Be prepared for the weather. Check the forecast and pick the best day you can. You will see a wide variety of sea birds and, of course, seals. However, Puffins only nest and bread in April/May/June.

You'd need to speak to a tour boat operator. Google them for addresses and phone numbers. Inner Farne, the island most commonly visited is owned by the National Trust and you either need to be members or may a fee. Again, speak to them for more information.

We took our 4 month baby over in May this year - visited both Inner Farne and Staple Island. Was thankful we put her in the sling, as we saw someone else struggling with a buggy due to the pretty uneven surface. It would be doable but may shave a bit off the enjoyment factor.

Newcastle Airport

Difficult but possible if you plan. You can get a train to Alnmouth station then a bus (but they are a bit hit-and-miss). Check the X18 and 418 bus timetables from Alnmouth Station. There is a bus (418) that goes on the coastal route just aftr 9 a.m and 11 a.m which could get you to Seahouses about an hour later, or less. Good luck, it is well worth it.

I did an all day trip with my local RSPB Group approx 3-4 years ago. We where all very lucky that conditions where very calm, hot and sunny and our birdwatching group where able to land on Staple Island as well as Inner Farne. Staple Island can be very difficult for landing at times and sometimes impossible, even when landing is available for landing on Inner Farne. The cost on that occasion for an all day trip by boat 3-4 years ago was over £30.00. I got free landing on both Islands as I'm a National Trust member. If your not a member of the National Trust, the coast of landing on both Inner Farne and Staple Island 3-4 years ago was over £8.00 per Island, that was £16.00 in total. The price now for landing this year will have gone up of course and in 2020 the landing charges will be available to see on the National Trust website, but not available as of yet for 2020. The prices for the all day boat trips are best checking the different boat companies websites. I don’t know if the costs of the all day boat trips are available yet on those websites. If not they will be available in 2020.

Hi -realise that this is the North sea You would require Dry suits for any warmth and not suitable for snorkaling. hope this helps

You can do an all day boat trip to the Farne Islands, landing on both Inner Farne and Staple Island. Warning at times it’s impossible to land on Staple Island as it can be difficult to land. When I did the all day trip 3-4 years with my local RSPB Group we left Seahouses Harbour about 9.30am maybe slightly later and had about 2 hours on Staple Island in the morning, maybe more and about 2 hours on Inner Farne in the afternoon, again possibly longer. And also a long close up tour of all the Islands, longer than the normal standard trips. Out Group arrived back into Seahouses Harbour around 6.00pm. All the different boat companies provide an all day trip to the Farne Islands, but only during May, June and July. It’s highly recommended you book in advance for these all day trips as the trip are limited. Although normally there are spaces on the day these all day trips take place. The cost of these all day boat trips 3-4 years ago to the Farne Island was over £30.00 on that occasion, but of course the cost will have gone up since my trip. In addition the cost of landing on those two Islands was over £8.00 per Island, costing £16.00, unless your a National Trust member like myself and then you get free admission to those two Island. I would warn, that if your not an enthusiastic bird watcher like myself, probably the all day trips are not for you. The boat prices for the all day will be available for 2020 on the different boat companies websites either now or if not in 2020. The National Trust landing charges for the two islands are not available yet for 2020 on the National Trusts website, but should be available in late December on the National Trusts website

Cant remember the prices exactly but it's worth shopping around the stands. Also there's a discount to land if you are a national trust member. About a toddler I think they'd find it boring & long going on the boat especially once the animal spotting angle has been exhausted. Older children will love it though.

Perhaps slightly early as they reckon mid April onwards