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A bright sunny day yesterday made it ideal for exploring the north coast of Northumberland. Some tips from our hosts at Bow House, our Alnwick B&B base, help us plan the tour.
Lots of great scenery and pretty villages along the way.
Best of all is an impromptu decision to delay the planned fish and chips by the seaside to jump on a Billy Shiels boat trip from the fishing village of Seahouses around the Farne Islands to see some of the large colony of grey seals and huge variety of seabirds.
Wonderful views of Bamburgh Castle and Longstone Lighthouse as we head out to sea. There is a famous tale from 1838 when the daughter of the lighthouse keeper Grace Darling and her father rescued nine people when a paddle steamer ran aground in stormy seas.
First we spot a large flock of the proverbial shags on rocks, but the real highlight is when head after head pops out of the bright blue waters.
The grey seals are certainly out in force enjoying the day, their little faces bobbing around like life buoys. We cruise around the islands and we are treated to sightings of more and more seals swimming, diving, doing somersaults and popping up for air.
Seal Lullaby
Oh! hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us,
And black are the waters that sparkled so green.
The moon, o’er the combers, looks downward to find us
At rest in the hollows that rustle between.
Where billow meets billow, there soft be thy pillow;
Ah, weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease!
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee,
Asleep in the arms of the slow-swinging seas.
Rudyard Kipling
Back to shore for the overdue fish and chips.