Just off the shore of Amble Harbour, you’ll find the little gem that is Coquet Island. Home to resident grey seals, puffins, and a vast array of birdlife this is such a great trip to add to your itinerary if you’re in the area.
I sail with Puffin Cruises, based right on the harbour their fleet of distinctive red boats are always in and out of the harbour carrying passengers over to the island which is about a mile from the land. Their booking office has recently opened at the Harbour Village pods if you would like more information or a gift to remind you of your trip, you’ll find their website here Puffin Cruises . Sailing times vary due to the tide so best to check with them what the sailing times are for when you want to visit.
Sailing past Amble’s iconic little red and white lighthouse its a short journey across to the island which is a RSPB nature reserve due to the 35,000 nesting seabirds found there. From around March you’ll see the puffins returning to the island to use the old rabbit burrows as nests, the puffins can be seen zipping back and forth with sand eels in their mouth right next to the boat, sitting on the water and lined up along the island.
Home to Arctic Terns, Kittiwakes and the rare Roseate Tern which the island has the largest colony of in Britain, as well as many other sea birds definitely a trip to bring your binoculars and cameras for! The resident seals can be seen gathered on the shore right near the lighthouse and will bob up around the boat fascinated to see the people aboard. Apparently they love to see the visitors faces and we definitely love to see theirs.
If you are very lucky you’ll catch sight of the dolphins that swim around our coast and often follow the boat trips out to the island.
The island once housed a medieval monastery, which the current lighthouse now sits upon and can be seen as the unpainted base of the building. The lighthouse was built in 1841 by Trinity House and the keeper was none other than local heroine Grace Darling’s older brother William. Grace Darling who famously rescued men from a shipwreck with her father on the nearby Farne Island’s and was quickly a national heroine for her bravery.
Now owned by the Duke of Northumberland, his family bought the island in 1753 and is said to be why the building has such a castle like appearance. Up until the 1920’s the lighthouse keeper used to live on the island with farm animals and growing their own vegetables – quite self sufficient! But as the lighthouse was automated the lighthouse is now unmanned and wardens will visit the island for maintenance when needed. In fact this is a role that crew members of Puffin Cruises undertake so they are very knowledgeable on the subject.
Sailing trips are £20 per person and last around an hour.
