Name and Location

The Farne Island Lighthouse, also known as Inner Farne Lighthouse, is an active minor coastal light located off the Northumberland coast of England. It stands on Inner Farne Island, approximately 1 km offshore from Bamburgh.

Construction and History

The first navigational lights on Inner Farne date back to the early 19th century. The present structure was built in the early 20th century (c. 1914-15) by Trinity House, replacing an earlier masonry tower. The lighthouse has been unmanned since the mid-20th century and is now automated.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse features a cylindrical tower made of local sandstone or brick with a lantern and gallery. The height of the tower is 27 meters (88 feet) above base, and the focal height is 27 meters (88 feet) above mean high water.

Light and Navigation

The light characteristic is group flashing – two flashes every 15 seconds (Fl (2) 15 s). The sectors include white (119°-280°), visible for 10 nautical miles; and red (280°-119°), visible for 7 nautical miles. The range of the light is 10 nautical miles (white) and 7 nautical miles (red).

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is not open to the public, but it can be viewed from landing sites and surrounding paths. Licensed boat excursions are available between April and September, departing from Seahouses harbour.

Notable Views and Landscape

• Inner Farne Island forms part of a National Nature Reserve, known for its large colonies of Atlantic grey seals, Arctic and common terns, guillemots, razorbills, and puffins.
• The lighthouse sits on a low shelf of volcanic rock, with sheer seabird-breeding cliffs to the north and a gently shelving sandy beach frequented by seal pups to the south.

Anecdotes and Folklore

The Farne Islands are forever linked to the heroic 1838 rescue by Grace Darling from Longstone Lighthouse. Legend also holds that early hermits on Inner Farne (7th century St Cuthbert) guided sailors by lighting fires on the island's rocks – an origin story for the modern light.

Technical and Operational Details

The reference number is Admiralty A 2812; NGA 2348. The lighthouse is automated, with mains electricity and battery backup. There is no dedicated radar installation; AIS positioning broadcast nominal for Trinity House lights.

Further Information

For further reading, refer to the Trinity House website, Admiralty List of Lights (volume covering the North Sea), National Trust Farne Islands visitor guide, Wikipedia ("Inner Farne Lighthouse"), and OpenStreetMap feature way/147468213.