The first outing of the 2008/9 season was a coach outing to the Farne Islands on Saturday 31st May.
The weather was fortunately fair as we took our places on an open boat for this trip from Seahouses.The skipper on Billy Shiel’s boat was extremely knowledgeable about the islands and the birds on them which he took care to point out to us. For a short time the sea was very choppy which proved quite testing. We landed on Inner Farne and certainly did not find the solitude St Cuthbert sought in the 7th century. We were at the height of the tern nesting season and ran the gauntlet of these fiercely protective birds some of whom had laid their eggs on the very threshold of the saint’s sanctuary. Having seen the chapel, and the memorial to Grace Darling, we made our way, almost in a crocodile, along the walkway to the other vantage points for viewing the other birds.We made the return journey in shorter time and calmer sea and so, home in brilliant sunshine, through rural Northumberland and Berwickshire.
The next outing which is fully subscribed is to Fountainhall at Pencaitland.
