Why a Farne Islands private tour starts on land
A Farne Islands private tour works best as a coastal day by road. The boats to the islands sail from Seahouses and are on the tours page; the private options here join the places around them.
The causeway to Holy Island is covered by the tide twice a day, so time on the island is set by the crossing. Look up the safe crossing times for your date before you travel. Pick the day that matches the places you most want to see.
Private days on the coast
Choose the Holy Island day for castle entry and a guided village visit, the castles day for three castles, or the Edinburgh drive for Alnwick Castle.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in British pounds (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private Alnwick Castle trip from Edinburgh
- Private Mercedes Vito or similar vehicle
- English-speaking driver
- Pickup and drop-off in Edinburgh
A private drive for up to six people, with child seats on request. Alnwick Castle tickets and meals are extra.
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Private tour of three Northumberland castles
- Tour guide
- Transport from your hotel
Visits to Bamburgh, Chillingham and Alnwick Castle by private transport. Lunch and further attractions are extra.
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Private Holy Island and Bamburgh Castle day
- Private guide
- Private transportation in an SUV
- Bamburgh Castle entry
Bamburgh Castle with an introductory tour outside and a self-guided visit inside, then a guided tour of Lindisfarne village with mead tastings at Lindisfarne Winery. Meals are extra.
Check availability →Private day trips on the Northumberland coast
Three private days: Lindisfarne with Bamburgh, three castles with hotel transport, and Alnwick Castle from Edinburgh.
Holy Island and Bamburgh Castle in eight hours
This private day pairs a castle and an island. Pickup is included. A private guide travels with you in an SUV. At Bamburgh Castle you get an introductory tour of the outside and then explore the interior at your own pace, with entry covered. On Holy Island the guide leads a tour of Lindisfarne village, with mead tastings at Lindisfarne Winery. Meals are extra.
Lindisfarne Castle (National Trust, adults £13) and Lindisfarne Priory (English Heritage) sell their own tickets.
Three castles with transport from your hotel
The Northumberland castles day also lasts eight hours. It visits Bamburgh, Chillingham and Alnwick Castle, with a tour guide and transport from your hotel. It leaves out Holy Island, so it is the pick for castle lovers and for anyone who has already crossed the causeway. Lunch and further attractions are extra.
From Edinburgh: a private drive to Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle was a filming location for the first two Harry Potter films, and this seven-hour drive from Edinburgh is built around it. A Mercedes Vito or similar collects you at your hotel or address in Edinburgh, with an English-speaking driver and child seats on request. Alnwick Castle tickets and meals are extra. It fits families with children and a group of friends travelling together.
What your party pays
Prices below are the November 2026 starting prices in pounds. The Edinburgh drive is £455 for up to six: £227.50 each for two, £113.75 each for four and about £75.83 each for six.
Bamburgh Castle adult admission is £19.95 until 8 November and £21 from 14 November; on the Lindisfarne day the entry is part of the price.
Private or small group?
Shared coach days from Edinburgh to Holy Island, Bamburgh and Alnwick start at £66 per person, and a mini-coach trip of at most 16 guests starts at £69. Six people on the private drive pay about £10 more each than the coach fare. Two people save money on the coach but spend the day on a fixed itinerary with other guests.
If the islands themselves are the reason for your visit, the boat trips cost £20 to £30 per person. Inner Farne landings run from April to September, and a cruise can run when a landing cannot.
Questions about private tours here
Is Bamburgh Castle entry included?
Yes on the Lindisfarne and Bamburgh day: an introductory tour of the exterior and a self-guided visit inside. On the Edinburgh drive, Alnwick Castle tickets are extra.
Is Bamburgh Castle open in November 2026?
It closes from 9 to 13 November and reopens on 14 November, when adult admission rises to £21.
Can I take a private tour to the Farne Islands themselves?
The private days here cover the mainland coast and Holy Island. The boat trips to Inner Farne, Longstone and the seal and seabird cruises are on the tours page.