The Farnes are divided into two groups, the Outer Group and the Inner Group which are separated by Staple Sound. The main islands in the Outer Group are Staple Island, Brownsman, North and South Wamses, Big Harcar and the Longstone. The main islands in the Inner Group are Inner Farne, Knoxes Reef and the East and West Wideopens (all joined during very low tides) and the somewhat separated Megston. The highest point, on Inner Farne, is 62 feet (19 metres) above mean sea level.
Inner Farne (left) viewed from parking area 2
The Farnes are within The Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and are also a National Nature Reserve with some of the finest landscapes in the country.
Brownsman Island
Geology
The Farnes are formed from the most easterly outcrop of the Great Whin Sill, an igneous rock, known as whinstone, which formed as the volcanic magma of this dolerite intrusion cooled around 300 million years ago. Being such hard, resistant rock, dolerite stands out as prominent cliffs or crags.
Staple Island Stacks
Glaciation at the end of the last Ice Age around 20,000 years ago led to deposits of boulder clay on some islands and has resulted in a variety of deep soils which host a range of maritime plants.
After the end of the Ice Age, you could have walked from these islands across to the mainland, but rising sea levels cut them off, making them a great place to enjoy wildlife.
The Whin Sill outcrops on the Farne Islands provide important areas of undisturbed habitat for grey seals and coastal birds.
Only Inner Farne and Staple Island are open to the public. Private boats carry visitors to the islands from Seahouses for a fee. Access to the islands is restricted to certain times of the year and there are charges for admission (contact the National Trust for details). These charges do not include boat fees.
Longstone
To claim this cache, you will have to answer the following questions.
But before doing so please take note: If you have an internet connection to log your find, then you have an internet connection to send me the required answers! Send your answers BEFORE posting your log. Failing to do this will result in the deletion of your log without notice. You DO NOT have to wait for a reply. If I have an issue with your email I will contact you about it.
Claiming this EarthCache
Please note that the answer to question 2 is available at a supplied waypoint - N 55° 34.910 W 001° 38.985, many folk who have not visited that waypoint have emailed the WRONG number of islands in their answers.
Now down to the questions.
To claim this EarthCache, please email your answers for 1,2, 3 and 4 to Senux's GC profile. Please note task 5 is optional. Any logs entered without answers being sent will be deleted.
Please note that for a response to your email, that you should check "I want to send my email address along with this message."
1. Date and time of your visit to the point on the mainland with the view of the Farne Islands ?
2. As mentioned earlier the number of islands varies depending on the state of the tide, what are the minimum and maximum number of islands ? (This information is on a panel for 'The Harbour and Old Seahouses Time Trail' which overlooks the harbour)
3. As seen from the mainland, describe the overall shape of the Farne Islands and explain how this affects the distribution of soil on the islands.
4. Using the exact words given on the information board (at the given co-ordinates) and answer this question - What was first protected, which year was it protected, who protected them, where was the person who protected them living and where and when can they be seen now ?
5. Post a photograph in your log of yourself with gps and the Farne Islands behind you (optional).
Please do not give any of the answers for 2,3 or 4 in your logs.