Longstone Lighthouse

Longstone Island, Northumberland

This is the lighthouse from which Grace Darling and her father launched their small fishing coble to rescue the remaining members of the crew of the wrecked Forfarshire during a storm in 1838. It is an incredible story and well worth reading about.


Grace Darling was 22 years old when she risked her life in an open boat to help the survivors of the wrecked SS Forfarshire on 7 September 1838. With her father, she rowed for over a mile through raging seas to reach them. The courage that Grace and her family showed on that day is now legendary.
Source: http://www.rnli.org.uk/who_we_are/the_heritage_trust/grace_darling_museum

See also:
Wikipedia article
Britain Unlimited article

If you ever have the chance to see the actual fishing coble which Grace had to keep still on the very rough sea, you realise how much strength, skill and courage she must have had. It is certainly very awe-inspiring.

I spilled the paint!

I dropped the paint bucket down the cliff...

Actually, Wikipedia informs me that they are calcium carbide deposits. I thought it was rather a lot for bird droppings, even during nesting season!

Farne Lighthouse

Inner Farne, Northumberland

Farne Island cormorants #2

I don't know why the picture is so grainy once I upload it.

Farne Island cormorants

Or they might be shags

£$ - LL - RB

Farne Island seals

I think they are mainly grey seals, but there may be a few common seals (also known as harbour seals) there too.

£$ - LL - RB