Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours
Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours
Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours
5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours offers a wide range of boat trip to the Farne islands in Northumberland. Our boats have toilets on board and our catamaran has disabled access when the tides are right. All ages are welcome as well as dogs. Our skippers and crewman are there to help you with any question you like so pleased do not hesitate to ask. If you want to know about our day to day adventures before you arrive, then why not have a look at our blog.
Seahouses, Northumberland, England
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Travelers' Choice
2022
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Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
2,522 reviews
Excellent
2,420
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85
Average
8
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3
Terrible
10
Real_Foodie_Mum
Berkshire, UK31 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
Our first booking was cancelled because of strong winds but the weather was fabulous for our rescheduled trip the following afternoon.
We saw guillemots in their thousands, hundreds of puffins and countless other seabirds that our knowledgeable skipper identified for us over the speaker system. He was great at manoeuvring the boat so that we all had a good chance to study and photograph the birds.
We stopped close to several islands and then landed on one to follow a walkway that led us past arctic terns sitting on their eggs, and plenty more puffins at close quarters.
On the way back we were lucky enough to come across seals and bottlenose dolphins. Our skipper was happy to extend our trip so that we could all watch them.
The boat was comfortable and stable and equipped with a loo. The assistant on board, John, was also very knowledgeable and keen to answer questions.
We would highly recommend Serenity tours to anyone thinking of taking a trip to the Farne Islands.
We saw guillemots in their thousands, hundreds of puffins and countless other seabirds that our knowledgeable skipper identified for us over the speaker system. He was great at manoeuvring the boat so that we all had a good chance to study and photograph the birds.
We stopped close to several islands and then landed on one to follow a walkway that led us past arctic terns sitting on their eggs, and plenty more puffins at close quarters.
On the way back we were lucky enough to come across seals and bottlenose dolphins. Our skipper was happy to extend our trip so that we could all watch them.
The boat was comfortable and stable and equipped with a loo. The assistant on board, John, was also very knowledgeable and keen to answer questions.
We would highly recommend Serenity tours to anyone thinking of taking a trip to the Farne Islands.
Written May 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Skylark
19 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
I highly recommend using Serenity to visit the Farne Islands; this was my second trip and I’ve found them well organised, professional & friendly. The boat was a good size, clean & comfortable with toilet facilities on board. Their commentary was interesting & informative. It was very busy yesterday in the fine weather, but they make a point of turning the boat around so that the best bits can be seen from all angles, which means you can relax knowing you’re not going to miss anything exciting! At this time of year the Farne Islands are spectacular, with thousands of breeding seabirds - puffins of course being the comical favourites! Be sure to take a tour that lands on Inner Farne, as seeing the birds in such high numbers at such close proximity is absolutely magical. Just remember your hat (or stand next to someone taller!) as the terns are very protective of their nests, and being dive-bombed is all part of the fun! Sailing around the Farnes has to be one of the best wildlife experiences in the UK, and I can’t think of many better ways to spend £30 to be honest! Thanks Serenity (and National Trust) for another awesome experience - I’m already looking forward to next year!
Written June 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dustydog
Cricklade, UK78 contributions
Mar 2022
This was our second time out with Serenity. Last May and yesterday.
The boats are super safe and comfortable with all the safety equipment explained before leaving harbour. The best time imo is May when all the birds are nesting. However we were not disappointed with all the wildlife we saw yesterday Capt Jimmy and his Mate Andrew gave an excellent running commentary all round the wonderful Farne Islands. Two hours very well spent just got £22 each. Excellent value 👏👏 We will return in the autumn
Lastly take warm clothing and woolly hats and gloves. It can get chilly when the wind blows.
The boats are super safe and comfortable with all the safety equipment explained before leaving harbour. The best time imo is May when all the birds are nesting. However we were not disappointed with all the wildlife we saw yesterday Capt Jimmy and his Mate Andrew gave an excellent running commentary all round the wonderful Farne Islands. Two hours very well spent just got £22 each. Excellent value 👏👏 We will return in the autumn
Lastly take warm clothing and woolly hats and gloves. It can get chilly when the wind blows.
Written March 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your kind comments and for taking the time to write it too. I totally agree with you. "Wrap up warm" as it's always cold even in the summer.
Once again thank you for joining us and hopefully, we will see you again sometime.
All the best
Andrew
Written April 11, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ShazyD
Manchester, UK222 contributions
Jul 2021
Fabulous experience for bird watchers and non-bird watchers alike.
We chose this team simply because they have a loo on board, which others couldn't guarantee and things then didn't start brilliantly when our boat was delayed on its way back. The weather had also turned a bit grey and it gets pretty chilly on board, so take a jacket.
None of that mattered as soon as we set off, with a plethora of sea birds in the water and flying around - lots of guillemots and puffins in flight and on the water, plus razorbills, gulls, terms and shags / cormorants (who knows?). We sailed close to several rocky islands, inhabited by said seabirds, including nesting kittiwakes, all clearly visible without binoculars. Behind a section with puffins on rocky ledges you can see where they nest, burrowed into the ground.
The highlight was sailing into a cove surrounded by large grey/black rocky stacks, all covered with noisy birds and their offspring. It was like entering another universe and even my reluctant accomplice husband (he os the weak bladder) had to admit that it was magical.
We also saw young seals basking, heads held up in that way that looks so uncomfortable, and the noses and swimming shapes of lots of adult seals. The earlier trip had seen dolphins but we weren't so lucky.
There was only 17 on our boat, so we were free to move around and take in all the sights. The commentary is pitched just right, not constant but given when we arrived at specific sights. At 1.5 hours, this was great value for money and would recommend it to anyone with a basic interest in nature and wildlife.
We chose this team simply because they have a loo on board, which others couldn't guarantee and things then didn't start brilliantly when our boat was delayed on its way back. The weather had also turned a bit grey and it gets pretty chilly on board, so take a jacket.
None of that mattered as soon as we set off, with a plethora of sea birds in the water and flying around - lots of guillemots and puffins in flight and on the water, plus razorbills, gulls, terms and shags / cormorants (who knows?). We sailed close to several rocky islands, inhabited by said seabirds, including nesting kittiwakes, all clearly visible without binoculars. Behind a section with puffins on rocky ledges you can see where they nest, burrowed into the ground.
The highlight was sailing into a cove surrounded by large grey/black rocky stacks, all covered with noisy birds and their offspring. It was like entering another universe and even my reluctant accomplice husband (he os the weak bladder) had to admit that it was magical.
We also saw young seals basking, heads held up in that way that looks so uncomfortable, and the noses and swimming shapes of lots of adult seals. The earlier trip had seen dolphins but we weren't so lucky.
There was only 17 on our boat, so we were free to move around and take in all the sights. The commentary is pitched just right, not constant but given when we arrived at specific sights. At 1.5 hours, this was great value for money and would recommend it to anyone with a basic interest in nature and wildlife.
Written July 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Solo warrior
Wigan, UK3 contributions
Apr 2022
Booked on the Inner Farne tour which included an hour on the island then tour around the other islands.
Thoroughly worth the money.
It was thoroughly enjoyable made more so in that with it being the early trip (9.45) there were only 6 of us which meant we could walk round the boat when we needed to without spoiling it for others.
The trip after ours was more or less full.
The crew (Andy & John) were friendly and knowledgable and made the trip more enjoyable, especially the commentary by Andy.
They were also helpful in getting us on and off safely due to the swell of the waves.
Also in comparison with the other boats used by other companies theirs were by far the bigger boats offering more room generally (and toilets) which helped if needed.
Thoroughly worth the money.
It was thoroughly enjoyable made more so in that with it being the early trip (9.45) there were only 6 of us which meant we could walk round the boat when we needed to without spoiling it for others.
The trip after ours was more or less full.
The crew (Andy & John) were friendly and knowledgable and made the trip more enjoyable, especially the commentary by Andy.
They were also helpful in getting us on and off safely due to the swell of the waves.
Also in comparison with the other boats used by other companies theirs were by far the bigger boats offering more room generally (and toilets) which helped if needed.
Written April 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow, thank you for taking the time to write your lovely review and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Hopefully, we will see you again sometime and thank you for choosing Serenity.
All the best
Andrew
Written May 3, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
tushar_pai
Milton Keynes, UK2,815 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
These tours do get sold out very quick as they are quite popular. We went on the 1.5 hours grey Seals one as the 2 hour one didn’t seem worth it as there were no puffins to see at this time.
The boat was running late but the ladies at the counter were keeping everyone informed. We boarded half an hour late but had a really good experience then on.
The boat takes you around the Farne Islands up close to the wildlife. First stop was to see the grey seals which were just 5 in number. We did see a few out at sea too.
Further on to the Livingstone Lighthouse to hear Grace Darlings story and a tour around the other islands to have a closer look at the breeding colonies of birds.
Inner Farne can be accessed by NT members and needs a separate booking.
The lad on our boat was amazing. He went around talking to people and also showed us the Atlantic lobster and velvet crab that he had caught earlier in the day.
We were also lucky to see a number of jellyfish in the water including the bright orange Lions Mane jellyfish.
Take an extra layer as it gets very cold due to the wind.
Would definitely recommend.
The boat was running late but the ladies at the counter were keeping everyone informed. We boarded half an hour late but had a really good experience then on.
The boat takes you around the Farne Islands up close to the wildlife. First stop was to see the grey seals which were just 5 in number. We did see a few out at sea too.
Further on to the Livingstone Lighthouse to hear Grace Darlings story and a tour around the other islands to have a closer look at the breeding colonies of birds.
Inner Farne can be accessed by NT members and needs a separate booking.
The lad on our boat was amazing. He went around talking to people and also showed us the Atlantic lobster and velvet crab that he had caught earlier in the day.
We were also lucky to see a number of jellyfish in the water including the bright orange Lions Mane jellyfish.
Take an extra layer as it gets very cold due to the wind.
Would definitely recommend.
Written July 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TringWirral_England
Wirral, England1,721 contributions
May 2022
The trip was excellent and proceeded as was described on the website. We did the tour which let us ashore on Inner Farne, a National Trust property for an hour. We had to have wristbands to land, which we got from the NT kiosk before boarding the boat, but as we are Trust members, we did not have to pay for them, though did have to show our boat tickets. It seems the previous days trips were cancelled due to bad weather and some people had been booked onto our departure, so the boat was full, but there was enough seating for everyone. There was also a toilet on board which I appreciated - not easy to use when the boat was rocking a bit, but manageable. There were also toilets on Inner Farne.
We saw lots of birds, including Puffins, (best seen when on Inner Farne), as well as some sightings of seals, though not many seals at that time of year. We went really near to land to see the bird colonies, so could see them easily without our binoculars and there were masses of birds at each stop.
We got to Seahouses a while before our allotted time, which was good as we had to park at the top of the car park and not many parking spots left. One problem was that the car park cost £8 to park for more than 3 hours and the machines we found would only take cash, so we needed eight pound coins, which luckily we could find as we keep a small collection of coins in the car in case of that sort of situation. Nowadays car parks generally take card payment, so that was not good and also it was a long walk to the machine, so my husband had to return to the car to get the coins, then go back to the machine and again return to the car to place the ticket in there! There were toilets by the entrance to the car park, but there was no soap in any of the dispensers, so a good idea to take hand sanitiser. The car park and toilets were council owned, so I am not blaming Serenity for that, but considering the cost of the car park and the number of people visiting Seahouses, it was very poor show for the council.
We saw lots of birds, including Puffins, (best seen when on Inner Farne), as well as some sightings of seals, though not many seals at that time of year. We went really near to land to see the bird colonies, so could see them easily without our binoculars and there were masses of birds at each stop.
We got to Seahouses a while before our allotted time, which was good as we had to park at the top of the car park and not many parking spots left. One problem was that the car park cost £8 to park for more than 3 hours and the machines we found would only take cash, so we needed eight pound coins, which luckily we could find as we keep a small collection of coins in the car in case of that sort of situation. Nowadays car parks generally take card payment, so that was not good and also it was a long walk to the machine, so my husband had to return to the car to get the coins, then go back to the machine and again return to the car to place the ticket in there! There were toilets by the entrance to the car park, but there was no soap in any of the dispensers, so a good idea to take hand sanitiser. The car park and toilets were council owned, so I am not blaming Serenity for that, but considering the cost of the car park and the number of people visiting Seahouses, it was very poor show for the council.
Written June 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write your review. I'm really pleased you enjoyed the trip and hopefully, we will see you again sometime.
All the best
Andrew
Written June 8, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Simon B
Channel Islands, UK26 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
Fantastic trip (Sunset Cruise) weather was perfect which helps, crew great, Johnny on board very helpful and knowledgeable and was happy to chat with everyone. Great view of puffins, seals and more literally thousands of birds taking off at same time was a sight to see. Thanks you Serenity II and her crew highly recommend to anyone old or young you’ll love it but wrap up warm gets a bit chilly on way back ha ha 10/10
Written June 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony O
Witley, UK2 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
The two hour trip was a revelation. The skipper navigated the islands expertly, got us close the the rocks and the action. The trip was well judged for pace and informative. All the bird populations were covered, and we also got to see plenty of grey seals too. As we approached the harbour the skipper saw other boats rushing to see dolphins that had appeared. Selflessly the skipper said it was his last trip of the day and he had no other commitments and he would take us to see if we could spot any too. Another 45 mins later we had experienced an amazing encounter with the dolphins. The crew had done an excellent job throughout, and went above and beyond to make our visit as memorable as it could possibly have been. We are truly appreciative of such excellence and commitment to customers, and recommend these cruises.
Written May 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow, thank you so much for your wonderful review I'm delighted you enjoyed the trip and when it comes to dolphins we love to see them as much as you do so any excuse to see them then that's fine by us.
Thank you once again for choosing Serenity and hopefully, we will see you again sometime soon.
All the best
Andrew
Written May 13, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SteveLorro
South Shields, UK153 contributions
Aug 2021
I’ve been on this trip before and gave it a 5 rating however this time the experience was terrible due to the communication and errors.
We booked the sunset cruise and traveled 1 hour to get to Seahouses arriving at 18.30 hours which was half an hour before planned sail. The white sales hut was closed but it still had a notice at the front stating the next sail was at 7PM. Insinuating everything was fine. Another couple arrived for the cruise and stated they had come down at tea time but the sales hut was closed then as well.
We waited until five past 7 before starting to realise they might be a problem. I looked around the harbour an noticed there were 2 serenity boat moored up in the harbour.
I rang the phone number on the hut but I could here the phone ringing inside of the hut, obviously didn’t have anyone inside. I decided to check my emails in case someone from the staff had tried to contact me. There was indeed a email which had been sent at 16.00 hours but it just stated can you give the girls a ring. The email did not state any cancellation. I attempted to send a message to serenity via Facebook messenger but didn’t receive a reply.
The other couple eventually gave up and left disappointed. We hung around for a further 5 minutes until around 19.20 and decided to walk the beach instead.
As we were walking along the beach at 20.00 we noticed a boat that looked similar to a serenity boat and wondered if they’d moved our cruise forward. We walked back to the harbour and found out that it was indeed a serenity cruise as there was now 3 boats in the harbour.
The next day I contacted serenity via phone and spoke to a female member of staff who apologised and stated that the cruise was cancelled due to bad weather but I can’t understand why there was a cruise 1 hour before ours if the weather was so bad and it was actually a lovely calm summers night. The staff member stated I would receive a full refund within 3-5 working days.
I waited 5 working days but had not received a refund. I contacted the Serenity staff again and explained that I had not received any refund. The staff member said had I cancelled or the serenity? I explained it was there cancellation. She then said had I checked my bank account, obviously I’d checked my account otherwise I wouldn’t be ringing. She then said I had to email them for a refund as she could not authorise it. I explained I’ve already spoken to a member of staff 6 days ago who had stated I’d receive a full refund due to the cancellation. All in all we traveled 1 hour for nothing we were given numerous wrong information and felt like I had to fight for a refund. We eventually received a full refund and an apology email.
We booked the sunset cruise and traveled 1 hour to get to Seahouses arriving at 18.30 hours which was half an hour before planned sail. The white sales hut was closed but it still had a notice at the front stating the next sail was at 7PM. Insinuating everything was fine. Another couple arrived for the cruise and stated they had come down at tea time but the sales hut was closed then as well.
We waited until five past 7 before starting to realise they might be a problem. I looked around the harbour an noticed there were 2 serenity boat moored up in the harbour.
I rang the phone number on the hut but I could here the phone ringing inside of the hut, obviously didn’t have anyone inside. I decided to check my emails in case someone from the staff had tried to contact me. There was indeed a email which had been sent at 16.00 hours but it just stated can you give the girls a ring. The email did not state any cancellation. I attempted to send a message to serenity via Facebook messenger but didn’t receive a reply.
The other couple eventually gave up and left disappointed. We hung around for a further 5 minutes until around 19.20 and decided to walk the beach instead.
As we were walking along the beach at 20.00 we noticed a boat that looked similar to a serenity boat and wondered if they’d moved our cruise forward. We walked back to the harbour and found out that it was indeed a serenity cruise as there was now 3 boats in the harbour.
The next day I contacted serenity via phone and spoke to a female member of staff who apologised and stated that the cruise was cancelled due to bad weather but I can’t understand why there was a cruise 1 hour before ours if the weather was so bad and it was actually a lovely calm summers night. The staff member stated I would receive a full refund within 3-5 working days.
I waited 5 working days but had not received a refund. I contacted the Serenity staff again and explained that I had not received any refund. The staff member said had I cancelled or the serenity? I explained it was there cancellation. She then said had I checked my bank account, obviously I’d checked my account otherwise I wouldn’t be ringing. She then said I had to email them for a refund as she could not authorise it. I explained I’ve already spoken to a member of staff 6 days ago who had stated I’d receive a full refund due to the cancellation. All in all we traveled 1 hour for nothing we were given numerous wrong information and felt like I had to fight for a refund. We eventually received a full refund and an apology email.
Written August 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write your review but I'm a little bit disappointed that you have given a 1-star review.
A decision to cancel a cruise is never taken lightly and at approx 3.15 pm the sea state turned for the worse, which meant the trip could not go ahead. As it happened, the sea state settled, but it was too late to put the trip back on.
Calls were made to all of our guests including yourself on the number provided and voicemails were left. When we could not get an answer we sent an email asking you to call us, as we like to explain and offer a refund or a rebooking.
We can confirm there was no sunset cruise that evening and none of the other companies were running for the same reason. As for the boat which was out of the harbour, was on a test run following mechanical issues that day.
So far as your refund is concerned this was due to miscommunication but it was processed as soon as it was brought to my attention and I did, of course, apologise to you.
The other couple you refer too, they were not booked onto the cruise.
As I've previously stated your 1-star review is, in my opinion, is unjustified as we tried to contact you via telephone and email to avoid you having to travel and your gripe regarding the trip running ealry was based soley on your incorrect assumption that this was why the boat was out of the harbour.
Regards
Andrew
Written August 21, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paloma
Wallasey, UK68 contributions
Do you offer discounts for a group of 20?
how many people fit in a boat, please?
mikeandjean36
Edinburgh, UK5 contributions
I think the capacity is about 30. As for price you would need to contact the owners but as Linda F says the cost is very reasonable anyway.
Jen
18 contributions
Is it best to book in advance? Would like to do the sunset cruise but obviously being weather dependant what are the chances of getting places once we’ve seen the forecast a few days or so before?
Rodney D
180 contributions
Are you able to land on the islands yet?
robertgtait
County Durham, UK19 contributions
Sorry you are not allowed on the islands. Only certified people are allowed on the isands.
Can I pay my ticket with Bancomat or Credit Card?
TheFarnes
Seahouses, UK1 contribution
Yes, with credit or debit card but i dont think so with bancomat.
rubyred015
Nottingham, UK15 contributions
We have dogs is this something you can do with them or is that a no no lol ?
TheFarnes
Seahouses, UK1 contribution
Dog are more than welcome onboard.
john_mason950
Leicestershire, UK98 contributions
Hi we are looking at visiting the farne islands to view puffins and Other seabirds, do you drop off at farne or sail round
Helen P
Ramsgate, UK109 contributions
Generally you just sail around, but very close. Check with Serenity about tours that embark.
RazzleDazzle62
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK3 contributions
Hi
when will there be seal pups to see?
TheFarnes
Seahouses, UK1 contribution
Hi, They start to pup near the end of October through to December. They peak in mid November. The pups around around now but growing very fast. If you need to ask anymore questions please just mail me at Serenity.
Cheers
Andrew
RoosterzFoot
Charlwood, UK1 contribution
Hi, I know nothing's guaranteed, but what wildlife would you normally expect to see at the beginning of August? Many thanks.
millington93
Cheshire17 contributions
Meant to say...we always go with Serenity now. They often have an extra person on board spotting other wildlife etc.