The Farne Islands, Guillemots Galore

 It's good to see the birds arriving back on the Farne's after winter. It's mid February and the Guillemots are arriving back on the archipelago in great numbers. Early Spring storms may see them head off back out to sea but if remains settled they are here to stay.
 

Huge numbers of Guillemots filled the skies as we approached Inner Farne.

We met at the boardwalk to catch the first of the Ebb flow. The conveyor of tide would carry us out to sea and Northwards to Inner Farne. We stopped on Hutchinsons slab where we met up with Brian who had paddled out of the Tweed Estuary at Berwick to meet us.  



Brian getting used to his new Taran. Conditions were perfect today to put it to test.
 



 

The South facing headlands were all very active with the Ebb tide pouring in against them. The incoming wind driven waves were met by clappotis bouncing back off the rocks. This created some exciting paddling conditions.

As we turned into Wideopen Gut we found shelter and met up with Brian who was waiting for us on Hutchinsons slab. It's still lovely and peaceful in here, no tourist boats landing yet as the National Trust wardens are still ashore. 

The view above is taken from the tower on Inner Farne. Knoxes reef affording shelter to the moorings of the Kettle in the foreground. In the far distance you can see Staple Island to the right, Brownsmans to the left and Longstone lighthouse just visible beyond.

 

 

As we crossed Staple Sound it became clear that the wind had strengthened and there was a lot of tidal activity of Skeney Scar on the Southerly most tip of Staple Island. Rather than battle with the tide and wind we opted for the easy option and paddled along the sheltered west shore of Staple Island. We slipped passed the seals soaking up the rays on the boulder strewn beach of the South Wamses.



 

We landed under the Longstone light and found a nice spot sheltered from the biting wind. The sun adding a little warmth to a cold spring day. 

 

After a short lunch break we loaded up and re-traced our route back to Inner Farne.  

 

 

The birds have the place all to themselves at the moment but the tranquillity is about to end as thousands of  tourists will soon return.



 

We arrived back at St Aidans Dunes just before 4.00pm. A fine day on the water for February and a good 25k under our belts, for most of us anyway. Brian's trip had clocked up nearer 50k with his Tweed launch site.