Puffins On The Farne Islands & Northumberland Coast

After completing our pick ups we travel North, making suitable comfort stops en route. Your hostess will help make the journey relaxing by offering an at seat refreshment service during the journey. We arrive in Newcastle, and our hotel in time to relax and settle in before our evening meal.

After breakfast we enjoy a short day excursion visiting Tynemouth. This village is a popular place for people from far and wide to come for a variety of reasons. It is steeped in history, has some fabulous attractions, great shopping and a vibrant nightlife. A perfect destination for a day trip, the charming village has something to offer everyone. The dramatic Tynemouth Priory & Castle dominates the headland. The site dates back centuries and is the burial place of Saints and Kings of the old Kingdom of Northumbria. Later we head to Whitley Bay. The seaside town of Whitley Bay provides the perfect outing with arcades, mini golf, as well as award-winning ice cream and fish and chips. The famous Spanish City is now open too! St Mary’s Lighthouse is one of the borough’s main attractions, having stood as a beacon along the coastline since 1898. It features a nature reserve and wetland habitat and often seals can be spotted lying on the rocks. The Lighthouse also marks the finish line of the popular North Tyneside 10k Road Race.

After breakfast today we offer an optional excursion following the coast and crossing to Holy Island (Lindisfarne). In 635AD Saint Aiden came from Iona and chose to found his monastery on the island Lindisfarne. From here the Christian message flourished throughout the world. Lindisfarne is internationally famous both for its medieval religious heritage and also its more recent picturesque 16th century castle. These, together with most of the community, are located on the Southern part of the island - the main focus for tourists and holidaymakers. Many are also attracted by the peace and tranquillity which pervades the Island and the remote Northern conservation area, with more than its fair share of quiet beaches and unique natural history. OPTIONAL EXCURSION £25

After breakfast we rejoin our coach and head to the village of Seahouses, joining a ferry boat to The Farne Islands. Each year, thousands of Farne islands puffins land here in the hopes of making little puffins with a mate. They show off that colourful beak, scoot into their burrows and lay eggs. When you finally land on the island you can get up close and stand mere inches away from them. It’s a magical experience that even David Attenborough loves to see ‘magnificent nature’. As well as seabirds, there is other wildlife including dolphins and grey seals. NOTE – All Farne Islands landings are made at the Skippers discretion and are not guaranteed. If we are unable to land you at this island, the trip will become a non-landing bird watching trip to view the cliff nesting birds and the seals.

After breakfast we sadly start our journey towards home, arriving back mid evening.

Formerly a Marriott hotel, the Gosforth Park welcomes you to the North East of England with stylish rooms and a vast assortment of first-rate amenities. Pamper yourself during your visit with a massage or beauty treatment at the signature spa, keep fit and focused at the on-site gym or enjoy a refreshing swim in the heated pool. All the ensuite bedrooms feature a hairdryer, TV, free WiFi, telephone, ironing and tea/coffee making facilities.