The Farne Islands, a scattered archipelago of basalt outcrops lying two to five miles off the Northumberland coast, are one of England's great wildlife spectacles. In summer the islands are crammed with nesting seabirds — puffins, guillemots, razorbills, terns, and shags — in densities that make the experience almost overwhelming. Grey seals haul out here year-round.
Boat trips depart from the village of Seahouses on the mainland. The islands are owned by the National Trust; non-members pay a landing fee in addition to the boat fare. Landing is restricted in the core nesting season to protect the birds, but circumnavigation trips run regardless of the season. See farne-islands.com for trip information.