After a good night’s sleep, the children (though a little tired and reluctant to get up!) started the day with another hearty breakfast to set us up for what was ahead.
The children were excited for the day and took their room inspections very seriously, making sure their rooms were clean and well organised.
We then travelled down to Seahouses, where we boarded our boat to the Farne Islands. The children were exceptionally sensible on board as we sailed across the sea. Using clipboards with a bird spotting checklist, we identified a variety of seabirds and also saw a large group of seals. The sunshine and clear blue skies made the experience even more special. A highlight was seeing puffins up close on the rocks and flying over the water. We also saw lots of seals both in the water and resting on the rocks, and visited the area linked to Grace Darling’s heroic rescue following the tragic storm.
After our boat trip, we enjoyed our packed lunches together on the grass before heading back to Holy Island.
There was then a quick turnaround as we set off to explore the history of Lindisfarne Priory and St Aidan’s statue, learning about the holy site where St Aidan brought the light of the Gospel to Northumbria.
As the weather remained glorious, we enjoyed a walk up to the Watch Tower, where we could look out across the island and reflect on all the places we have visited over the last few days. From here, we were also able to see St Cuthbert’s Island and a distant sandbank covered with seals.
On returning to camp, we were welcomed by the smell of tea being prepared for us.
We then gathered for our evening liturgy, sharing gratitude and thanks to God. We reflected on the beauty around us, the love shared within the group, and expressed thanks to the staff, volunteers, and each other for such a wonderful week together. We used our stones from yesterday as a symbol of gratitude and a reminder of our time on Holy Island.
The day ended with hot chocolate and a late night bedtime story from Mrs Young before settling down to sleep. x