Aldam
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"So many! The Farne Islands themselves, coming close and hearing the wonderful "Wall Of Sound" of the birds, especially the Kittiwakes calling their name. Also hearing the seals calling. Staple Island, where we could sit , observe and absorb the sights and sounds of the birds and their young. The revelation of 3 young Treecreepers materialising before our eyes as we were staring at a tree trunk hoping for one. Our Sea Safari to the Farne Deeps, bouncing along so close to the water and it's finale seeing the dolphins in Beadnell Bay."
Catriona Vincent
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"Being out in Farne Deeps on the pelagic trip, a great experience and a very special finale with the dolphins! The day on Inner Farne and Staple Island was excellent for close views of the birds especially the Puffins. Going out to Coquet Island and seeing Roseate Terns.
Pauline Pothecary
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"All the seabirds; Red Squirrels; Enjoyed so much. difficult to pick out highlights."
Evina Montgomery
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"The Farne Islands Trip - landing on Staple Island and walking up the path surrounded by seabirds. Seeing the dolphins on the return boat journey from Inner Farne. Coquet Island and seeing the Roseate Terns. Julian's reaction when he realised that we'd found a Temminck's Stint! This was my first Speyside trip but certainly won't be my last!"
Kathy Sharman
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"The Farne Islands were the undoubted highlight for me. The sea cliffs on Staple on either side of the boat with the birds in the air and on the water as well as all up the cliffs. Not just the sight, the noise and even the smell. It was truly a stunning experience, from the dramatic to the personal! When we landed on Inner Farne, I knelt down to photograph a tern which had landed a few feet away on one of the low posts marking the path. It flew away but as I thought it would return I waited. Something brushed my shoulder and when I turned to look another tern had landed on the post next to me, so close it's wing had brushed my shoulder. For a few seconds we were eye to eye! Who was watching who!."
Steve Foster
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"Watching a barn owl perched on a fence post in bright afternoon sunlight, looking down into the grass for a potential meal. Seeing a pair of Arctic Terns at my feet going through their courtship ritual, exchanging a small fish. Another Arctic Tern attempting to pass a fish to its chick through the wire netting. Eventually it managed to line it up correctly to pass it through the hole. Swallows around the hotel, serenading from the telegraph wires outside my window and swooping around us as we walked along the cliff tops."
Christine Shawyer
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"Paul loved seeing the young Water Rail at Saltholme RSPB Reserve. I loved the Farne Island boat trips to Staple and Inner Farne. The picture that one sees in bird books - a Puffin holding Sand Eels in its beak - and there they were just waiting and posing for us holding the eels. I was also taken with Artic Terns. Had never seen one so close before and how lovely they are. Views imprinted on my brain I hope will never fade. I also loved the walks. One minute in the forest and then coming out onto a beautiful beach."
Eileen & Paul Stimson
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"My wife laying on the bow of the boat watching the White-beaked Dolphins bow riding the boat was something memorable that she never thought she could experience in the UK."
Andrea & Dave King
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