HPB’s holiday booking service has been rated 4.7 out of 5
based on 14753 customer reviews on Feefo.
Feefo Platinum Award Feefo logo

Farne Islands: must be something in the water...

Posted by Jonathan Broom on 21 December 2018
Related property: Lucker Hall
Farne Islands: must be something in the water...

For those with an historical or religious bent, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, easily reached from Lucker, is a place of pilgrimage. In 635AD Saint Aidan came from Iona and chose to found his monastery on the island, which became a wellspring from which the Christian message was spread throughout the world. The island is accessible by car at low tide via a causeway – but take care!

Over time though, some of the ‘Culdees’, the really hardcore believers for whom the Lindisfarne priory was presumably too soft an option, relocated a few miles southeast to the Farne Islands (at top), a group of 15 to 20 islands (tides depending) between 1½ and five miles from the mainland.

Life must have been harsh indeed. Elemental, even. But the islands were intermittently occupied by ascetically-minded hermits and monks from the 7th Century until 1536, when the axe fell as part of Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries.

The islands remained in religious ownership until 1894 when they were bought by the industrialist William Armstrong. Today, owned by the National Trust, they have no permanent population.

No permanent human inhabitants, anyway. But the Farne Islands are a mecca for ornithologists. There are more than 20 different varieties of seabird making a temporary or permanent home on the islands, including fulmars, cormorants, roseate terns (an endangered species), guillemots, razorbills and puffins (above). The latter are very popular with visitors, and in warmer weather it’s well worth taking a licensed boat trip from Seahouses out to the islands to see the birds up close.

Which is all well and good – but seabirds lack a certain ‘cute’ factor, don’t they? You wouldn’t want to cuddle a razorbill. Even puffins, with that sad-clown face: endearing, but not disarming.

Not like baby seals, say.

Good news, then: the number of Atlantic grey seal pups being born on the Farne Islands has reached a record high, with about 2,600 counted this season, against 1,740 in 2014: a five-year rise of nearly 50%.

A protected species, grey seals are thought to number some 300,000 worldwide, half of them living in British and Irish waters. As well as the Farne Islands colony, seal pup numbers have also risen sharply at the Trust’s Blakeney Point nature reserve in North Norfolk, close to Barnham Broom, with over 2,800 new pups, against 2,000 in 2014.

In both instances, the growth in numbers is thought to be the result of a good food supply for the seals, and a lack of predators.

So when you’re holidaying at Lucker, do take the boat trip out to the Farne Islands. Where feathered and furry friends abound.

Jonathan Broom

Jonathan Broom

How can I find out more?

The Holiday Property Bond could do as much for your quality of life as it has done for many thousands of families who have already invested. That's why we invite you to get in touch with us in any of these 3 ways and please don't forget our unique 'Money back promise' and 'interest free loan' options.

Request our brochure Speak to a representative Explore one of our UK sites

Please request our fully illustrated holiday property brochure

Please read "How HPB works" and then we will be delighted to send you our brochure, including our property portfolio, and your FREE copy of Insight Magazine. See the beautiful holiday homes and magnificent locations where you can spend your holidays as a Bondholder and learn how impressed Bondholders have been by our handling of the problems caused by coronavirus.

Please complete and submit the form or, alternatively, telephone our FREE brochure request line on 0800 230 0391

Request a brochure
Title *  
First Name *  
Surname *  
Email address *
Postcode *  
Telephone number
How did you hear about us?

We will use the details you provide above to send you our detailed HPB brochure and keep you updated about HPB holiday offers. Details of how we use the information you provide are in our privacy policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

SUBMIT SUBMIT
* Indicates required fields
HPB’s holiday booking service has been rated 4.7 out of 5 based on 14753 customer reviews on Feefo.

You can speak to one of our representatives

Your local HPB representative will be happy to call or video call you at a convenient time for an informal chat. Simply fill in your details and we'll do the rest.

Most of our representatives are Bondholders themselves and all have visited a number of Bond sites.

The representative will give you all the information you need and then leave you to make up your own mind. He or she will talk to you about your holiday requirements and what level of investment is needed to secure the kind of holidays you want.

Video chat now available with a local representative

This request is for new enquiries only, if you are an existing Bondholder please contact us via myBond.

How should we contact you? *  
Title *  
First Name *  
Surname *  
Email address *
Telephone number *  
Post code *  
Preferred Date/Time
Preferred Date/Time 2
Preferred Date/Time 3
OR
Please contact me to arrange a date

Your local representative will contact you to confirm the date and time.

Date/Time *  
How did you hear about us?
Chosen date (choose above) *
Chosen time (choose above) *

We will use the details you provide above for a representative to contact you. Details of how we use the information you provide are in our privacy policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

SUBMIT SIGN ME UP
* Indicates required fields


See our stunning holiday properties for yourself

Having a Private Tour at an HPB holiday location is an enjoyable way to see the high standards of furnishings and facilities you could enjoy with HPB. One of our representatives will show you around the site and answer any questions you may have.

Alternatively, you are welcome to book a Personal Presentation at a hotel near you. You can chat to one of our representatives, ask your questions and view the complete portfolio of HPB locations.

BOOK A PRIVATE TOUR OR PERSONAL PRESENTATION

This advertisement is issued by HPB Management Limited (HPBM), the main UK agent and the property manager for HPB, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registered at HPB House, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8EH. HPB is available exclusively through HPBM. HPB is issued by HPB Assurance Limited (HPBA) registered in the Isle of Man and authorised by the Financial Services Authority there. The Trustee of HPB is Equiom (Isle of Man) Limited, registered at Jubilee Buildings, Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2SH. The Securities Adviser is Stanhope Capital LLP of 35 Portman Square, London W1H 6LR. No medical examination is required.

HPBM promotes only HPB and is not independent of HPBA. Holders of policies issued by HPBA will not be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme if the company becomes unable to meet its liabilities to them but Isle of Man compensation arrangements apply to new policies.