Jo’s Monday walk : A sally round Seahouses

Recently I ventured further up the north east coast than usual, to the little harbourside village of Seahouses.  Over the border and into Northumberland, in fact.  Aside from the beaches stretching north and south, the main attraction of this village is the prospect of a trip to the Farne Islands, a well-known seabird sanctuary.  Boat trips run to the islands year round, weather permitting, and from April to October it is usually possible to land on one of the islands for a closer look at the wildlife.  Puffins are the stars of the show.

I strolled along the pier eyeing the queues, and smiled when I came to the ticket office for Billy Shiel’s.  The Shiel family have been running boat trips to the islands since 1918, just after the First World War.  They started the business to supplement their income from fishing, escorting a few keen ornithologists. Allegedly there are 28 islands out there, but many of them are submerged at high tide.

I was on a coach trip that day, and had opted to spend more time at Bamburgh, just around the bay, so no boat trip for me.  I carried on around the harbour, in the direction of the golf links. Something to eat, maybe?  Those views across to the islands are very tempting.

There was bunting up in the village, and I like a warm welcome, but I discovered there was to be a bike race the next day.  No matter!  I felt welcome enough as I strolled back through the village.  It’s typical seaside, with buckets and spades, crazy golf and a smattering of knick-knack shops.

Back at the seafront I survey the scene.  It’s a wide and wild vista.  The craggy shoreline and harbour, and off in the distance the mighty bastion that is Bamburgh, my next destination.  Will the weather hold out for me?  I do hope so!

There are lots more details on the National Trust pages about the Farne Islands, including how to get there.  I think they’re worth a trip.

I expect you’re disappointed not to have something to eat?  Fish and chips are a popular choice around here.  You might remember that a couple of Saturdays ago I posed you a question?  I totally forgot to give you the answer.  Did I have chocolate and almond brownie or creme brulé? I could very easily have eaten either, but let me tell you the brownie was delicious!  Many thanks for staying with me.  I do appreciate your company.  Time to put the kettle on now, and share a few walks.  If you’d like to join in, details are on my Jo’s Monday walk page.  You’re always very welcome!

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It’s a bit shivery, but undeniably beautiful where Amanda is this week :

Walking with Edmund at 760 metres

Bunkers on the beach!  Quite an unusual sight, from our man Drake :

Concrete nature

Come trainspotting in Hamburg with Lady Lee?

Holiday in Hamburg, part 2

You can always rely on Jackie for cake.  And the rest!

Wedding Cake

I love the diversity my walks attract.  How about some quilting with Violet?

263 times 120 feet

Things are looking a little brighter for Denzil this week :

La Foret du Pays de Chimay

I know nothing of Adelaide, but it looks like there’s plenty to know.  Please say hello to Anne-Marie :

Footsteps in Adelaide Walk Seven : Stepping Out along the Beach

And while we’re at the beach, look what Woolly’s found!

Jo’s-Monday-Walk-Wk34-Logans-Beach-Whale-Nursery

Not too many walks today!  It’s been the Summer hols for some of us.  Time to dig the boots out again. Have a great week!

 

120 comments

  2. Seeing the Puffins would be a treat. So you had the chocolate and almond Brownie? I don’t blame you it looked delicious, I think the creme brûlée would be my choice, but either could have sealed the deal. Another beautiful walk 😄

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  4. Pingback: Brussels – Glimpses Of An Eclectic Cityscape | The Urge To Wander

    1. You wouldn’t want to be out there in choppy weather, Otto. Summer is too busy for a small place like this but they have to make the most of what they have. I was just passing through and so did I. 🙂 🙂 Many thanks to you!

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  7. I think the Shiel family was on to something, and I bet they said their fishing career goodbye as tourism increased to go see the puffins. 🙂 That opening photo just catches the scene of the town for me, Jo. I hope the weather held out for your next stop as well. Fish and chips sounds great, thank you! Feel free to add my Tent Rocks walk next week to enlarge the walking link ensemble. 🙂

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  8. What a lovely harbour Jo – it looks a beautiful coastline, ruggedly beautiful. The islands sound fascinating though not having good sea legs I’d need to go over on a calm day! Hope you have a lovely week 🙂

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    1. It was actually quite flat that day, Rosemay, and with a bit more time I’d certainly have gone. It used to be a school trip (way back in the day 🙂 ) but I never went and I’d love to see the puffins. I was eager to get on round to Bamburgh though. Choices! Choices! And I was on a coach trip so I had to pick. Thanks, darlin!

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  11. You do love a harbour scene don’t you? That first shot is wonderful, I love the composition with the lobster pot in the foreground and the islands far far away. We drove through Seahouses during our Northumberland trip a few years ago, but it was very busy at the time (August) and the wrong time to go and see the puffins so we didn’t stop. I was very taken with the seascapes around there though, it is a beautiful coastline.

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      1. Yes, several times, but it was a few years before we started our nomadic journey. Don is from Whitley Bay and came to Canada in his early 20’s. Between the two of us we’ve seen quite a lot of the UK but not puffins!

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  14. Such a lovely walk, Jo. Puffins are really cute, aren’t they? I’d really like a couple around here, but I’m sure they wouldn’t like the heat. I would have chosen the fish and chips, but probably would have bought the brownie for later. 🙂

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    1. I’ve never seen one close up, Ad. I’d love to have taken the boat trip but I had to choose between that and the castle at Bamburgh. 🙂 🙂 How are the eyes? Have you got decent vision back again? And Happy Labour Day!

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  16. Lovely post as always Jo. I could smell the invigorating sea air coming off my PC screen and hear the cries of the seagulls. Thanks for adding me to your list of walks; much appreciated.

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    1. You’re very welcome, Denzil. I just spotted it in time and there weren’t a lot of walks this week so I knew you wouldn’t mind. I’m late getting online because we’ve been down on the Moors, making the most of the heather before it turns. 🙂 🙂

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  17. Hi Jo,
    Thanks for all those great views! As much as I like the Texas Gulf Coast [which, alas, has been ravaged by hurricane Harvey], I’d prefer those harbours and the coast in the UK, with their tides.
    Have a great new week,
    Pit

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    1. It’s been a nightmare time for Houston, hasn’t it, Pit? You could cry looking at the damage! Is there much where you are? Happy Labour Day, though I don’t know how much celebrating there will be. 🙂 🙂

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      1. I agree, it has been, and in a ways still is, a nightmare for Houston. And also for manyother cities onhe coast. Our favourite place there, Port Aransas, has been hit very hard, as has Rockport/Fulton, where we like to go, too, sometimes, and also Galveston where we spent a week this April to celebrate my 70th birthday.
        Fredericksburg has been spared. We are too far from the coast here – luckily. We did get some wind and rain, but nothing in any way destructive. The reain even did us some good in our drought.
        For us, it’s a quiet day today, with just resting and no celebrating. That is, to my mind, a good way to spend the day.
        Have a great week,
        Pit

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    1. Monkey would love the trip to the islands. It’s a good place for kids, with all those pools to go hunting in with a net and the mini golf on the seafront. Summer’s a good time to see the puffins if you’re ever up this way. 🙂 🙂

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